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Sources and specific examples on hand when peers push back

$199.00
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A tailored course, built for your situation

Sources and specific examples on hand when peers push back

Build unshakeable reasoning for complex lending decisions, grounded in precedent, policy, and practice

$199 one-time
24-hour access provisioning 30-day money-back guarantee Hand-built implementation playbook
12 modules. 12 chapters per module. 144 chapters total.
12 modules, each with 12 chapters (144 chapters total), text-based, plus downloadable templates and a hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Having to defend high-value lending decisions without clear sources or documented rationale

The situation this course is for

Even strong credit calls get questioned without visible depth. Practitioners often second-guess themselves or retreat when challenged, especially when the rationale isn’t tied to specific policy language, past cases, or regulatory benchmarks. Without a ready foundation, sound judgment can sound like opinion.

Who this is for

Senior Lending Specialist operating in complex, relationship-driven portfolios with exposure to regulatory and internal audit scrutiny

Who this is not for

Junior analysts still learning credit basics, or lenders focused solely on volume-driven pipelines without policy-level engagement

What you walk away with

  • Instant access to relevant policy clauses and internal credit memos when justifying a decision
  • A repeatable method to structure rationale using regulatory benchmarks and past Macquarie precedents
  • Ability to cite specific examples from past approvals to reinforce judgment in gray-area cases
  • Templates for pre-approach dossiers that bake defensibility into initial structuring
  • On-hand responses when challenged on covenants, leverage thresholds, or sponsor exposure

The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)

Module 1. Mapping internal policy to lending decisions
Learn how to align each credit decision with documented Macquarie risk appetite and policy language to strengthen internal justification.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Identify relevant credit policy sections
  2. Link to internal risk appetite statements
  3. Trace to past committee decisions
  4. Use terminology from credit charters
  5. Match to loan classification tiers
  6. Reference internal governance docs
  7. Cite risk committee mandates
  8. Align with capital allocation logic
  9. Use past memos as precedent
  10. Document policy relevance
  11. Avoid misalignment with compliance
  12. Create policy mapping checklist
Module 2. Using regulatory touchpoints as anchors
Ground structuring choices in APRA, Basel, and ASIC guidance to demonstrate alignment with external expectations.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Locate relevant APRA prudential standards
  2. Apply Basel leverage ratios
  3. Cite ASIC credit licensing rules
  4. Use CPS 230 references
  5. Reference CPS 220 frameworks
  6. Map covenants to reporting rules
  7. Link to capital adequacy requirements
  8. Anchor covenant testing
  9. Use liquidity coverage ratios
  10. Cite ring-fencing guidelines
  11. Apply cross-border alignment
  12. Document regulatory anchors
Module 3. Documenting rationale with precedent
Build a defensible record by referencing past lending decisions within Macquarie and peer institutions.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Find comparable internal deals
  2. Extract structural similarities
  3. Use covenant templates from past cases
  4. Note sponsor treatment patterns
  5. Document risk mitigants used
  6. Reference internal credit memos
  7. Track approval thresholds
  8. Cite tenure of past facilities
  9. Map exposure to industry benchmarks
  10. Use internal deal databases
  11. Note committee feedback
  12. Create precedent library
Module 4. Structuring response to pushback
Develop clear, tiered responses for different types of challenges, from peers to auditors to regulators.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Identify type of pushback
  2. Categorize by origin source
  3. Tailor response depth
  4. Use policy language first
  5. Invoke precedent examples
  6. Cite regulatory alignment
  7. Adjust for audience level
  8. Avoid over-explaining
  9. Stay grounded in facts
  10. Use internal risk language
  11. Reference committee norms
  12. Document response logic
Module 5. Building a defensible underwriting dossier
Assemble a complete lending package that preempts challenges by embedding rationale from the start.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Include policy alignment table
  2. Add precedent case summaries
  3. Attach regulatory benchmarks
  4. Note internal risk ratings
  5. Document sponsor history
  6. List covenant rationale
  7. Map to risk appetite
  8. Include capital treatment
  9. Show reporting alignment
  10. Add audit readiness section
  11. Embed committee expectations
  12. Finalize with checklist
Module 6. Using benchmark data to justify terms
Support loan pricing, covenants, and tenure with quantitative comparisons from market and internal sources.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Pull peer lending terms
  2. Use Preqin data for private credit
  3. Reference LPC benchmarks
  4. Align with bond market spreads
  5. Compare leverage multiples
  6. Use EBITDA covenant norms
  7. Benchmark amortization
  8. Cite security packages
  9. Map to syndicated loan data
  10. Adjust for seniority tier
  11. Use internal pricing models
  12. Document benchmark source
Module 7. Handling sponsor-specific exposure
Justify lending to complex or high-profile sponsors using structured, evidence-based reasoning.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Map sponsor track record
  2. Review past defaults or restructurings
  3. Assess leverage history
  4. Cite governance red flags
  5. Reference related-party transactions
  6. Document control structure
  7. Evaluate cash flow stability
  8. Use public filings
  9. Analyze intercompany loans
  10. Note litigation history
  11. Assess board independence
  12. Summarize in neutral terms
Module 8. Defending covenant design
Articulate the purpose and calibration of covenants using historical performance and enforcement data.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Define covenant purpose clearly
  2. Reference breach triggers
  3. Use historical compliance data
  4. Align with reporting cycles
  5. Cite enforcement actions
  6. Adjust for sector norms
  7. Benchmark against peers
  8. Document rationale for thresholds
  9. Note testing frequency
  10. Explain waiver policies
  11. Map to early warning signs
  12. Include covenant-lite comparisons
Module 9. Navigating inter-departmental challenges
Respond with authority when challenged by compliance, audit, or risk control functions.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Pre-empt audit questions
  2. Use internal control language
  3. Cite risk committee mandates
  4. Align with compliance checklists
  5. Reference policy versioning
  6. Document change rationale
  7. Note escalation paths
  8. Use standard terminology
  9. Link to operational risk
  10. Cite data governance standards
  11. Align with SOX controls
  12. Map to internal audit scope
Module 10. Reinforcing judgment in renewal cycles
Carry defensibility forward by embedding documented rationale into renewal and restructuring discussions.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Pull original rationale forward
  2. Update with performance data
  3. Compare actual vs. forecast
  4. Use covenant testing results
  5. Reference borrower behavior
  6. Adjust for macro shifts
  7. Document continuity
  8. Note changes in structure
  9. Cite market comparables
  10. Update precedent base
  11. Align with current risk appetite
  12. Finalize renewal memo
Module 11. Creating repeatable artifacts
Develop templates and checklists that preserve institutional knowledge and accelerate future deals.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Design rationale templates
  2. Build precedent trackers
  3. Create policy crosswalks
  4. Develop response libraries
  5. Standardize memo formats
  6. Use boilerplate justifications
  7. Store in shared drives
  8. Version control artifacts
  9. Link to credit systems
  10. Train junior staff
  11. Update with new cases
  12. Embed in approval workflows
Module 12. Scaling personal judgment into team practice
Turn individual defensibility into team-wide capability by shaping standards and mentorship.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Mentor on rationale
  2. Share precedent examples
  3. Review draft memos
  4. Conduct internal trainings
  5. Set team templates
  6. Cite regulatory grounding
  7. Encourage pushback drills
  8. Reward clear reasoning
  9. Document team standards
  10. Align with promotion criteria
  11. Influence credit paper format
  12. Lead by example

How this maps to your situation

  • When a loan committee questions your covenants
  • When audit flags a lending decision as high risk
  • When structuring a renewal with tighter terms
  • When onboarding junior team members to complex deals

Before vs. after

Before
Having to reconstruct rationale on the fly when challenged on lending decisions.
After
Walking into any review with policy references, precedent examples, and structured reasoning already at hand.

What's included with your purchase

  • 12 modules with 12 chapters each (144 chapters)
  • Downloadable templates and worked examples for every module
  • Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Delivery and format

  • Course and learning environment access provisioned within 24 hours of purchase
  • Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access

Format: Text-based modules and chapters in the Art of Service learning environment, plus downloadable templates and worked examples for every chapter, plus the hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.

Time investment: Approximately 2 hours per module, designed to be completed alongside active lending cycles.

If nothing changes
Without a structured approach to defensibility, even sound lending decisions can be undermined by well-meaning peers, auditors, or shifting risk appetite, putting your judgment and influence at risk over time.

How this compares to the alternatives

Generic risk training focuses on compliance checkboxes. This course delivers the specific sources, examples, and articulation patterns senior specialists use when defending complex decisions.

Frequently asked

How is this different from general credit risk courses?
It focuses exclusively on the defensibility of judgment, using real policy language, internal precedents, and regulatory touchpoints to strengthen your rationale.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Will this work for non-Australian lending decisions?
Yes, the frameworks apply globally, with emphasis on principles used in APRA-regulated environments and translatable to other regimes.
$199 one-time. Approximately 2 hours per module, designed to be completed alongside active lending cycles..

Within 24 hours your account in the learning environment is provisioned and the tailored implementation playbook is delivered alongside it.

30-day money-back guarantee· 144 chapters· Hand-built playbook included· Account access within 24 hours
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