Credit or Loans Officer

A Credit or Loans Officer assesses applications for personal loans, mortgages, business loans, and other credit facilities by evaluating applicants' financial status, credit history, and repayment capacity. They work within banks, credit unions, non-bank lenders, or finance brokerages in Australia, making lending decisions within delegated authority and ensuring compliance with responsible lending obligations under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009. The role involves analysing financial documents, conducting affordability assessments, documenting loan conditions, and maintaining regular contact with borrowers throughout the loan lifecycle.

Review loan applications and supporting documentation including payslips, tax returns, bank statements, and proof of assets to verify applicant eligibility. Conduct credit history checks using credit reporting systems to identify applicant default patterns and assess credit risk. Perform affordability assessments to ensure borrowers can service the loan under the responsible lending obligations outlined in the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009. Calculate loan serviceability ratios, compare debt-to-income metrics, and factor living expenses to determine maximum lending amounts. Prepare loan approval or rejection recommendations with detailed risk assessments and documented reasoning. Liaise with mortgage brokers, real estate agents, and applicants to gather additional financial documentation or clarify application details. Set loan conditions such as interest rates, repayment terms, security requirements, and loan covenants based on risk profile and lender policy. Arrange valuations of residential or commercial property offered as loan security and review valuation reports.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate IV or Certificate III with at least two years of on-the-job training (ABS skill level 3). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll spend most of your day staring at spreadsheets and financial documents, which gets repetitive and mentally draining. The bigger challenge is telling people 'no': rejecting loan applications means denying someone's home or business dream, and that emotional weight is real. You're also legally liable if you breach responsible lending laws, which adds pressure to every decision.

Regional areas have fewer opportunities outside small credit unions and local finance brokerages. The reality is most roles are in metro areas. Remote work is becoming more common post-COVID, particularly for document review and assessment tasks.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 5522, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Active Listeningcore
• Actuarial sciencecore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracycore
• Confidentiality and Privacy Compliancecore
• CRM System Operationcore
• Customer Needs Assessmentcore
• Data Entry and Accuracycore
• Eligibility Assessmentcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Record Managementcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Verification and Authenticationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Advise on financial matters
• Complaint Handling
• Microsoft Office Suite Proficiency
• Negotiation
• Objection Handling
• Policy Interpretation
• Report Writing
• Research and Analysis
• Time Management and Prioritisation

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

What Credit or Loans Officer workers move into, from ten years of tax records.

Last updated: 30 October 2026