Summary:
The Director of Credit Risk (Head of risk) will own the credit underwriting and risk management responsibilities for credit card business and portfolio managment . This individual will define and execute regional and country-specific credit card underwriting strategies, including the development and refinement of our proprietary credit risk scoring methodologies. This will involve effectively underwriting new opportunities, reducing credit delinquencies, and implementing appropriate risk management practices to mitigate both credit-specific and portfolio-level risks.
The Director of Risk will be ultimately responsible for all underwriting activities within the business line, including building the necessary operational and team infrastructure to support these activities.
A key aspect of the role involves collaborating closely with the product and engineering team to provide direct input into the long-term development of automated underwriting and machine learning systems.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and implement a comprehensive credit risk framework that aligns with company's business goals and risk appetite, both regional and tailored to specific countries.
- Oversee credit risk assessment processes, including credit scoring and risk assessment of prospective companies, ensuring robust underwriting standards and effective portfolio monitoring.
- Lead the development and enhancement of our proprietary risk assessment engine, leveraging data and analytics to drive informed decision-making, with a focus on automated and machine learning-driven underwriting.
- Manage a team of credit and business intelligence analysts providing mentorship, guidance and professional development opportunities.
- Collaborate closely with the product and engineering team to provide direct input into the development of automated underwriting and machine learning systems and improve data extraction and processing.
- Work closely with the commercial team to coordinate information requests and follow-ups with prospective vendors.
- Present regular credit risk and portfolio assessments to the leadership team, providing insights and recommendations to drive strategic decision-making. Stay up-to-date on the latest industry and market trends, ensuring credit strategies remain innovative and effective.
Qualifications:
- 8+ years of relevant credit risk experience, including underwriting, credit scoring and risk management, ideally in the fintech or financial services industry.
- Strong understanding of the evolving needs of credit risk management in a high-growth fintech environment.
- Proven ability to work with imperfect data sets and rapidly underwrite small businesses. Creative thinker with a strong bias to action, exhibiting a "can-do" attitude and a willingness to roll up your sleeves.
- Leadership skills to build and mentor a high-performing credit risk team, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation.
- Strong team player who can actively contribute to cross-functional teams and drive alignment across the organization.
- Passion for fintech innovation and a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities in this space.
