About the Role

Lead Credit Risk Management - SME (m/f/d): you will be responsible for the operational performance of the SME credit risk function, the development and leadership of the team, and strategic execution and development of credit risk underwriting and monitoring processes. While a strong foundation in credit underwriting is essential, the focus of this role lies in leading a high-performing team and enhancing business operations.

You will drive initiatives to achieve operational targets, optimize workflows, and continuously support the evolution of our credit tech stack towards automated decision making. You’ll work closely with the Lead for Risk Strategy and the VP of Credit to align underwriting strategies with business goals. You’ll also contribute to business goals by underwriting and monitoring customers yourself.

This role will be based in London (hybrid).

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Who are Pliant

What You’ll Do

• Leadership: Lead and mentor a team of credit risk professionals, setting clear expectations and goals. Providing regular feedback and training to grow the team’s professional capabilities. Create a team culture rooted in ownership, collaboration, and continuous growth.
• Operational performance: Own, measure and drive the team’s achievement of operational KPIs and OKRs. Identify bottlenecks and blockers in workflows and resolve them together with the team. Continuously review and enhance operational processes to reduce handling times while keeping quality within agreed parameters.
• Underwriting: Perform credit assessments for SME clients, ensuring high-quality documentation, compliance, and transparency across all credit processes.
• Collaboration: Align credit operations with broader risk strategy in partnership with the Risk Strategy Lead. Contribute to and support the development of automated decision strategies. Collaborate with Commercial, Product, Data, and Legal teams to align underwriting practice and tools with business needs.
• Communication: Facilitate smooth and fact-based information flow between colleagues. Support the development of a culture of open dialogue, focused on mutual respect and joint achievement of excellent results.

What You’ll Bring

• Proven operational leadership experience, preferably in a bank or fintech.
• Deep understanding of credit risk underwriting for SME customers.
• Experience managing teams in fast-paced, tech-enabled environments.
• Demonstrated success in improving operational performance and scaling processes.
• Strong financial and risk analysis skills; familiarity with open banking data and transaction-level insights is a plus.
• Comfortable with APIs, decision engines, and data tools.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to drive cross-functional alignment.
• Determination and desire to work in a team to achieve high-quality results for our customers, even under stress.
• Fluent in English; additional European languages are a plus.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to work in a growing team with big responsibilities that thrives on a strong exchange of knowledge and excellence
• Attractive remuneration
• Flat hierarchy and transparent communication in a relaxed, professional atmosphere
• Opportunity to develop your talent in a dynamic team with ambitious goals
• Flexibility and possibility to work remotely
• Monthly mobility benefit
• Wellhub Membership
• Company card with a monthly allowance for lunches, coffee, etc. with co-workers