Head of Underwriting & Credit Decisioning

Head of Underwriting & Credit Decisioning

Specialist Business Finance | East Midlands (Office-Based)

£Very Competitive to Attract the Best + Significant Annual Bonus + Benefits Package (Relocation Support Available)

This is an opportunity to become the most influential credit mind in a rapidly scaling specialist lender. Not the most senior person in a bureaucratic committee structure. Not someone who reviews decisions others have already made. The person whose credit judgement sets the standard -- and whose leadership builds the team that delivers it.

The Context

An ambitious, high‑growth specialist SME lender is entering a pivotal phase of its development. The business has trebled in size in recent years, invested heavily in proprietary technology, AI‑driven credit scoring and data infrastructure, and has delivered significant SME lending volume through both broker‑introduced and own‑book channels. As the organisation scales further, it is seeking a Head of Underwriting & Credit Decisioning to take ownership of the credit function at an operational and strategic level, providing the kind of senior decisioning authority, leadership credibility and analytical depth that enables the business to grow without compromising on portfolio quality. The role reports into executive leadership and works closely with the Chief Risk function, data science, operations and commercial teams. This is a critical appointment for the business.

The Role

This position combines hands‑on underwriting leadership with genuine strategic influence over how the credit function is structured, governed and developed.

Underwriting Leadership

• Act as the senior underwriting authority within the business, taking ownership of complex, high‑value, exception and escalated transactions
• Design and implement a clear delegated authority framework that ensures consistent, scalable and high‑quality credit decisions across the team
• Oversee the quality, consistency and speed of underwriting decisions and drive continuous improvement
• Mentor, develop and performance‑manage a team of credit underwriters, building capability at every level

Credit Strategy & Decisioning

• Lead the ongoing development of credit policy, underwriting standards and risk appetite frameworks
• Work closely with the data science and technology teams to ensure that credit models, scorecards and automated decisioning tools are fit for purpose and continuously refined
• Contribute to portfolio monitoring, performance analysis and management information, providing clear insight to executive leadership
• Identify structural improvements to credit decisioning architecture – spanning data inputs, model frameworks, rules engines and manual referral processes

Commercial Partnership

• Work in close partnership with commercial, broker relationship and operations teams to ensure that credit decisions are commercially intelligent as well as risk‑appropriate
• Represent the credit function at senior leadership level, contributing to strategic planning, risk governance and board‑level reporting

The Candidate

You are an experienced, commercially credible credit professional operating at a senior level within lending, underwriting or credit risk. You combine strong analytical depth with the confidence to lead, the credibility to influence, and the judgement to make significant decisions under uncertainty.

• Substantial underwriting experience within SME lending, commercial finance, challenger banking, fintech lending, asset finance or specialist business finance
• Current or recent seniority as a Senior Underwriter, Underwriting Manager, Head of Underwriting, Credit Manager, Senior Credit Risk Manager or Principal Credit Officer
• Demonstrable experience operating with senior delegated sanctioning authority and making final credit decisions on complex or higher‑value transactions
• Experience contributing to or leading credit policy, underwriting frameworks or risk appetite development
• Familiarity with data‑led or technology‑enabled credit environments – experience working alongside data science, model development or automated decisioning platforms is a strong advantage
• Strong academic background – degree‑educated (preference for analytical disciplines) or equivalent demonstrated intellectual capability
• Leadership presence – able to set standards, develop people, challenge upwards and build a high‑performing team
• Unrestricted right to work in the UK

Target Backgrounds

Professionals currently operating within specialist SME lenders, new challenger banks, technology‑enabled business finance businesses, asset finance lenders, commercial finance houses or fintech credit environments are strongly encouraged to apply. The business is specifically seeking individuals who have been shaped by demanding, data‑aware, commercially competitive lending environments – and who are ready for the autonomy and influence that comes with leading a credit function at this level.

Remuneration

• £Very Competitive basic salary (dependent on experience, current authority level and existing credit leadership responsibility)
• Significant annual performance bonus
• Private healthcare
• Enhanced pension contributions
• Life assurance
• Executive benefits package
• Genuine long‑term progression – this role sits within a clear pathway toward Chief Credit Officer level leadership

Location & Relocation

East Midlands. This role is fully office‑based. The organisation's leadership team operates from the East Midlands office, and the Head of Underwriting is expected to be consistently present, leading the credit function from within the business. The business recognises that the right individual may be relocating – meaningful relocation assistance is available and will be discussed in detail with shortlisted candidates.

For experienced credit professionals who are ready to own a function – not just manage within one – and who want to shape the credit culture of a business that is genuinely building something significant, this represents an exceptional career move.

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