Head of Credit Risk

StrideUp; London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job description

StrideUp's mission is to redefine the standard of Islamic financial services through expertise, sincerity, and a personable approach. Our vision is to enable the Muslim community to access financial solutions aligned with their values. On our path to building a digital bank, we started with property finance and have already deployed hundreds of millions in financing, supporting thousands of people in their financial goals.

We are looking for a Head of Credit Risk to lead and manage our credit risk strategy, ensuring we operate within a well-defined risk appetite while enabling business growth. This is an exciting opportunity to join a fast-growing, mission-driven company at the forefront of Islamic financial services.

StrideUp is backed by leading VC and private equity investors, having raised over £25m in funding.

The Role

We are looking for a Head of Credit Risk to lead and manage our credit risk strategy, ensuring we operate within a well-defined risk appetite while enabling business growth. This is an exciting opportunity to join a fast-growing, mission-driven company at the forefront of Islamic financial services.

You will play a critical role in managing risk across our Home Purchase Plan (HPP) and Buy-to-Let (BTL) products, balancing growth with prudent risk management. You will also be a key advisor to the CEO and Board, ensuring credit decisions align with our strategic objectives.

You Are

• A Risk Leader: You have a proven track record in credit risk leadership within financial services, ideally in mortgage or property finance.
• Analytical and Data-Driven: You use data to drive decision-making and continuously monitor portfolio performance.
• Strategic and Detail-Oriented: You can set the big-picture risk strategy while ensuring the fine details of credit risk management are well-executed.
• Collaborative: You work effectively across teams, aligning risk management with product, finance, and operations.
• Mission-Driven: You are passionate about ethical and responsible financing and connect with StrideUp's mission.

What You'll Do

• Develop and Execute a Credit Risk Strategy: Define and implement policies to manage credit risk effectively while enabling business growth.
• Manage the Credit Lifecycle: Oversee underwriting, affordability assessments, and risk monitoring frameworks to ensure sound lending decisions.
• Portfolio Oversight: Conduct regular reviews, stress testing, and scenario analysis to ensure portfolio health and compliance.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Work closely with the CEO, Board, and internal teams to align risk strategy with business objectives.
• Reporting and Analytics: Develop key risk indicators, track portfolio performance, and provide data-driven insights to inform strategy.
• Team Leadership: Build and mentor a high-performing credit risk team, fostering a culture of accountability and excellence.
• Customer-Centric Risk Management: Ensure financing decisions align with customer affordability and long-term financial well-being.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in credit risk management, with expertise in mortgage and property finance.
• Strong knowledge of credit risk frameworks, underwriting standards, and affordability models.
• Experience managing large loan portfolios and improving credit performance.
• Expertise in stress testing, scenario analysis, and regulatory compliance.
• Proven ability to collaborate with senior stakeholders, including executive teams and regulators.
• Leadership experience, with a track record of developing and managing high-performing teams.
• Strong analytical skills with a data-driven approach to risk management.

Benefits

• Salary: Competitive, based on experience.
• Equity participation.
• 25 days annual holiday.
• Annual L&D budget.
• 3% pension contribution.
• Monthly socials.
• Central London location (hybrid role with an expectation of at least 3 days in the office).
• Friendly and informal startup environment with a focus on performance and impact.