Commercial Lending and Fraud Prevention Specialist

Ford Motor Company; Manchester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global automotive firm is looking for a seasoned Commercial Underwriting expert to enhance fraud prevention strategies and support SME lending. This critical role involves providing operational support, leading fraud investigations, and sharing knowledge with the underwriting teams. The ideal candidate will have a bachelor's degree and extensive experience in commercial credit underwriting and fraud prevention. Competitive compensation package available.

Qualifications

• Strong progressive commercial credit underwriting experience in financial services.
• Proven hands-on experience identifying, investigating, and preventing commercial lending fraud.
• Strong understanding of commercial lending legal structures and documentation.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational support for commercial applications focused on an SME portfolio.
• Lead investigations into suspicious applications and collaborate with teams.
• Design and deliver training on fraud identification to underwriting teams.

Skills

Commercial credit underwriting

Fraud prevention expertise

Analytical skills

Critical thinking

Leadership skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance, Business, Economics or equivalent

Tools

Fraud detection software

Job description

Opportunity

• The Opportunity As our commercial portfolio expands and financial crime evolves; we're creating a critical new role for a seasoned Commercial Underwriting expert. This high-impact position is vital to protecting our business and empowering our underwriting teams by providing specialist fraud prevention knowledge and strategic process improvements.

Role Summary

• Role Summary The Commercial Lending and Fraud Prevention Analyst is a dual-focused Subject Matter Expert. You'll provide critical operational support for commercial applications focused on an SME portfolio, while leading strategic initiatives to enhance our underwriting framework, with a strong emphasis on fraud prevention. This role significantly strengthens our ability to assess credit risk and combat financial crime.

Operational Support & Underwriting Expertise

• Serve as the primary escalation point for high value loans for our SME portfolio lending as well as supporting underwriting for more complex commercial applications.
• Provide expert guidance on deal structuring, financial analysis, business models, sector risk analysis and industry risk.
• Conduct in-depth reviews and underwrite high-ris cases, applying advanced analytical and fraud detection techniques.

Fraud Prevention, Investigation & Enhancement

• Act as the front-line specialist in commercial lending fraud typologies.
• Work with second line teams to develop and refine enhanced due diligence, detection rules, and verification protocols.
• Lead investigations into suspicious applications, collaborating with internal and external teams.
• Analyse fraud attempts to identify systemic weaknesses and recommend preventative measures.
• Monitor emerging fraud threats, regulations, and technological advancements.

Strategic Initiatives & Knowledge Sharing

• Work with our Learning and Development team to design and deliver training to underwriting teams on financial analysis and fraud identification.
• Lead/contribute to strategic projects improving underwriting efficiency and fraud detection.
• Develop best practices, guidelines, and fraud checklists tailored to our portfolio.
• Conduct regular quality checks on underwriters and provide feedback on findings.

Key Competencies

• Expert commercial credit acumen across diverse entity types and complex deals.
• Advanced practical experience in commercial lending fraud prevention and investigation.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and decision-making skills.
• Proven subject matter expertise, leadership, and mentoring abilities.
• Proactive approach to process/policy enhancement and excellent communication skills.
• Meticulous attention to detail.

Minimum Skill Requirements

• Strong progressive commercial credit underwriting experience in financial services.
• Demonstrable expertise underwriting diverse commercial entities.
• Proven hands-on experience identifying, investigating, and preventing specific commercial lending fraud typologies.
• Experience as a lead underwriter, specialist, or SME, providing guidance/sign-off on complex cases.
• Track record of developing/delivering training, policies, or best practices within an underwriting/risk function.
• Strong understanding of commercial lending legal structures and documentation.
• Proficiency with commercial credit bureaus, financial analysis tools, and underwriting systems.
• Bachelor's degree in finance, Business, Economics, or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience with specific fraud detection software/verification tools.

Desired Skills (Nice-to-Haves)

• Experience in automotive or asset finance.
• Relevant professional certifications (e.g., CFE, Advanced Commercial Lending).
• Experience managing small projects or process improvement initiatives.