Head of Credit Risk

StrideUp; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A financial services startup in London is seeking a Head of Credit Risk to lead its credit risk strategy and manage mortgage-related products. The role requires over 8 years of experience in credit risk management, strong collaboration with executive teams, and a passion for ethical financing. This position offers competitive salary, equity participation, and a hybrid working model with 3 days in the office.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Equity participation

25 days annual holiday

Annual L&D budget

3% pension contribution

Monthly socials

Central London location

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in credit risk management, especially in mortgage and property finance.
• Strong knowledge of credit risk frameworks and affordability models.
• Experience managing large loan portfolios and improving credit performance.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement credit risk policies.
• Oversee underwriting and risk monitoring frameworks.
• Conduct regular portfolio health reviews.

Skills

Credit risk leadership

Analytical thinking

Strategic planning

Collaboration

Ethical financing

Job description

Overview

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 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.

Qualifications & Benefits

• 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.

• 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