Lead Credit Risk Analyst

Harnham; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Harnham is working with a growing UK financial services business to recruit a Lead Credit Risk Analyst in Cardiff. This role sits in the Credit Strategy team and offers exposure to senior stakeholders and strategic decision-making as the lending portfolio expands.

You will shape credit strategy, analyse portfolio performance, streamline decisioning rules, and work with Product, Underwriting, and Commercial teams.

Qualifications

• Experience within Credit Risk Strategy in a consumer lending environment.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable recommendations.
• Experience working with lending policies, scorecards, decisioning rules, and underwriting strategies.
• Advanced SQL skills, with Python considered advantageous.
• Ability to communicate complex analytical findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Analysing portfolio performance, including approvals, referrals, arrears, and defaults.
• Identifying opportunities to improve automation across the credit decisioning process.
• Producing insight-led recommendations to enhance credit strategy and policy.
• Collaborating with Product, Underwriting, and Commercial teams on strategic initiatives.
• Monitoring and evaluating the impact of credit strategy changes.

Skills

Credit risk strategy

Analytical skills

Lending policies/scorecards

SQL

Python (adv)

Communication of insights

Tools

SQL

Job description

HYBRID (1 DAYS PER WEEK IN-OFFICE)

CARDIFF

Harnham are working with a growing UK financial services business to recruit a Lead Credit Risk Analyst into their expanding credit strategy team. This is an excellent opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future of a developing lending product, with significant exposure to strategic decision-making and senior stakeholders.

THE COMPANY

Harnham are working with a well-established UK lender that combines data, analytics, and technology to deliver consumer finance products. As part of a wider financial services group, the business offers the stability of an established brand alongside the opportunity to influence a growing lending portfolio. With continued investment in its credit capabilities, the company is focused on improving customer outcomes, operational efficiency, and risk management through data-driven decision making.

THE ROLE

This role sits within the Credit Strategy function and offers the chance to influence lending decisions, optimise credit performance, and support the ongoing development of a growing loan portfolio. You'll work closely with a range of stakeholders to develop strategies that balance growth, customer outcomes, and risk.

Specifically, you can expect to be involved in:

• Analysing portfolio performance, including approvals, referrals, arrears, and defaults.
• Identifying opportunities to improve automation across the credit decisioning process.
• Producing insight-led recommendations to enhance credit strategy and policy.
• Collaborating with Product, Underwriting, and Commercial teams on strategic initiatives.
• Monitoring and evaluating the impact of credit strategy changes.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

The successful Lead Credit Risk Analyst must have the following skills and experience:

• Experience within Credit Risk Strategy in a consumer lending environment.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable recommendations.
• Experience working with lending policies, scorecards, decisioning rules, and underwriting strategies.
• Advanced SQL skills, with Python considered advantageous.
• Ability to communicate complex analytical findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

BENEFITS

The successful Lead Credit Risk Analyst will receive a salary up to £70,000 and an annual bonus.