Head of Lending

Berkley Group; Tipperary; On-site; EUR 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Berkley Group is recruiting a Head of Lending for its Co. Tipperary operation. The role leads the entire lending function, including growth, underwriting, operations, and risk management, reporting to the CEO.

You will guide policy, build a high-performing team, and ensure regulatory compliance within a dynamic financial services environment. The successful candidate will possess 5+ years in lending, be QFA qualified, and demonstrate strong credit judgment, stakeholder management and commercial

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience in lending, underwriting or credit management within financial services.
• QFA qualified.
• Strong knowledge of credit assessment, underwriting and lending practices.
• Experience across consumer, mortgage and/or business lending.
• Previous team leadership or management experience.
• Strong understanding of the Irish financial services regulatory environment.
• Commercial mindset with experience balancing lending growth and credit quality.
• Excellent analytical, decision-making and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the lending strategy and drive sustainable loan book growth.
• Manage the day-to-day lending function and lead a high-performing lending team.
• Oversee credit assessment, underwriting and loan approvals.
• Maintain strong credit quality and responsible lending standards.
• Monitor lending KPIs, arrears, portfolio performance and service levels.
• Develop and improve lending policies, processes and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with relevant Irish financial services regulation and internal risk frameworks.
• Prepare lending reports and portfolio insights for senior management and the Board.
• Work closely with Finance, Risk, Compliance and other key stakeholders.

Skills

Credit assessment

Underwriting

Team leadership

Regulatory compliance

Lending growth

Stakeholder management

Education

QFA

Job description

Head of Lending

Location: Co. Tipperary
Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Reporting to: CEO

An established and growing financial services organisation is seeking an experienced Head of Lending to join its Management Team.
This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for the overall lending function, including loan book growth, credit underwriting, lending operations, team leadership, risk management and regulatory compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the lending strategy and drive sustainable loan book growth.
• Manage the day-to-day lending function and lead a high-performing lending team.
• Oversee credit assessment, underwriting and loan approvals.
• Maintain strong credit quality and responsible lending standards.
• Monitor lending KPIs, arrears, portfolio performance and service levels.
• Develop and improve lending policies, processes and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with relevant Irish financial services regulation and internal risk frameworks.
• Prepare lending reports and portfolio insights for senior management and the Board.
• Work closely with Finance, Risk, Compliance and other key stakeholders.

Experience Required

• 5+ years' experience in lending, underwriting or credit management within financial services.
• QFA qualified.
• Strong knowledge of credit assessment, underwriting and lending practices.
• Experience across consumer, mortgage and/or business lending.
• Previous team leadership or management experience.
• Strong understanding of the Irish financial services regulatory environment.
• Commercial mindset with experience balancing lending growth and credit quality.
• Excellent analytical, decision-making and stakeholder management skills.