Assistant Vice President, Credit Risk Management

Merrick Bank; South Jordan (UT); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

401(k) Plan with Company Match

Disability Insurance

Wellness Programs

Paid Vacation & Holidays

Job summary

Merrick Bank in South Jordan, Utah seeks an AVP, Credit Risk Oversight to lead the Bank's second line of defense, oversee credit card portfolios, and challenge CECL estimates. The role drives risk governance, portfolio strategy, and loss forecasting with cross‑functional collaboration across the enterprise.

The position emphasizes independent review, data‑driven decision making, and leadership of the Credit Risk Oversight team, reporting to the VP, Credit Risk Oversight.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering or quantitative discipline required.
• Master's degree (MBA, Economics, Statistics or related field) preferred.
• Eight years of consumer credit risk management experience with non-prime credit card lending and/or CECL.

Responsibilities

• Credit Risk Monitoring & Assessment of card portfolios with risk trends and forecasts.
• Lead independent review and challenge of CECL estimates and loss forecasts.
• Establish governance standards for CECL and risk oversight.
• Develop independent risk assessments and executive reporting.
• Support credit risk governance and cross-functional partnerships.

Skills

Credit Risk Management

Independent Review & Challenge

Risk Governance & Oversight

Executive Risk Communication

Strategic Influence

Credit Analytics

Technical Knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering

Master's degree preferred (MBA, Economics, Statistics or related field)

Tools

SQL

SAS

Python

Power BI

Job description

Who we are Founded in 1997, Merrick Bank is an FDIC®-insured financial institution headquartered in South Jordan, Utah, with over $10billion in assets. A wholly owned subsidiary of CardWorks Financial Group, Merrick Bank serves roughly five million cardmembers and more than 100000 merchant customers nationwide.

What we do We provide credit cards, recreational loans, deposit accounts, merchant services and bank sponsorships to consumers and businesses. As a leader in non‑prime lending and merchant acquiring, we combine innovative technology with data‑driven insights to help underserved consumers build and strengthen credit while delivering integrated, scalable payment solutions for businesses. Merrick Bank ranks among the top 20 FDIC®-insured credit card issuers in the U.S. and among the top 15 merchant acquirers by transaction volume.

Position Summary and Role Impact

The AVP, Credit Risk Oversight, plays a critical leadership role in the Bank's second line of defense by providing independent oversight, challenge, and assessment of credit risk across the enterprise. This position leads credit oversight of the Bank’s credit card portfolios, conducts independent evaluations of credit performance, CECL loss forecasts, and material credit decisions, and ensures risks are appropriately identified, understood, and escalated. Through forward‑looking risk analysis, effective challenge of assumptions and strategies, and active participation in credit governance, this role influences risk appetite, portfolio strategy, and loss forecasting practices. This position reports to the VP, Credit Risk Oversight and provides leadership, guidance, and mentorship to members of the Credit Risk Oversight team.

Essential Functions

• Credit Risk Monitoring & Assessment: Provides independent oversight of credit card portfolios through ongoing monitoring of portfolio performance, risk trends, forecast outcomes, and key risk indicators. Identifies emerging risks, evaluates performance relative to expectations, risk appetite, and escalates material concerns to support timely management action and informed governance decisions.
• Review, Challenge & Concurrence: Leads the independent review and challenge of CECL estimates, credit loss forecasts, and material credit decisions. Evaluates assumptions, methodologies, risk‑return tradeoffs, and implementation plans. Provides formal concurrence opinions and escalates concerns when risks are inadequately understood, mitigated, or communicated.
• CECL Oversight & Challenge Framework Leadership: Serves as the functional lead for CECL review and challenge activities within Credit Risk Oversight. Establishes standards, methodologies, and governance practices for the independent assessment of CECL estimates, loss forecasts, stress scenarios, and related assumptions. Promotes consistency, transparency, and effective challenge across forecasting processes while supporting sound reserve adequacy assessment and risk‑informed decision‑making.
• Credit Oversight Reporting: Develops independent credit risk assessments and executive‑level oversight reporting. Synthesizes portfolio performance, forecast results, credit decisions, and emerging risks into clear, actionable insights for senior leadership and governance committees.
• Credit Governance: Supports the development, implementation, and ongoing enhancement of credit risk governance practices, oversight standards, and review and challenge frameworks. Contributes to the establishment of consistent risk oversight processes that promote transparent, disciplined, and effective credit risk management across the enterprise.
• Credit Risk Partnership & Influence: Develops strong partnerships across first‑and second‑line functions, providing an independent perspective on credit risk. Ensures risks are clearly understood, appropriately articulated, and incorporated into decision‑making while constructively influencing outcomes through data‑driven analysis and effective challenge.

Requirements for Success

Education & Experience

Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, or quantitative discipline is required. Master's degree (MBA, Economics, Statistics or related field) is preferred. Eight (8) years of experience in consumer credit risk management or strategy, with deep expertise in non‑prime credit card lending and/or CECL. Experience providing independent review, challenge, or oversight of credit strategies, forecasts, underwriting policies, portfolio management activities, or risk governance processes strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Capabilities

• Credit Risk Management Expertise: Advanced understanding of full lifecycle consumer credit risk management, including credit strategies, CECL methodologies, and credit risk monitoring.
• Independent Review & Challenge: Demonstrated ability to critically evaluate assumptions, methodologies, forecasts, and credit strategies and provide well‑supported challenge.
• Risk Governance & Oversight: Strong knowledge of credit risk governance practices, second‑line risk management principles, delegated authority structures, and escalation frameworks.
• Executive Risk Communication: Ability to synthesize complex quantitative and qualitative information into clear, concise, and actionable insights, reports, and recommendations.
• Strategic Influence & Partnership: Proven ability to influence decision‑making and build credibility while maintaining an independent risk perspective.
• Credit Analytics: Strong analytical capabilities with experience identifying early warning indicators, evaluating portfolio trends, assessing key risk indicators, and forecasting methodologies.
• Technical Knowledge: Ability to leverage data and reporting tools to analyze portfolio performance and communicate risk insights. Familiarity with SQL, SAS, Python, Power BI or comparable analytical tools preferred.

Compliance with Laws & Regulations

Responsible for complying with all the Bank’s internal control policies and procedures. Responsible for understanding and complying with all laws and regulations to which the Bank is subject. Responsible for communicating problems in operations, noncompliance with the code of conduct, noncompliance with laws and regulations, policy violations, or illegal acts.

Work Environment / Physical Demands

This position is remote or hybrid, and if hybrid, the expectation is that the employee will work approximately 2‑3 days onsite per week, depending on business needs. Work is in an office environment, sustained posture in a seated position for prolonged periods of time; works with computer equipment for prolonged periods of time. Some stress may occur. Occasional travel may be required. #INDHP

Why join us

We believe in putting people first by supporting our customers, employees and our partners while creating opportunities for everyone to reach their potential. From fostering work‑life balance to rewarding good work and innovative ideas, we invest in what matters most, our people. At Merrick Bank, you’ll be part of a collaborative, customer‑focused team where you can grow your career while making a meaningful impact. Our Employee Value Proposition.

Competitive Pay, including a Bonus Target or Variable Pay Incentive Program

Benefits Package

• Medical, Dental, and Vision (plus much more)
• 401(k) Plan with Company Match
• Short‑ & Long‑Term Disability
• Wellness Programs
• Group Life and AD&D Insurance
• Paid Vacation, Sick Days and bank Holidays
• Employee Engagement Activities including Employee Appreciation Day
• DEI Employee Resource Groups
• Corporate Social Responsibility, Service Recognition

We offer a total rewards package comprised of a competitive base rate of pay, variable pay incentive programs based on the role, and a comprehensive benefit suite.Offered rates of pay are determined based on job‑related knowledge, relevant experience, skills, certifications, and geographic location. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to age, race, color, sex, or gender identity/expression (including pregnancy, childbirth, transgender status, or sexual orientation), religion or creed, ancestry, citizenship, national origin, disability, military or veteran status, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We do not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. Employment decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs. Everyone is welcome here, and we hire based on your ability to do the job, not any protected characteristics. If you need help or reasonable accommodation during the application or hiring process, please let your TA Partner know.

CardWorks Financial Group is the engine driving financial progress, a diversified consumer finance provider building ethical solutions across credit, lending, and the full customer lifecycle. Advancing finance with purpose, we put people—clients, customers, and colleagues—at the center of everything we do, guided by our CRITICAL values and united as one enterprise across Merrick Bank, CardWorks Servicing, and Carson Smithfield. As your everyday champion, our vertically integrated platform fuels financial progress through access to credit, high yield deposits, flexible merchant payments, and end to end servicing performance—powered by a culture of relentless curiosity, belonging, and growth.