Chief Credit Officer

ThinkingAhead Executive Search; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 260,000 - 380,000; Full time

Job summary

ThinkingAhead Executive Search is seeking a Chief Credit Officer to lead the credit strategy, underwriting standards, and portfolio risk management. You will shape risk culture and work with the CEO, CFO, and executives on growth and capital allocation.

You will oversee underwriting for opportunities, ensure compliance, and mentor the credit teams to maintain portfolio quality and disciplined lending. Hybrid role based in New York.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or higher in finance, economics, or related field; MBA preferred.
• Proven leadership of credit, underwriting, or risk-management teams.
• Strong communication and collaboration with C-suite and board.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead credit strategy, risk appetite, and lending standards.
• Oversee underwriting for new loans, renewals, and restructurings.
• Guide portfolio risk management and credit committee reporting.

Skills

Credit strategy

Underwriting standards

Risk management

Leadership

Executive collaboration

Education

MBA or Finance MSc

Tools

Excel

Financial modeling

Job description

Executive leadership, hybrid in New York: own the credit function at a growing lender.

Lead the credit strategy, set the underwriting standards, and shape the risk culture behind a growing lender as a key member of the executive team.

About the Role

The Chief Credit Officer (CCO) leads the company’s credit strategy, underwriting standards, portfolio risk management, and overall credit culture. You’ll make sure lending decisions are sound, consistent, compliant, and aligned with the company’s growth goals and risk appetite. As a key member of the executive leadership team, you’ll partner with the CEO, CFO, and senior leaders on growth strategy, capital allocation, and portfolio performance.

What You’ll Do

Credit Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and oversee the company’s overall credit strategy, risk appetite, and lending standards
• Build a strong credit culture focused on disciplined underwriting, risk management, and portfolio quality
• Partner with the CEO, CFO, and senior leadership team on growth strategy, capital allocation, and portfolio performance
• Lead, mentor, and manage the credit, underwriting, and/or portfolio management teams
• Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team and credit committee
• Oversee underwriting for new loan opportunities, renewals, amendments, and restructurings
• Review and approve credit memoranda, borrower financial analysis, collateral analysis, cash flow projections, and risk assessments
• Ensure credit decisions are supported by appropriate financial, operational, collateral, and legal diligence
• Evaluate borrower management teams, business models, industry trends, liquidity, leverage, and repayment capacity
• Structure transactions that balance borrower needs, collateral protection, risk, and return

Credit Policy & Procedures

• Develop, maintain, and enforce credit policies, underwriting guidelines, approval authorities, and risk-rating methodology
• Keep policies appropriate as the company grows and market conditions change
• Create consistent standards for collateral eligibility, advance rates, covenant requirements, reserves, reporting, and monitoring
• Identify gaps in credit processes and implement improvements that increase efficiency, consistency, and risk control
• Monitor portfolio performance, borrower trends, collateral coverage, covenant compliance, delinquencies, and credit deterioration
• Identify emerging risks and recommend proactive actions to protect the company’s capital
• Oversee portfolio reviews, watchlist reporting, risk ratings, and problem-loan management
• Review borrowing base certificates, field exam results, appraisals, financial statements, and other borrower reporting
• Partner with portfolio management and operations teams to ensure ongoing compliance with loan terms and collateral requirements

Credit Committee & Reporting

• Lead or participate in credit committee meetings and present recommendations on new deals, renewals, amendments, and exceptions
• Deliver clear, concise credit reporting to senior management, the board, investors, bank partners, and other stakeholders
• Track and report key credit metrics, including portfolio quality, concentration risk, exceptions, delinquencies, non-performing loans, charge-offs, and covenant defaults
• Document credit decisions, approvals, policy exceptions, and risk mitigants