At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead credit risk management and reporting for innovative consumer lending products.
- Company: Join Abound, a fast-growing fintech redefining personal finance in the UK.
- Benefits: Equity ownership, hybrid work, generous holiday, and wellness initiatives.
- Other info: Collaborate with senior leaders and shape best-in-class risk governance.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a critical role supporting growth and innovation.
- Qualifications: 5 years in analytical or risk-focused roles with strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 € per year.
About Abound
We’re redefining consumer lending in the UK, and beyond. Using advanced AI and Open Banking data, we make fair, affordable personal finance available to more people. While traditional lenders rely almost entirely on credit scores, we look at the full financial picture - how much you spend, and what you can afford to repay to build a deeper, more accurate understanding of each customer's unique financial situation. And we’ve shown it works at scale. We’ve issued over £1.3bn in loans directly to customers while delivering market-leading credit performance - for every 10 defaults the industry expects, we see only 3. We also reached profitability just 2.5 years after launch. Backed by £2bn+ of funding from top-tier investors including Citi, GSR Ventures, and Deutsche Bank, we’re recognised as one of Europe’s fastest-growing fintechs.
The Role
We are hiring a Head of Credit Risk and Reporting to support the Chief Risk Officer (CRO) in overseeing credit risk management across an expanding set of products, channels, and geographies. The role exists to ensure that credit and product risk is measured, monitored, and communicated in a consistent, decision-useful way as the business scales. This is a hands-on leadership role. While it is not a deep, hands-on data science position, it does require someone who is a doer as well as a coordinator – comfortable getting into the detail of MI, asking probing questions, and driving follow-up actions through to completion. The role spans both traditional credit risk and new product risks, working closely with product teams, data scientists, and senior management.
What you’ll be doing
- Support the CRO in overseeing credit and product risk management across multiple products, channels, and geographies.
- Own and oversee the completeness, accuracy, and clarity of credit risk management information (MI) across the business.
- Define and maintain standardised credit risk reporting frameworks, metrics, and definitions to ensure consistency and comparability as the business scales.
- Coordinate inputs from product, underwriting, and data science teams into a single, coherent cross-product risk narrative.
- Provide clear, structured credit risk updates into Product Steering Committees and Monthly Product Forums.
- Oversee the monitoring and reporting of key credit performance triggers and concentration metrics.
- Ensure adherence to internally defined risk limits and externally defined triggers arising from funding arrangements.
- Identify and assess risks arising from new products, features, or geographies, and ensure appropriate monitoring is in place.
- Proactively identify emerging risks or concentrations and ensure timely escalation and remediation.
- Lead programme management for audits, funding due diligence, and other external reviews.
- Act as a key point of contact for funders, auditors, lawyers, and advisors on credit and product risk reporting.
Who You Are
- A rigorous, disciplined, and hands‑on professional with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
- Comfortable operating in a scaling organisation where structure and coordination become increasingly important.
- Technically fluent in credit risk concepts, portfolio metrics, concentration analysis, and performance monitoring.
- Confident challenging data, assumptions, and narratives in a constructive, commercially grounded way.
- Highly organised, with strong execution and stakeholder management skills.
- Credible and composed when engaging with senior management and external counterparties.
Experience & Background
- Around 5 years’ experience in a numerate, analytical, or risk‑focused role (e.g. credit risk, finance, consulting, audit, analytics, operations).
- Experience across one or more consumer lending products such as Unsecured Personal Loans (UPL), BNPL, Mortgages, or Auto finance.
- Experience producing, reviewing, or owning MI in a multi‑product or multi‑channel environment.
- Familiarity with credit risk performance metrics, portfolio monitoring, concentration analysis, and performance triggers.
- Experience working with internal risk limits and/or external covenants, triggers, or funding‑related reporting.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex topics clearly to senior audiences.
- Does not need to be a deep data scientist, but must be comfortable working closely with data scientists and getting into the detail where required.
Why Abound
- Take ownership of a critical role supporting Abound’s continued growth and expansion into new products and markets.
- Work closely with the CRO, senior leadership, product teams, and external stakeholders.
- Help shape scalable, best‑in‑class credit and product risk reporting and governance.
- Operate in a high‑trust role with real responsibility, visibility, and impact.
What we offer
- Everyone owns a piece of the company – equity.
- Hybrid working with 3 days a week in the office.
- 25 days’ holiday a year, plus 8 bank holidays.
- 2 paid volunteering days per year.
- One month paid sabbatical after 4 years.
- Employee loan.
- Free gym membership.
- Team wellness budget to be active together – set up a yoga class, a tennis lesson or go bouldering.
Head of Credit Risk employer: Abound
At Abound, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions innovation and personal growth in the fintech sector. Our collaborative work culture fosters ownership and accountability, allowing employees to make a tangible impact while enjoying benefits like equity ownership, hybrid working, generous holiday allowances, and wellness initiatives. Join us in redefining consumer lending and take advantage of unique opportunities for professional development in a rapidly expanding company.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Credit Risk
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their approach to credit risk and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. Show them you’re not just another candidate, but someone who truly gets what they’re about.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be clear about your skills and experiences that make you a great fit for the Head of Credit Risk role. Keep it concise and engaging – you want to leave a lasting impression without rambling on.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Abound.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Credit Risk
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Credit Risk:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for credit risk shine through! We want to see how your experience aligns with our mission of redefining consumer lending. Share specific examples that highlight your skills and passion for the field.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and make sure your key achievements stand out. Use bullet points if it helps to organise your thoughts – we love a well-structured application!
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application for the Head of Credit Risk role. Highlight relevant experiences from your background that directly relate to the responsibilities listed in the job description. This shows us you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in the position.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about what we do at Abound!
How to prepare for a job interview at Abound
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Head of Credit Risk, you'll need to be comfortable with metrics and performance monitoring. Brush up on key credit risk concepts, portfolio metrics, and concentration analysis before the interview. Be ready to discuss how you've used these in past roles.
✨Show Your Hands-On Approach
This role requires a doer as well as a coordinator. Prepare examples that showcase your hands-on experience in managing credit risk and how you’ve driven follow-up actions to completion. Highlight situations where you’ve taken ownership and made a tangible impact.
✨Communicate Clearly
Strong communication skills are essential for this position. Practice explaining complex topics in a clear and concise manner. You might be asked to present a risk narrative or update senior management, so think about how you can make your points easily digestible.
✨Be Ready to Challenge Assumptions
The ability to challenge data and assumptions constructively is crucial. Prepare to discuss instances where you’ve questioned narratives or data in a way that led to better decision-making. This shows your analytical mindset and commitment to accuracy.