Credit Risk Manager - Banking in Scotland

Credit Risk Manager - Banking in Scotland

Scotland Full-Time 60000 - 75000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Change Recruitment

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a team to develop and enhance affordability processes in credit risk management.
  • Company: Established UK financial services provider with a focus on innovation.
  • Benefits: Permanent role with opportunities for influence and career growth.
  • Other info: Join at the start of a new function and drive sustainable lending practices.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of affordability assessment and make a real impact.
  • Qualifications: Strong credit risk experience, analytical skills, and understanding of affordability frameworks.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.

An established UK financial services provider is looking to appoint a Senior Credit Risk Portfolio Lead to play a key role in the development of a newly created affordability function. This is a senior credit risk role with a strong focus on affordability across the full customer lifecycle, covering both new customer acquisition and existing customer management across unsecured lending portfolios.

The business is investing in a more sophisticated, model driven approach to affordability, using richer data sources to improve how income, expenditure, verification, customer behaviour and repayment capacity are assessed. The role will suit someone with strong credit risk experience who understands how affordability frameworks operate in practice, how models can improve decision making and how portfolio insight can be used to support sustainable lending, customer outcomes and commercial performance.

The successful individual will need to bring hands on credit risk judgement, strong analytical capability and the confidence to help build, improve and own affordability processes within a changing environment.

Key Responsibilities
  • Lead a small specialist team focused on affordability, portfolio insight and credit risk strategy.
  • Help build and embed a standalone affordability capability across the customer lifecycle.
  • Maintain and improve affordability assessment processes across acquisitions and account management.
  • Support the development of more model driven affordability approaches covering income, verification, expenditure and repayment capacity.
  • Improve the use of data sources to support better lending decisions, including customer behaviour and internal data insights.
  • Monitor portfolio performance, affordability outcomes, credit trends and emerging risk indicators.
  • Identify where existing affordability processes need to be improved, strengthened or uplifted.
  • Work closely with credit risk, product, analytics and business teams to ensure affordability decisions are commercially effective and well controlled.
  • Translate complex analysis into clear recommendations for senior stakeholders.
  • Support sustainable growth across unsecured lending portfolios while maintaining appropriate risk appetite.
  • Own, improve and document key affordability processes, controls and governance activity.
  • Provide clear challenge and advice on credit risk, affordability performance and customer outcomes.
About You

You will bring strong credit risk experience, ideally gained in unsecured lending, retail banking, consumer finance, credit cards, personal loans or overdrafts. You should have a practical understanding of affordability, credit strategy and portfolio management. This could include experience across acquisition strategy, account management, income verification, expenditure assessment, bureau data, internal behavioural data, customer segmentation or model driven decisioning.

You won't come from a purely regulatory background. The key requirement is strong credit risk judgement, hands on analytical capability and experience using data to improve lending decisions across the customer lifecycle.

Key Experience
  • Strong credit risk experience within retail lending or consumer finance.
  • Practical experience of affordability frameworks, assessments or strategy.
  • Experience across unsecured lending portfolios such as credit cards, loans or overdrafts.
  • Understanding of acquisition strategy and existing customer account management.
  • Experience using data, MI and portfolio insight to identify risks, trends and opportunities.
  • Understanding of model driven decisioning, income verification, expenditure assessment or repayment capacity analysis.
  • Ability to work with analytical teams to improve credit risk and affordability processes.
  • Experience managing or mentoring colleagues within credit risk, analytics or portfolio management.
  • Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence senior audiences.
  • Good understanding of risk appetite, controls, governance and customer outcomes.
  • Ability to turn complex analysis into clear recommendations and practical change.
Why Consider This Role?

This is an opportunity to join at the early stage of a new affordability function, with the chance to shape how affordability is assessed, managed and improved across the full customer lifecycle. The role offers real influence across credit risk strategy, model driven decisioning, data enhancement, portfolio management and business growth. It would suit someone who enjoys working in detail, understands the mechanics of credit risk and affordability, and wants to help build a more sophisticated approach to sustainable unsecured lending.

A fantastic opportunity for an experienced Credit Risk practitioner to join this household name!

Apply online!

Change Recruitment

Contact Details:

Change Recruitment Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Credit Risk Manager - Banking in Scotland

Tap into Campus Networks

If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.

Get Certified

Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.

Connect on Professional Platforms

Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.

Apply Directly and Be Proactive

Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Change Recruitment. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.

We think you need these skills to ace Credit Risk Manager - Banking in Scotland

Credit Risk Experience
Affordability Frameworks
Analytical Capability
Data Analysis
Portfolio Management
Model Driven Decisioning
Income Verification

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.

Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Change Recruitment.

Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.

Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Change Recruitment's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!

How to prepare for a job interview at Change Recruitment

Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills

Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Change Recruitment.

Prepare for Case Studies

Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.

Show Your Passion for Finance

Since this is a full-time position, employers at Change Recruitment will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.

Network with Industry Professionals

Before your interview, reach out to current or former Change Recruitment employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.