At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and build a collections function from scratch for a new SME lender.
- Company: Exciting start-up lender in London with growth potential.
- Benefits: Influence key decisions, senior visibility, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Join at inception stage and create scalable infrastructure for long-term success.
- Why this job: Shape the future of collections in a pioneering role with real impact.
- Qualifications: Strong collections experience and ability to build frameworks from the ground up.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
We’re supporting a new SME business loans lender as they hire their first Head of Collections based in London.
This is a senior, foundational role for someone who can design, implement, and scale a collections function from the ground up as the business grows.
You’ll build the entire collections framework, ensuring strong customer outcomes, robust controls, and commercially effective recovery strategies.
You’ll work closely with senior leadership and external legal partners to shape the lender’s operational and risk culture during a pivotal growth phase.
Key
Responsibilities: Build and lead the end‑to‑end collections function for an SME lending portfolio.
Develop collections policies, workflows, and frameworks aligned to UK regulations, industry standards, and commercial objectives.
Work directly with legal counsel on complex cases, enforcement options, and regulatory interpretation.
Create scalable processes that evolve as lending volumes increase.
Manage early‑stage and late‑stage collections activity, balancing customer fairness with portfolio performance.
Establish MI, reporting, and performance metrics to monitor portfolio health and drive strategic decisions.
Collaborate with Credit, Risk, Operations, and Compliance to ensure a unified approach to customer management.
Lead on complex cases, restructures, and recovery strategies.
Recruit, develop, and manage a collections team as the business expands.
Contribute to wider operational strategy as part of the senior leadership group.
What You’ll Bring Strong collections experience within SME lending, commercial finance, or higher‑risk credit environments.
Proven ability to build frameworks, processes, and controls from scratch.
A commercial mindset with the ability to balance customer outcomes and loan book performance.
Deep familiarity with UK collections rules, regulations, and legal processes.
Confidence to sit with lawyers, challenge thinking, and navigate complex or sensitive cases.
High levels of assertiveness and commercial judgement - able to spot issues early, identify potential fraud, and intervene decisively.
Experience in fast‑paced, high‑growth or start‑up environments.
Experience in managing and leading a team.
Why This Role Stands Out This is a rare opportunity to join a lender at inception stage and build a collections function your way.
You’ll have genuine influence, senior visibility, and the chance to create scalable infrastructure that underpins long‑term growth.
How to Apply To apply, please submit your CV directly to this listing.
Due to the high number of applicants, we’re unable to respond individually.
