Head of Credit Underwriting

About us

Join one of the UK’s fastest growing and award-winning banks. We are a team of ambitious, passionate, hardworking, and committed people who have successfully created and launched one of the UK’s newest specialist property finance banks. As we embark on an exciting journey of growth, we are seeking exceptional new team members who possess both the ambition and drive to contribute to our vision. At GB Bank, we believe that career progression should not only be achievable but accelerated, enabling our employees to reach their potential in a supportive and dynamic atmosphere. Our environment is fast-paced and collaborative, where your efforts are recognised, rewarded, and make a tangible impact. We take pride in fostering an open and inclusive culture that not only embraces change but also encourages continuous learning and professional development.

In this role, you will:

• Lead our growing first-line Credit Underwriting.
• Oversee the credit underwriting process, ensuring prudent risk management practices to support the successful delivery of our lending growth plans.
• Be responsible for leading and mentoring a growing team of commercial credit underwriters.
• Review and implement first-line credit underwriting processes and procedures to optimise lending decision making.
• Oversee the end-to-end credit assessment process, including risk analysis, financial modelling and due diligence.
• Design and review delegated lending authority structures.
• Present lending cases above your personal delegated lending authority to the Board Credit Committee.
• Work closely with the portfolio management team to understand the credit portfolio performance.
• Contribute feedback and ideas to the Financial Crime team.
• Liaise with various teams to ensure effective credit risk management and fair customer outcomes.
• Act as subject matter expert on Credit Risk.
• Keep abreast of market trends, regulatory changes, and industry developments impacting SME lending.

Key responsibilities as a member of GB Bank’s management team:

• Communicate a compelling vision that engages and inspires team members.
• Translate company-wide goals into actionable departmental and individual objectives.
• Foster a high-performance environment by setting direction and motivating the team.
• Lead efforts to attract, develop, and retain a diverse, inclusive, and high-performing team.
• Ensure effective onboarding and continuous development of team members.
• Contribute to effective resource planning and cost awareness within the team.

A bit about you – You are/have:

• Expertise in credit risk across financial services and Specialist Property-backed lending.
• Extensive experience of working with senior executives.
• Strong awareness of the regulatory framework.
• Proven analytical skills with a strong working knowledge of credit risk systems.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong leadership capabilities.
• Evidence of balanced and independent judgement.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills.
• Strong financial acumen and expertise in project finance.
• Ability to multitask and prioritise projects.
• Proven track record of developing team/team members.

What we can offer you:

• 8% company pension contribution and 3% individual contribution.
• 25 days holiday every year plus bank holidays.
• Private medical cover with BUPA.
• Death in service at 4 x base salary with Aviva.
• Mental health support.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave.

What else do I need to know?

• Location: London-based (4+ days in the office).
• Salary: Competitive.
• Hours: 35 Hours per week.

We are an equal opportunities employer and positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates, regardless of their age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital/civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity.

At GB Bank, we value privacy and data protection rights. We have longstanding data protection culture and promote robust ethical standards in data management.