Lending Operations Manager (Interim – 12 Weeks) in Milton Keynes

Hello, We are Recognise Bank; a modern business bank built to support the UK’s SMEs with tailored lending and savings solutions. Founded in 2017 by experienced business owners, we set out to challenge traditional banking by offering more flexibility, understanding, and practical support to help businesses thrive. Since receiving our banking licence in 2021, we’ve built a loyal customer base and a strong, diverse team that puts people first. Our vision is building stronger futures with bespoke financial solutions.

We understand that no two financial needs are the same, which is why we work closely with UK SMEs and individuals to unlock potential others often overlook. Through smart, flexible lending and savings products, we’re here to build and grow stronger futures for lasting success. Our values shape how we work and grow together:

• Can do, will do: We take ownership, solve problems, and adapt as our customers’ needs evolve.
• Be brilliant: We show up with curiosity and energy, always striving for better.
• Do the right thing: We act with integrity, responsibility, and care in everything we do.
• Make a difference: We focus on impact, helping our customers, colleagues, and communities succeed.

About the role: We are seeking an experienced Operations professional for a twelve‑week fixed‑term contract to support the business through a period of team change across both New Business and Portfolio Operations. This is a highly hands‑on role, acting as a central coordination point to maintain operational continuity across deal completions and the ongoing servicing of the loan book. The role will support the efficient progression of credit‑approved deals through to drawdown, while also ensuring the effective management of existing loans, including covenant monitoring, servicing activity, and issue resolution.

Working closely with internal stakeholders and third‑party suppliers, you will help minimise disruption to service levels, protect customer outcomes, and support short‑term operational improvements and project delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• New Business & Completions: Manage and progress credit‑approved deals from approval through to drawdown, ensuring timely and accurate completion. Provide day‑to‑day, hands‑on oversight across the completions pipeline, identifying and resolving delays or bottlenecks. Liaise closely with Lending Managers, Underwriters, Legal, Compliance, solicitors, and valuers to deliver a seamless end‑to‑end process. Conduct and oversee KYC and AML checks, ensuring all regulatory and internal requirements are met prior to drawdown. Complete and oversee credit searches and loan data entry, maintaining high standards of accuracy and data integrity.
• Portfolio Operations & Servicing: Support the ongoing servicing and performance management of the loan portfolio across its lifecycle. Oversee covenant monitoring and reporting, ensuring ongoing compliance with borrower obligations and internal policies. Support loan lifecycle events including extensions, redemptions, restructures, and variations, ensuring outcomes align with risk appetite and commercial requirements. Assist with arrears management, collections, and early‑stage enforcement activity, working closely with internal teams and external partners to achieve timely resolution.
• Operational Delivery & Change Support: Act as a central coordination point between teams during the transition period, supporting clarity of ownership and smooth handovers. Use internal systems (including nCino) to track workflows, maintain accurate records, and support MI and reporting. Support delivery against SLAs and KPIs, maintaining a strong execution and service‑focused approach during change. Assist with system testing, enhancements, and short‑term process improvement or automation initiatives. Provide hands‑on operational support to project, transformation, or remediation activity as required. Ensure all activity is carried out in line with regulatory requirements, internal policies, and procedures. Deliver a consistently high standard of service to both internal and external stakeholders throughout the contract period.

Required Skills & Experience

• 8+ years’ experience in financial services with strong hands‑on knowledge of lending operations and loan servicing.
• Bridging lending experience is essential; exposure to other lending products is advantageous.
• Strong practical understanding of both completions/drawdown and post‑completion portfolio servicing.
• Solid working knowledge of KYC and AML requirements within lending operations.
• Experience supporting covenant monitoring, extensions, redemptions, arrears, or collections activity.
• Proven ability to act as a coordination or “bridge” role within operational teams, particularly during periods of change or increased workload.
• Experience managing relationships with third‑party suppliers such as solicitors, valuers, and collections partners.
• Confident user of loan origination and servicing systems, with a strong focus on data quality and workflow management.
• Highly execution‑focused, organised, and comfortable working in a fast‑paced, hands‑on environment.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Familiarity with nCino or similar workflow / loan management platforms is beneficial.

Why Join? At Recognise Bank, we’re building more than a bank — we’re creating a culture where people feel empowered to make a difference, supported to be brilliant with a can do will do attitude, and trusted to do the right thing. We believe that when our people thrive, so do our customers. That’s why we invest in an environment that reflects our values and supports your growth, flexibility, and wellbeing. If you’re curious, driven, and ready to be part of something meaningful — where your ideas matter, your growth is supported, and your work makes a real impact — then we’d love to hear from you. Recognise Bank is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.