Head of Credit Risk

StrideUp's mission is to redefine the standard of Islamic financial services through expertise, sincerity, and a personable approach. Our vision is to enable the Muslim community to access financial solutions aligned with their values. On our path to building a digital bank, we started with property finance and have already deployed hundreds of millions in financing, supporting thousands of people in their financial goals.

We are looking for a Head of Credit Risk to lead and manage our credit risk strategy, ensuring we operate within a well-defined risk appetite while enabling business growth. This is an exciting opportunity to join a fast-growing, mission-driven company at the forefront of Islamic financial services.

StrideUp is backed by leading VC and private equity investors, having raised over £25m in funding.

The Role

We are seeking a Head of Credit Risk who will:

• Manage risk across our Home Purchase Plan (HPP) and Buy-to-Let (BTL) products, balancing growth with prudent risk management.
• Advise the CEO and Board to ensure credit decisions align with strategic objectives.

You Are

• A Risk Leader: Proven experience in credit risk leadership within financial services, especially in mortgage or property finance.
• Analytical and Data-Driven: Skilled in using data for decision-making and portfolio monitoring.
• Strategic and Detail-Oriented: Able to set broad risk strategies and ensure meticulous execution.
• Collaborative: Effective across teams, aligning risk with product, finance, and operations.
• Mission-Driven: Passionate about ethical and responsible financing, aligned with StrideUp's mission.

What You'll Do

• Develop and Execute a Credit Risk Strategy: Create policies to manage credit risk effectively and support growth.
• Manage the Credit Lifecycle: Oversee underwriting, affordability assessments, and risk monitoring.
• Portfolio Oversight: Conduct reviews, stress testing, and scenario analysis to ensure health and compliance.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Work with leadership and teams to align risk strategies with business goals.
• Reporting and Analytics: Track performance, develop risk indicators, and provide insights.
• Team Leadership: Build and mentor a high-performing risk team, fostering accountability.
• Customer-Centric Risk Management: Ensure decisions promote customer affordability and long-term well-being.

Minimum Requirements

• 8+ years in credit risk management, with expertise in mortgage and property finance.
• Strong knowledge of credit risk frameworks, underwriting, and affordability models.
• Experience managing large loan portfolios and improving credit performance.
• Expertise in stress testing, scenario analysis, and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to collaborate with senior stakeholders, including executives and regulators.
• Leadership experience in developing and managing teams.
• Strong analytical skills with a data-driven approach.

Additional Benefits

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Equity participation
• 25 days annual holiday
• Annual L&D budget
• 3% pension contribution
• Monthly socials
• Central London, hybrid role (at least 3 days in office)
• Friendly startup environment focused on impact