Head of Credit - International Cards
Lendable · Virginia, United States
ABOUT LENDABLE
Lendable is on a mission to build the world's best technology to help people get credit and save money. We're building one of the world’s leading fintech companies and are off to a strong start:
- One of the UK’s most exciting unicorns with a team of over 800 people
- Among the fastest-growing tech companies in the UK
- Profitable since 2017
- Backed by top investors including Balderton Capital and Goldman Sachs
- Loved by customers with the best reviews in the market (4.9 across 10,000s of reviews on Trustpilot https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/lendable.co.uk)
So far, we’ve rebuilt the Big Three consumer finance products from scratch: loans, credit cards and car finance. We get money into our customers’ hands in minutes instead of days.
We’re growing fast, and there’s a lot more to do: we’re going after the two biggest Western markets (UK and US) where trillions worth of financial products are held by big banks with dated systems and painful processes.
JOIN US IF YOU WANT TO
1. Take ownership: you are trusted to make decisions that drive a material impact on the direction and success of Lendable from day 1
2. Work in small teams of exceptional people: Lendies are relentlessly resourceful. We challenge the status quo to solve problems and find smarter solutions
3. Build the best technology in-house: we use new data sources, machine learning and AI to make machines do the heavy lifting
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Head of Credit to lead our international credit card operations, with responsibility for our existing US and Mexico credit card portfolios and potential future credit card expansions. This strategic leadership position will focus on driving sustainable portfolio growth while maintaining strong credit risk discipline across multiple markets. The ideal candidate combines deep credit risk expertise with proven experience managing credit card portfolios and building high-performing teams.
Key Responsibilities
International Credit Strategy & Portfolio Growth
- Develop and execute credit risk strategies for sustainable growth across US and Mexico portfolios
- Review credit policies, underwriting standards, and risk appetite frameworks for each market
- Drive portfolio expansion through data-driven decisioning and continuous strategy refinement
- Balance growth objectives with credit quality targets and profitability metrics
- Lead strategic planning for future market expansion opportunities
- Partner with US and Mexico leadership teams to align credit strategy with business objectives
- Conduct ongoing market assessments to identify opportunities and emerging risks
Market-Specific Optimization & Operations
- Navigate US and Mexico regulatory landscapes
- Maintain and strengthen relationships with industry partners in both markets
- Continuously refine credit products and risk models based on market performance and data insights
- Optimize risk-return trade-offs through ongoing portfolio analysis and strategy testing
- Implement market-specific risk mitigation strategies and collection approaches
- Prepare credit frameworks and infrastructure for future market expansions
Portfolio Management & Sustainable Growth
- Drive sustainable portfolio growth across US and Mexico while maintaining credit quality standards
- Monitor and optimize portfolio performance metrics including originations, delinquency, losses, and profitability
- Implement robust early warning systems and portfolio monitoring frameworks for proactive risk management
- Conduct vintage analysis and cohort tracking to inform strategy adjustments
- Lead portfolio stress testing and scenario planning to ensure resilience
- Balance growth objectives with prudent risk management and capital efficiency
- Drive continuous improvement through champion-challenger testing and iterative optimisation
- Establish performance benchmarks and reporting cadences for executive leadership
Team Building & Leadership
- Help build and lead a world-class international credit risk organization
- Recruit, develop, and retain top talent
- Partner with Product, Operations, Technology, and Compliance teams on portfolio optimization initiatives
- Work closely with Finance on capital planning, provisioning, forecasting, and P&L management
- Collaborate with Data Science teams on model development, enhancement, and innovation
- Support Marketing and Growth teams with credit-informed customer acquisition and retention strategies
- Engage with Legal and Compliance on regulatory navigation, risk governance, and policy development
Essential Experience
- 10+ years of progressive experience in credit risk management within consumer lending or credit cards
- 5+ years in senior leadership roles with demonstrable impact on portfolio performance
- Proven experience managing and growing credit card portfolios across multiple markets
- Deep expertise in credit risk strategy, modelling, and portfolio optimization
- Strong track record of building and managing high-performing, geographically distributed teams
- Experience with US credit card market regulations and operations required
- Experience with Latin American markets (Mexico preferred) or emerging market credit operations
Key Success Factors
- Ability to drive sustainable portfolio growth while maintaining credit quality and profitability
- Strong business acumen with deep understanding of credit card economics and P&L drivers
- Data-driven decision maker who can translate analytics into actionable strategies
- Skilled at balancing short-term performance with long-term portfolio health
- Effective at building trust and collaboration across borders and organizational functions
- Resilience and adaptability in navigating different market dynamics and regulatory environments
- Strategic thinker with strong execution capabilities to deliver results
What We Offer
- Opportunity to drive credit strategy and sustainable growth across US and Mexico portfolios
- Executive visibility with direct impact on company performance and expansion strategy
- Competitive compensation package including base salary and equity
- Leadership role with responsibility for multi-billion dollar portfolios
- Opportunity to shape future international expansion initiatives
- Collaborative, innovative, and fast-paced culture
LIFE AT LENDABLE
- Winning team: the opportunity to scale up one of the world’s most successful fintech companies
- Flexible working: flexible approach tailored to each role. Hybrid roles require three days in-office weekly; fully remote roles include regular opportunities for in-person connection through socials and off-sites
- Socials & connection: opportunities and events to come together, socialise, and get to know each other beyond the office walls
- Health coverage: support for your physical and mental wellbeing, including private health cover
- Retirement & savings: long-term financial wellbeing through retirement savings plans
- Employee referral programme: earn a competitive bonus when you refer successful new team members
- Office meals & snacks: enjoy a fully stocked kitchen, plus complimentary lunches prepared by in-house chefs on in-office days at select locations
- Sustainable commuting: cycle-to-work and electric vehicle salary sacrifice schemes available in select locations
Please note: The availability and details of specific benefits vary by location and role. For more information, please speak to your Talent Partner.
Check out our blog https://blog.lendable.co.uk/!