CardWorks

Director Credit Risk Management

CardWorks$125K — $150K *
Finance & Insurance
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, or quantitative discipline required.
  • Master's degree (MBA, Economics, Statistics or related field) preferred.
  • Eight (8) years of experience in consumer credit risk management or strategy required.
  • Experience in secured lending, consumer loans, indirect lending, or third-party lending programs is essential.
  • Experience in providing independent review and oversight of credit strategies or governance processes preferred.

Responsibilities

  • Provide independent oversight of consumer lending portfolios and risk trends.
  • Lead independent reviews and challenges of critical credit decisions.
  • Develop executive-level oversight reporting on credit risk assessments and portfolio performance.
  • Enhance credit risk governance practices and oversight standards across the Bank.
  • Serve as lead for review and challenge activities within the Credit Risk Oversight function.
  • Build partnerships across functions to influence credit risk decision-making.

Benefits

  • Remote or hybrid work options available, with flexible onsite expectations.
  • Comprehensive internal control policies and compliance training provided.
  • Opportunities for professional mentorship and development within the team.
Full Job Description

The Director, Credit Risk Oversight, plays a critical leadership role in the Bank's second line of defense by providing independent oversight, challenge, and assessment of credit risk across the enterprise. This position leads credit oversight of the Bank’s consumer lending portfolios. Conducts independent evaluations of credit performance and material credit decisions, and ensures risks are appropriately identified, understood, and escalated.

Through forward-looking risk analysis, effective challenge of assumptions and strategies, and active participation in credit governance, this role influences risk appetite and portfolio strategy. The Director also serves as the functional leader for review and challenge activities within the Credit Risk Oversight function, helping to establish consistent standards for independent risk assessment and effective challenge. This position reports to the VP, Credit Risk Oversight and provides leadership, guidance, and mentorship to members of the Credit Risk Oversight team.

Essential Functions:

Credit Risk Monitoring & Assessment:
Provides independent oversight of consumer lending portfolios through ongoing monitoring of portfolio performance, risk trends, forecast outcomes, and key risk indicators. Identifies emerging risks, evaluates performance relative to expectations, risk appetite, and escalates material concerns to support timely management action and informed governance decisions.

Review, Challenge & Concurrence:
Leads the independent review and challenge of material credit decisions. Evaluates assumptions, methodologies, risk-return tradeoffs, and implementation plans. Provides formal concurrence opinions and escalates concerns when risks are inadequately understood, mitigated, or communicated.

Credit Oversight Reporting:
Develops independent credit risk assessments and executive-level oversight reporting. Synthesizes portfolio performance, forecast results, credit decisions, and emerging risks into clear, actionable insights for senior leadership and governance committees.

Credit Governance:
Supports the development, implementation, and ongoing enhancement of credit risk governance practices, oversight standards, and review and challenge frameworks. Contributes to the establishment of consistent risk oversight processes that promote transparent, disciplined, and effective credit risk management across the enterprise.

Review & Challenge Framework Leadership:
Serves as the functional lead for credit decision review and challenge activities within Credit Risk Oversight. Establishes standards, practices, and documentation requirements for independent challenge, concurrence processes, and escalation protocols to ensure consistent and effective oversight across portfolios.

Credit Risk Partnership & Influence:
Develops strong partnerships across first- and second-line functions, providing an independent perspective on credit risk. Ensures risks are clearly understood, appropriately articulated, and incorporated into decision-making while constructively influencing outcomes through data-driven analysis and effective challenge.

 

Requirements for Success:

Education & Experience:

  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, or quantitative discipline is required.
  • Master's degree (MBA, Economics, Statistics or related field) is preferred.
  • Eight (8) years of experience in consumer credit risk management or strategy, with experience in secured lending, consumer loans, indirect lending, or third-party lending programs.
  • Experience providing independent review, challenge, or oversight of credit strategies, forecasts, underwriting policies, portfolio management activities, or risk governance processes strongly preferred.


Knowledge, Skills and Capabilities:

  • Credit Risk Management Expertise: Advanced understanding of full lifecycle consumer credit risk management, including credit strategies and credit risk monitoring.
  • Independent Review & Challenge: Demonstrated ability to critically evaluate assumptions, methodologies, forecasts, and credit strategies and provide well-supported challenge.
  • Risk Governance & Oversight: Strong knowledge of credit risk governance practices, second-line risk management principles, delegated authority structures, and escalation frameworks.
  • Executive Risk Communication: Ability to synthesize complex quantitative and qualitative information into clear, concise, and actionable insights, reports, and recommendations.
  • Strategic Influence & Partnership: Proven ability to influence decision-making and build credibility while maintaining an independent risk perspective.
  • Credit Analytics: Strong analytical capabilities with experience identifying early warning indicators, evaluating portfolio trends, assessing key risk indicators, and forecasting methodologies.
  • Technical Knowledge: Ability to leverage data and reporting tools to analyze portfolio performance and communicate risk insights. Familiarity with SQL, SAS, Python, Power BI or comparable analytical tools preferred.

 

Compliance with Laws & Regulations

Responsible for complying with all the Bank’s internal control policies and procedures.

  • Responsible for understanding and complying with all laws and regulations to which the Bank is subject.
  • Responsible for communicating problems in operations, noncompliance with the code of conduct, noncompliance with laws and regulations, policy violations, or illegal acts.

 

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

  • This position is remote or hybrid, and if hybrid, the expectation is that the employee will work approximately 2-3 days onsite per week, depending on business needs.
  • Work is in an office environment, sustained posture in a seated position for prolonged periods of time; works with computer equipment for prolonged periods of time.
  • Some stress may occur
  • Occasional travel may be required

​#INDHP




About CardWorks

CardWorks is a financial services company that provides a range of credit card and loan products to consumers. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in New Haven, Connecticut. CardWorks offers credit cards, personal loans, and merchant services through its various subsidiaries, including Merrick Bank, Continental Finance, and Genesis Financial Solutions. The company has a focus on serving consumers with less-than-perfect credit, and its products are designed to help customers build or rebuild their credit scores. CardWorks has over 1,000 employees and is committed to providing excellent customer service and innovative financial solutions.
Learn more about CardWorks
Size
1,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1987

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