Our client, a PE-backed FinTech business is seeking a Head of Underwriting to lead and scale its US underwriting function from its newly established Atlanta HQ. The company has grown rapidly across Europe, and following a year of exceptional performance in the US, it is now doubling down on the US as its core market.
Role Overview
You will build, lead, and mature the underwriting capability for the US business. This includes defining underwriting strategy, scaling a high‑performing team, enhancing risk frameworks, and partnering closely with product, operations, and commercial teams to ensure sustainable, high‑quality growth. This role is fundamental to the company's ability to onboard customers efficiently while maintaining strong risk and compliance standards, and sits within the business' US senior leadership team.
Key Responsibilities
- Build, lead, and scale the US underwriting team, including hiring, development, and performance management
- Own US underwriting strategy, policies, and decisioning frameworks in alignment with global standards
- Develop scalable underwriting processes that balance growth with robust risk management
- Partner with product, risk, and commercial teams to optimise onboarding flows and merchant approval processes
- Monitor key risk and underwriting KPIs, reporting trends and insights to global leadership
- Serve as a key stakeholder in strategic planning and risk governance for US market expansion
Ideal Profile
- Proven experience leading underwriting or risk functions within a high‑growth FinTech, payments, or lending environment
- Strong leadership background with a track record of growing and developing high‑performing teams
- Deep understanding of credit or merchant risk, underwriting frameworks, and decisioning models
- Data‑driven operator with the ability to build scalable processes and drive continuous improvement
- Comfortable in a fast‑moving, entrepreneurial environment with evolving priorities
- Based in (or willing to relocate to) Atlanta
