Director, Credit Underwriting

Who we are?
Named as one of Australia’s Top 5 employers with under 100 employees, for the last 5 years OnDeck has grown to become one of Australia’s largest locally owned online small business lender’s.
At OnDeck, we are changing the way business owners borrow money by combining our passion for small business with cutting-edge technology. We evaluate businesses based on their actual performance, using real time data which enables us to say “yes” more often, to more business owners, faster than traditional lenders. We have helped thousands of small business owners across Australia access short term, unsecured finance to drive their business growth and enable more opportunities.

Position Summary:
This position is responsible for leading the judgmental underwriting function at OnDeck. Reporting to the CRO and managing a team of 3 underwriters, this role is critical in delivering outcomes that are strategically aligned with our P&L and profitability goals.
The successful candidate will oversee the evolution, implementation, and enforcement of underwriting frameworks, tools and procedures, ensuring that judgmental credit and pricing decisions align with the company’s risk appetite and business goals.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Manage a team of underwriters and act as key escalation point for any credit decision related issues

• Provide strategic insights to senior leadership on credit risk trends, portfolio quality, and policy impact.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., sales, product, finance, legal) to support growth initiatives while managing risk

• Utilize data analytics and reporting tools to support data-driven underwriting decisions and efficiency.

• Participate in credit committee meetings and serve as a subject matter expert on credit risk

• Underwrite loans in accordance to company guidelines

• Analyze application data including financial statements, bank statements, credit card statements, and business and personal credit reports

• Determine credit worthiness and approval amounts

• Work with complex legal entity structures

• Evaluate and provide recommendations for policy exceptions

• Demonstrate strong stakeholder engagement skills when engaging with other business units

• Be responsible for managing the implementation of the risk delegation framework in the business

• Communicate policy changes and test recommendations, program approvals, performance trends with key stakeholders, and senior management

• Communicate clearly and effectively to business partners and senior leaders. 

• Ensure productivity of team is in line with business expectation

• Mentor and coach team members with the objective of optimizing risk adjusted profitability

 

Requirements

• Proven track record in managing a team

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Economics or related discipline

• 7 years + of pertinent experience underwriting and assessing businesses, deals or managing portfolios

• Solid credit fundamentals in a commercial environment. Formal credit experience a plus.

• Strong analytical and intuitive investigative skills

• Ability to read, analyze and interpret business financial statements

• Must be detailed oriented

• Ability to solve practical problems and interpret a variety of instructions furnished in oral, written, or schedule form.

• Ability manage multiple tasks and prioritize workflows

• Strong independent decision making capabilities

 

Why Work for OnDeck
Where do we begin? There’s plenty of reasons we’ve been named an Australian Top 5 Employer three years running!
To name a few, at OnDeck, you will:

• Literally change the landscape of small businesses one conversation at a time!

• Have a meaningful impact on the company’s future, and share in the rewards accordingly

• Work in an inclusive, fast-paced environment

What we offer you:

• An open-minded, collaborative workplace, which will both challenge you and celebrate your work.

• Hybrid Work Model – option to work from home 1 day per week

• Fully stocked kitchen with snacks and drinks

• Regular team building events

• Ongoing health & well-being initiatives

• Great CBD location