SVP, Credit Risk & Policy

Accion Opportunity Fund (AOF) is a leading Community Development Financial Institution dedicated to providing underserved small business owners with access to capital, networks, and coaching. For over 30 years, AOF has helped small business owners create jobs, build wealth, and strengthen communities by providing responsible financing and business support services. Since our founding, we have deployed more than $1 billion in financing and have served more than 4 million entrepreneurs through educational resources and business support programs. The majority of our clients come from historically underserved communities where access to traditional financing remains limited.

About the role

The VP, Credit Risk & Policy is the senior executive who builds and oversees AOF's enterprise-wide credit risk framework, including credit philosophy, underwriting standards, portfolio risk management, fraud prevention, allowance methodology, and governance, ensuring safe, compliant, mission-aligned lending. Reports and advises to Executive Leadership, the Credit Risk Committee, Board, regulators, and auditors, and helps prepare AOF for expansion into SBA lending, Credit Union products, consumer lending, and commercial mortgages/real estate.

Responsibilities

• Set risk appetite, underwriting standards, and policy framework; advise Executive Management and Board; lead Credit Risk Committee reporting.
• Maintain enterprise credit, underwriting, and fraud policies; balance analytics, automated decisioning, and credit judgment; govern exceptions and approval authorities.
• Monitor portfolio concentration, delinquency, losses, and asset quality; run stress tests and scenario analysis; set concentration limits; report to leadership, regulators, and Board.
• Oversee scoring models, predictive analytics, and underwriting tools; evaluate AI/ML and alternative data; ensure model governance.
• Own CECL methodology and reserve adequacy; monitor charge-offs and recoveries; partner with Finance on reporting.
• Build fraud prevention for lending and future deposit products; ensure BSA/AML, OFAC, CIP, KYC compliance with Compliance team.
• Ensure compliance with lending and Fair Lending laws; lead exams and audits; maintain internal controls; track regulatory changes.
• Partner with Operations on servicing, collections, delinquency, and recovery strategy.
• Conduct due diligence on loan providers and participations; vet partnerships against risk and compliance standards.
• Build and mentor a high-performing Credit Risk team; drive succession planning and cross-functional collaboration.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Statistics, Math, Engineering, Business, or related quantitative field.
• 10+ years progressive commercial or consumer credit risk experience; 5+ years leading enterprise credit risk, underwriting, or portfolio functions.
• Strong background in financial statement analysis, commercial underwriting, portfolio management, CECL/allowance methodology, credit risk analytics and modeling, and automated underwriting systems.
• Knowledge of Fair Lending, BSA/AML, OFAC, KYC, and related regulations.
• Strong executive presentation, communication, analytical, and leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree (MBA, Finance, Economics, Statistics, or related).
• Experience at a CDFI, financial institution, Credit Union, or bank; SBA lending experience.
• Experience implementing automated underwriting or enterprise risk systems and leading fraud or financial crimes programs.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Suite and familiarity with Power BI, Tableau, SQL, Python, SAS, or similar tools.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic and enterprise thinking
• Strong analytical and business judgment
• Executive presence and cross-functional influence
• Commitment to innovation
• High integrity and a collaborative, people-developing leadership style

Benefits

• Flexible hybrid work + remote stipend
• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance for employees; 90% for dependents
• FSA (Flexible Spending Account)
• Supplemental life and AD&D insurance
• Legal assistance
• 403(b) match
• Unlimited PTO
• 12 holidays + 1 floating holiday
• 10 sick days
• Paid parental leave
• Professional development support

Pay

$220K–$250K/year, based on qualifications, experience, location, and fit. Plus a 17% discretionary annual target bonus.