Underwriting Manager

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Underwriting Manager to support and develop our growing US underwriting team. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who combines strong underwriting expertise with a passion for developing people. You will lead a team of underwriters while remaining actively involved in underwriting decisions, escalations, workflow management, and process improvement. The ideal candidate enjoys rolling up their sleeves, takes ownership, learns quickly, and thrives in a fast-paced environment. This role offers a clear path for growth into a more senior leadership position as YouLend continues to scale across North America.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of underwriters, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Support hiring, onboarding, training, and performance management of team members
• Act as an escalation point for complex underwriting decisions and provide guidance on credit risk assessments
• Review and approve financing applications within delegated authority levels
• Monitor team performance, underwriting quality, portfolio trends, and operational KPIs
• Ensure underwriting decisions align with company policies, risk appetite, and customer experience standards
• Identify workflow bottlenecks and implement process improvements to increase efficiency and decision quality
• Partner closely with Credit Risk, Product, Compliance, Operations, Capital Markets, and Commercial teams to support business growth and continuous improvement
• Support the launch of new products, partners, and underwriting initiatives

Requirements

• Ideally 2 - 3 plus years of underwriting, credit risk, lending, or financial services experience
• Previous experience leading, mentoring, or managing underwriting teams
• Strong understanding of credit risk assessment and lending principles
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership, make sound decisions, and drive results in a fast-paced environment
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Ability to balance commercial objectives with sound risk management
• Hands-on mentality with a willingness to support the team wherever needed

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within FinTech, SME lending, merchant cash advance, alternative lending, or banking
• Experience in a high-growth or scaling business environment
• Exposure to underwriting technology, automated decisioning systems, or data analysis tools such as SQL, Python, or BI platforms

Benefits

• Health Care Coverage: YouLend covers 80%; employee contribution is 20% of the premium
• Medical Plan: Choice of 5 different plans through United Healthcare (medical insurance and prescription drug coverage)
• Dental plan coverage
• Vision plan coverage
• Benefits available for: Employee only; Employee & Spouse; Employee & Child; Employee & Family
• Retirement: 401K match—YouLend matches $1 for $1 up to 5% of salary
• Basic Life & AD&D Insurance
• International travel insurance covered if traveling abroad for work purposes
• Paid Time Off (PTO): 20 working days (4 weeks) + US public holidays
• Paid Office Parking

Why join YouLend?

• Backed by EQT, one of the world’s leading private equity firms
• Scaling rapidly across North America, with exciting brands launching imminently
• Clear path for progression as the US business scales
• Award-Winning Workplace: Recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work in 2024 and 2025” by the Sunday Times for being a supportive, diverse, and rewarding workplace
• Award-Winning Fintech: Recognized as a “Top 250 Fintech Worldwide” company by CNBC
• High-growth company (>100% growth during 2025), offering clear outlook for compensation (bonus or share option appreciation) and career growth
• Well-capitalized with supportive private equity backing
• Part of Banking Circle Group with a fully licensed Luxembourg bank, providing a balance sheet and support for European expansion
• High-quality team that pushes each other to succeed through direct feedback and aligned incentives
• Strong and transparent team culture with a focus on mutual support
• Independent work environment where results matter
• Data-driven culture with an emphasis on speed (anti-red tape)