Playter Credit Underwriter

Shawbrook provides finance to a wide range of customer segments that value the premium experience, flexibility and certainly we deliver.  We are a purpose-led organisation, with a focus on delivering long-term sustainable value for all our stakeholders.

We have a diversified offering, with our innovative lending propositions tailored to meet specific customer needs in carefully selected markets across SME, Real Estate and Personal. Our products range from complex structured credit facilities for growth-focused businesses to mortgages for professional landlords and property investors, as well as simple loans for consumers delivered digitally.  We fuel our lending through customer deposits, which we attract by delivering a premium experience, choice and consistently great value to smart savers.

The business model we have created is unique and difficult to replicate, with our ‘best of both’ approach combining deep human expertise with advanced digital, tech and data capabilities.  This combination not only allows us to deliver excellent customer experiences, but to do so efficiently and at scale.  We are proud of our innovative and agile culture, which drives consistently high employee engagement scores and makes Shawbrook an attractive destination for the best talent. If you’re willing to roll up your sleeves, contribute new ideas and believe anything is possible, you’re our kind of person.

Work with us because you:

• Want to be part of a bank built for the dynamics of the modern world
• Relish a challenge and enjoy a fast-paced, innovative and hardworking culture
• Enjoy finding new and better ways to solve complexity and make things happen
• Want to belong to a diverse culture that stands shoulder to shoulder with minority and underrepresented groups
• Care about society and the environment and want to be part of a business that cares too
• Want to continue to grow professionally and be the best version of yourself

This role is responsible for underwriting SME lending applications, supporting portfolio risk management and contributing to the ongoing development of the Playter credit platform.

The role ensures that credit decisions remain aligned with risk appetite while supporting efficient, scalable growth through a combination of manual underwriting, assisted decisioning and data-driven risk management.

In addition to transaction assessment, the role is expected to actively contribute to the evolution of Playter’s credit strategy, decisioning framework, platform rules, underwriting processes and risk controls. Underwriters are responsible for identifying opportunities to enhance credit performance, customer outcomes, operational efficiency and automation through continuous analysis of application, portfolio and platform data.

Key Responsibilities

Credit Underwriting

• Underwrite SME lending applications within delegated authority.
• Assess financial, behavioural and non-financial risks using both manual underwriting techniques and platform decisioning outputs.
• Exercise sound credit judgement where applications fall outside automated decisioning outcomes, referral criteria or standard lending parameters.
• Structure lending solutions that appropriately balance risk, customer outcomes, commercial objectives and risk appetite.
• Apply and interpret Playter credit policies, platform rules and decisioning criteria consistently and appropriately.
• Escalate complex cases, emerging risks or material concerns in accordance with delegated authority and governance requirements.

Portfolio Risk Management, Governance & Assurance

• Monitor platform performance to identify emerging credit, affordability and behavioural risks.
• Review decisioning outcomes, referral volumes, override activity and credit performance indicators to support effective risk management.
• Support the ongoing assessment of portfolio performance against risk appetite, credit strategy, policy requirements and platform controls.
• Ensure compliance with credit policies, decisioning frameworks, regulatory requirements and governance standards.
• Support quality assurance reviews, control testing, audit activity and remediation actions where required.
• Escalate material risks, adverse trends, control weaknesses and policy concerns in a timely manner.
• Contribute to credit policy reviews, portfolio reviews, thematic reviews and Lessons Learnt to support effective oversight and governance.

Platform, Policy & Decisioning Development

• Actively contribute to the ongoing development and optimisation of the Playter credit platform, decisioning framework and underwriting strategy.
• Use application, portfolio and performance data to identify opportunities to improve credit outcomes, customer experience, operational efficiency and automation.
• Review the effectiveness of platform rules, thresholds, referral criteria and decisioning controls, providing recommendations for enhancement where appropriate.
• Support the development, testing and implementation of changes to platform rules, decisioning logic, credit policies and risk controls.
• Identify emerging trends, risks and opportunities through analysis of decisioning performance, portfolio outcomes and credit quality.
• Contribute to the governance, monitoring and continuous improvement of automated and assisted decisioning processes.
• Work collaboratively with Credit, Risk, Data, Product and Technology teams to support the evolution of the Playter lending platform.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Build effective working relationships across Sales, Credit, Risk, Operations, Product, Data and Technology teams.
• Provide credit risk expertise and support to colleagues on underwriting, policy, decisioning and risk management matters.
• Contribute to cross-functional initiatives designed to enhance platform performance, customer outcomes, operational effectiveness and risk management.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and prudent risk management.

Reporting & MI

• Analyse trends, exceptions and emerging risks to support effective credit risk management and decision-making.
• Prepare and present credit, portfolio and decisioning insights to support governance forums, policy reviews and strategic initiatives.
• Use data and management information to identify opportunities to enhance credit performance, customer outcomes and operational effectiveness.
• Support the development and maintenance of meaningful risk, portfolio and decisioning metrics.

Skills & Experience

• Strong SME lending and credit underwriting experience.
• Sound understanding of financial analysis, credit risk assessment and lending structures.
• Experience interpreting and applying credit policies, decisioning frameworks and risk controls.
• Experience operating within technology-enabled or automated lending environments is desirable.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to make balanced risk-based decisions.
• Ability to communicate complex credit and risk matters clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience contributing to policy development, decisioning enhancements, process improvements or risk management initiatives is desirable.
• Good understanding of the UK regulatory environment and conduct expectations applicable to SME lending.

Key Competencies

• Credit judgement and risk awareness.
• Analytical and data-driven decision making.
• Curiosity and a willingness to challenge existing approaches.
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Attention to detail and commitment to high standards.
• Effective stakeholder engagement and collaboration.
• Commercial awareness balanced with prudent risk management.
• Adaptability within a fast-paced and evolving environment.
• Continuous improvement mindset with a focus on enhancing customer outcomes, platform performance and risk management.

Your Wellbeing - We take your health and well-being very seriously by providing a range of benefits to give you and your family peace of mind. These include:

• Market leading family friendly policies such as access to our Maternity, Adoption and Paternity policies from Day 1 of your employment
• Free access to Headspace, a mindfulness & meditation digital health app
• Free access to Peppy digital health app that offers personalised support through fertility treatment becoming a parent or menopause
• EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) - Offering you support on a wide range of subjects including financial concerns, mental wellbeing and more general queries around family, work, housing, and health
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounts on gym membership
• Contributory pension scheme & death in service

Your Lifestyle - It’s important you strike the right balance between your work and personal life. We provide benefits to support you when at work and when you’re enjoying your leisure time.

• Minimum of 27 days holiday per year
• Option to buy or sell holiday days through our flexi-holiday scheme
• Discounts on gym membership nationwide
• Access to discounts on a range of high street and online brands
• Community support and charitable giving

Your Contribution - We’re focused on rewarding those that go the extra mile in helping us achieve our goals.

• Participation in our annual discretionary bonus scheme designed to reward your contribution to our success
• Proudly Shawbrook recognition scheme focused on recognising our role models and thanking our colleagues for a job well done