SVP, Credit Risk & Policy

THE ORGANIZATION: 

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. 

As AOF continues its mission of expanding financial inclusion, we are building a scalable, sustainable financial institution that combines mission impact with strong financial performance. Our strategic vision includes expanding our lending capabilities, strengthening enterprise risk management, and preparing for future growth across additional financial products, including Credit Union services. 

To learn more, visit https://aofund.org/

POSITION SUMMARY: 

The SVP, Credit Risk & Policy is the senior executive responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing AOF’s enterprise-wide credit risk management framework. This leader establishes and maintains the organization’s credit philosophy, underwriting standards, portfolio risk management practices fraud prevention strategies, allowance methodologies and governance processes to ensure safe, sound, compliant and mission-driven lending. 

The SVP will provide strategic leadership across all credit-related functions while ensuring the organization maintains strong asset quality, regulatory compliance, and sustainable portfolio growth. The position is responsible for balancing prudent risk management with AOF’s mission of expanding access to capital for underserved small businesses.

This leader partners closely with the Executive Leadership Team, Credit Risk Committee, Board of Directors, regulators, auditors, and external partners to ensure that credit policies, portfolio performance and risk management practices support the organization’s long-term strategic objectives. 

The SVP will also play a key leadership role in preparing AOF for further expansion into additional financial products, including SBA lending, Credit Union products, consumer lending and commercial real estate while maintaining consistent enterprise risk management, standards, long-term financial and sustainable growth, and customer impact within AOF’s target markets. 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Enterprise Credit Risk Leadership:

• Develop and execute the organization’s enterprise-wide credit risk management strategy.
• Establish and maintain the overall credit philosophy, risk appetite, underwriting standards, and portfolio management framework.
• Lead the ongoing development and enhancement of credit policies, risk scoring models, underwriting guidelines, and approval authorities.
• Ensure enterprise credit risk practices align with AOF’s strategic objectives, mission, and regulatory requirements.
• Serve as the primary advisor to Executive Management and the Board on credit risk matters.
• Support and participate in the Credit Risk Committee and present regular portfolio performance and risk assessments to executive leadership and the Board of Directors.

Credit Policy and Underwriting:

• Develop, maintain, and periodically update enterprise credit, underwriting, fraud, and portfolio management policies.
• Ensure underwriting processes appropriately balance predictive analytics, automated decisioning, alternative data sources, and experienced credit judgment.
• Continuously improve credit decision quality while enhancing the customer experience and reducing turnaround times.
• Establish governance surrounding policy exceptions, approval authorities, and credit quality standards.
• Ensure consistent underwriting standards across all lending products.

 Portfolio Risk Management:

• Oversee portfolio monitoring, concentration management, delinquency trends, loss performance, and overall asset quality.
• Develop and monitor key portfolio risk indicators and early warning systems.
• Conduct portfolio stress testing and scenario analysis to evaluate potential economic impacts.
• Recommend concentration limits, portfolio diversification strategies, and risk mitigation initiatives.
• Develop reporting that provides timely, accurate portfolio performance information to executive management, regulators, and the Board.

Credit Analytics & Risk Modeling:

• Oversee the development, validation, implementation, and ongoing monitoring of credit scoring models, predictive analytics, underwriting algorithms, and portfolio management tools.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, alternative data providers, artificial intelligence applications, and machine learning solutions that enhance credit decisioning.
• Ensure all models remain statistically sound, compliant, and appropriately governed.
• Lead continuous improvement of portfolio analytics to improve loan performance and profitability.

CECL and Credit Loss Management

• Oversee the Allowance for Credit Losses (CECL) methodology, assumptions, governance, and reporting.
• Ensure reserve adequacy through sound portfolio analysis and regulatory compliance.
• Monitor charge-off practices, recoveries, and loan loss trends.
• Collaborate with Finance to ensure accurate financial reporting related to credit risk.

Fraud Risk and Financial Crimes:

• Develop enterprise fraud prevention strategies supporting both lending and future Credit Union deposit products.
• Oversee identity verification, application fraud prevention, deposit fraud monitoring, and financial crimes controls.
• Partner with Compliance to ensure adherence to BSA/AML, OFAC, Customer Identification Program (CIP), Know Your Customer (KYC), and other regulatory requirements.

Regulatory Compliance & Governance:

• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state lending regulations, including Fair Lending requirements and consumer protection laws.
• Lead all credit-related regulatory examinations and internal and external audits.
• Maintain effective internal controls supporting credit operations and portfolio management.
• Monitor regulatory developments and recommend policy changes as appropriate.

Credit Operations Support:

• Partner with Operations to monitor loan servicing performance, collections, delinquency management, and recovery strategies.
• Ensure portfolio servicing practices remain consistent with organizational objectives and regulatory expectations.
• Support process improvement initiatives throughout the credit lifecycle. 

Third-Party Risk Management

• Coordinate comprehensive due diligence of sellers, servicers, and loan assets and/or loan participations prior to purchase to protect AOF and diversify credit and collateral risks in the overall portfolio.
• Evaluate third-party relationships to ensure they meet AOF’s risk, compliance, and operational standards.
• Support strategic partnerships that strengthen AOF’s lending capabilities while protecting portfolio quality.

Leadership and Talent Development:

• Recruit, mentor, coach, and develop a high-performing Credit Risk organization.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Establish performance expectations, succession planning, and professional development initiatives for all direct reports.
• Promote cross-functional collaboration among Credit, Sales, Operations, Compliance, Finance, Product and Engineering teams. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

REQUIRED:

• BS or BA degree in Statistics, Engineering, Mathematics, Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or another quantitative discipline. 
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive commercial and consumer credit risk management practice
• Minimum of ten years leading enterprise credit risk, underwriting or portfolio management functions. 
• Extensive experience managing commercial lending portfolios and developing enterprise credit policies. 
• Strong knowledge of financial statement analysis, commercial underwriting, portfolio management, and credit administration.
• Demonstrated experience with CECL methodology, allowance calculations and credit loss forecasting
• Deep understanding of credit risk analytics, predictive modeling, automated underwriting systems, and portfolio monitoring.
• Knowledge of applicable federal and state lending regulations, including Fair Lending, BSA/AML, OFAC, KYC, and related compliance requirements.
• Proven ability to present effectively to executive leadership, regulators, and Boards of Directors.
• Outstanding written, verbal, analytical, organizational, and leadership skills.

PREFERRED: 

• Master’s degree (MBA, Finance, Economics, Statistics or related disciplines)
• Experience within a financial institution, credit union or commercial bank.
• Experience with SBA lending programs
• Experience implementing automated underwriting platforms and enterprise credit risk systems
• Experience leading fraud prevention and financial crimes programs
• Fully knowledgeable and proficient with Microsoft Suite, data visualization and analytics tools such as Power BI, Tableau, SQL, Python, SAS, or similar technologies

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: 

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Strategic vision and enterprise thinking.
• Exceptional analytical and quantitative skills.
• Strong business judgment and decision-making abilities.
• Executive presence and communication skills.
• Ability to influence across multiple business functions.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.
• High ethical standards and professional integrity.
• Collaborative leadership style with a passion for developing people and the mission of AOF. 

WHY JOIN AOF:

At AOF, our mission drives everything we do. We believe that helping entrepreneurs succeed strengthens families, neighborhoods, and local economies. As a member of our leadership team, you will help shape the future of responsible small business lending while creating lasting economic opportunity for underserved communities.

We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package, including:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• Flexible remote work environment and monthly remote work reimbursement (phone and internet).
• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance for employees (based on plan selection).
• 90% employer-paid dependent medical coverage (based on plan selection).
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
• Supplemental Life and AD&D insurance.
• Legal assistance plans.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching contributions.
• Unlimited paid vacation.
• Twelve paid holidays plus one floating holiday.
• Ten paid sick days.
• Paid parental leave.
• Professional development opportunities.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Accion Opportunity Fund (AOF) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace where all employees are respected and valued. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Salary Range*: $220,000 – $250,000 plus a 17% Discretionary Annual Target Bonus 

Compensation will be based on the selected candidate’s qualifications, experience, geographic location, and overall fit for the position.