Business Development Director - Unsecured Loans

📋 Description

• • Allica Bank is on a mission to redefine financial services for established Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the UK, a segment historically underserved by both traditional banks and agile fintechs. As the UK's fastest-growing company and the fastest-growing financial technology firm ever, Allica is at a pivotal stage of expansion, particularly within its broker channel. We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Business Development Director – Unsecured Loans to spearhead the growth and success of our unsecured lending product.
• • In this critical leadership role, you will be instrumental in shaping the future of Allica's unsecured loan offering. Your responsibilities will span the entire product lifecycle, from contributing to product development and defining credit appetite, to orchestrating a successful launch into the broker market. This includes crafting compelling marketing strategies and market positioning that resonate with our target audience of established SMEs.
• • You will be the driving force behind the execution of Allica’s unsecured loans distribution strategy, ensuring flawless service delivery to our valued broker partners. Your primary objective will be to achieve commercial success in the unsecured loan market, building a robust and profitable portfolio.
• • This is a hands-on role that demands a proactive approach to relationship management. You will cultivate and nurture strong relationships with our unsecured loan broker partners and prospective customers, delivering an exemplary level of service that maximizes value for both Allica and our clients. Your expertise will be crucial in identifying and capitalizing on lending opportunities.
• • Collaborating closely with the Head of Sales and Chief Commercial Officer, you will ensure Allica offers a market-leading proposition. A key part of your role will involve recruiting, developing, and leading a high-performing nationwide team of Business Development Managers (BDMs) to support our ambitious growth trajectory. You will foster a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement within your team.
• • You will be accountable for delivering the Unsecured Loans business plan, meticulously building and leading the growth of the product in line with agreed strategic and financial targets. This includes actively driving the Profit and Loss (P&L) of the Unsecured Loans portfolio, adeptly managing lending volumes while providing crucial input into pricing strategies, return on investment, and credit quality.
• • Your leadership will extend to establishing and maintaining a disciplined operating rhythm for your team. You will refine team structures as needed, proactively identify capability gaps, and secure necessary approvals for hires or organizational changes to ensure optimal performance and scalability.
• • Building and managing a comprehensive portfolio of Unsecured Loan brokers and strategic partners will be a core responsibility. You will be tasked with driving origination and income generation, consistently meeting and exceeding monthly, quarterly, and annual targets.
• • You will play a vital role in the ongoing development of a best-in-class Unsecured Loan proposition. This involves ensuring that product features, distribution channels, and market positioning are perfectly aligned with the unique needs of established SMEs.
• • Developing and executing a targeted, broker-focused marketing and engagement plan is essential. You will coordinate effectively with internal stakeholders across marketing, product, and operations to deliver cohesive and impactful growth initiatives.
• • Owning performance reporting and forward-looking strategic planning will be critical. You will provide regular, insightful updates to the Executive Committee and key stakeholders, demonstrating progress against objectives and outlining future strategic direction.
• • You will support credit processes in strict accordance with policy and appetite, acting as a sponsor for applications where appropriate and leading discussions at Credit Committee when required, all while operating within agreed pricing discretion.
• • Championing outstanding broker and customer experience is paramount. You will work cross-functionally to ensure seamless service delivery, drive continuous improvement, and maintain alignment with Allica Bank’s core culture, robust governance standards, and operational controls.
• • This role requires a deep understanding of the evolving financial services landscape. You will need to evaluate industry, market, customer, competitor, and regulatory trends to proactively identify and mitigate risks, as well as uncover opportunities for new and innovative propositions. Your market intelligence should be extensive, including a well-developed understanding of best practices in relationship management and competitor strategies. Ultimately, you will be a recognised industry expert, a proven negotiator, and a trusted, strategic, and proactive leader.