Credit Specialist, Underwriting

📋 Description

• • As a Credit Specialist on the Credit Advisory team within the Underwriting department at Forward Financing, you will play a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity and accuracy of our automated decisioning model. This position is crucial as the essential "human in the loop," ensuring that our credit model performs optimally, that data submitted by applicants is accurate and complete, and that established risk rules are rigorously enforced to drive profitable growth for the company.
• • Your primary responsibility will be to meticulously validate the integrity of data submitted by customers. This involves a thorough manual assessment of owner information, business details, and critical cash flow data for every application. You will be the first line of defense against inaccurate or incomplete information, ensuring that the data feeding into our decisioning models is reliable and trustworthy.
• • A significant part of your role will involve managing and executing pre-decision fraud controls. You will actively monitor and action automated risk flags, identifying potential fraudulent activities or anomalies. This proactive approach to risk management is vital for protecting the company from financial losses and maintaining the quality of our loan portfolio.
• • You will also be responsible for managing the escalation pipeline to the Fraud Operations team. When suspicious patterns or potential fraud indicators are detected, you will ensure these cases are promptly and accurately escalated, providing all necessary documentation and context for further investigation.
• • In addition to data validation and fraud detection, you will play a key role in defining underwriting stipulations. Based on your assessment of applications, you will recommend appropriate stipulations that need to be met before a deal can proceed to the final model review. This requires a keen understanding of risk assessment and the ability to identify specific conditions that mitigate potential risks.
• • This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of our credit operations. By working with newly formed teams and leveraging cutting-edge automation, you will directly contribute to positioning the business for significant scale and future success. Your insights and actions will help refine our processes and enhance our risk assessment capabilities.
• • You will be joining a mission-driven company dedicated to unlocking capital for small businesses across America. Forward Financing is a trusted source of fast, flexible funding for businesses that are often underserved by traditional financial institutions. Your work will directly contribute to ensuring that these vital small businesses have access to the financial support they need to grow and thrive.
• • This position requires a strong analytical mindset with an unwavering focus on data validation and quantitative control. You must possess the ability to identify subtle patterns, detect potential data integrity issues, and recognize indicators of fraud.
• • Collaboration is key in this role. You will work closely with various departments, including Portfolio Strategy and Fraud Operations, to ensure a cohesive and effective approach to credit risk management. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential for building and maintaining these cross-functional relationships.
• • As a self-motivated professional, you will be expected to exercise sound judgment in a fast-paced environment. The ability to work independently, manage your workload effectively, and make informed decisions under pressure is paramount.
• • You will contribute to strategic thinking within the team by providing valuable ideas and recommendations for improving operational processes and refining our risk assessment criteria. Your feedback will be instrumental in driving continuous improvement and innovation.
• • This role is ideal for someone who thrives on accuracy, enjoys problem-solving, and is passionate about supporting small businesses. You will be at the forefront of our automated underwriting process, ensuring its reliability and effectiveness.
• • The company culture emphasizes "Keeping It Real" through direct communication and authenticity, "Acting with Kindness" by fostering a supportive and helpful environment, and "Shooting for Extraordinary" by embracing innovation and continuous improvement. You will be part of a team that is committed to making a real impact.