SME Loan Underwriting Lead - German Market

About Us

YouLend is the preferred global embedded financing platform for many of the world's leading e-commerce sites, tech companies and payment services providers such as Amazon, eBay, Shopify, Mollie, Dojo, Paysafe, Just Eat Takeaway and Takepayments. Our software platform and APIs enable our partners to offer flexible financing products, in their desired branding, to their merchant base. With YouLend's AI-driven credit risk assessment solutions, more merchants and SMEs than ever can receive fast, flexible and affordable funding. We operate in 9+ geographies across the UK, EU and the US.

We believe that the future of financial services will be delivered by customer-oriented tech companies that embed financing in their customer journeys, and we are building the solutions that will power that future.

About the Role

We are looking for a proactive and analytical Loan Underwriter to join our Credit Risk team and take full ownership of the underwriting function for the German market. You will be instrumental in setting up and optimising the underwriting framework from the ground up. This is a unique opportunity to combine hands-on underwriting, risk evaluation and strategic process building in a fast-growing fintech environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and set up the full underwriting process for SME loans in Germany, aligning with local regulatory and market expectations.

• Own and refine credit policies, scorecards, and risk assessment criteria based on market intelligence and data.

• Conduct in-depth financial analysis, reviewing creditworthiness of businesses using financial statements, cash flow, credit reports, and sector-specific insights.

• Assess and underwrite deals in real-time, using a combination of automated and manual decisioning tools.

• Partner with product, data, and engineering teams to integrate underwriting logic into scalable platform tools.

• Monitor portfolio performance and adjust credit strategy and processes accordingly.

• Serve as the go-to subject matter expert on underwriting in the German SME lending space.

• Ensure compliance with German financial regulations and collaborate with legal/compliance where needed.

Requirements

• 3-5+ years of experience in SME or commercial loan underwriting, with deep understanding of German credit practices and financial documentation.

• Proven ability to build or lead credit operations or underwriting systems from scratch.

• Familiarity with German regulatory environment (e.g., BaFin, KWG) as it pertains to credit risk.

• Strong quantitative and analytical skills; able to interpret complex financials and credit data.

• Experience with automated underwriting systems, data-driven decisioning, or credit modeling a plus.

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial setting with ambiguity and autonomy.

• Native-level German; fluent English is required.

Benefits

Why join YouLend?

• Award-Winning Workplace: YouLend has been recognised as one of the "Best Places to Work 2024 and 2025" by the Sunday Times for being a supportive, diverse, and rewarding workplace.
• Award-Winning Fintech: YouLend has been recognised as a "Top 250 Fintech Worldwide" company by CNBC.

We offer comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Stock Options
• Private Medical insurance via Vitality and dental with BUPA
• EAP with Health Assured
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Leave
• Modern and sophisticated office space in Central London
• Free Gym in office building in Holborn
• Subsidised Lunch via Feedr
• Deliveroo Allowance if working late in office
• Monthly in office Masseuse
• Team and Company Socials
• Football Power League / Paddle Club

At YouLend, we champion diversity and embrace equal opportunity employment practices. Our hiring, transfer, and promotion decisions are exclusively based on qualifications, merit, and business requirements, free from any discrimination based on race, gender, age, disability, religion, nationality, or any other protected basis under applicable law.