Credit Risk Manager (Retail Lending)

About the opportunity

Are you ready for your next career step? N26 is looking for a Retail Credit Risk Manager to further develop the credit risk function at a cutting-edge technology-driven bank, spearheading the development of our analytical solutions and credit risk models for (Unsecured) Retail Lending, based on state-of-the-art methods and technology, as well as latest regulations in cooperation with leading business and tech experts, and taking a key role in assessing, controlling and reporting credit risks.

In this role you will

• Drive the evolution of retail credit risk frameworks: You will take methodological ownership of the End-to-End (E2E) credit cycle—from origination and monitoring to problem loan management and collections. You will continuously optimize decision engines and cut-off strategies to ensure profitable, regulatory-sound growth of the unsecured lending portfolio.
• Steer model governance and innovation: You will oversee the development, calibration, and maintenance of N26’s suite of credit risk models (PD, LGD, CCF, Debt-Servicing Ability, Early Warning Systems). You will guide the team in applying Machine Learning methodologies and advanced transactional data to enhance predictive power while ensuring model explainability and governance.
• Oversee portfolio health and provisioning: You will be responsible for the continuous monitoring of portfolio quality and the accuracy of loan loss provisioning under IFRS 9. You will derive strategic insights from risk data to adjust risk appetite and advise Business and Product teams on portfolio trends.
• Implement cutting-edge process controls: As our retail credit process is fully automated, you will design and maintain robust automated process controls and monitoring frameworks. You will leverage modern technology to ensure that all automated decisions remain within defined risk parameters and regulatory guardrails in real-time.
• Master Data Management: You will oversee the quality, availability, and lineage of credit risk data. You will ensure the team manages the data basis effectively for reporting and modeling, ensuring consistency across internal databases and external sources.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and operational excellence: You will ensure full adherence to prudential (MaRisk, EBA Guidelines) and consumer/data regulations (GDPR, EU AI Act). You will act as the primary point of contact for internal and external auditors as well as external supervisory inquiries regarding retail credit risk.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team: You will manage, mentor, and develop a team of credit risk experts. You will foster a culture of cross-functional collaboration, working closely with Product, Finance, and Data Scientists in a matrix environment to deliver shared business goals.

What you need to be successful

Background

• Professional Experience: You have 5+ years of experience in Credit Risk Management within the retail segment. Ideally, you bring a combination of experience from a well-established Retail Bank (building solid foundations) and a high-growth environment/challenger bank (adapting to speed and innovation).
• Quantitative Academic Background: You hold a BSc/MSc in a quantitative field such as Applied Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Quantitative Finance, Statistics, Econometrics, or Engineering. Additional qualifications (e.g. PhD, FRM) are a plus.
• European Market Expertise: You demonstrate genuine industry expertise in retail credit risk management for the European market, with a deep understanding of unsecured lending products and consumer behavior.

Skills

• Credit Processes & Controls: You have the ability to build and manage the End-to-End (E2E) credit process cycle. This includes designing frameworks for loan granting, portfolio monitoring, and Early Warning Systems (EWS). You also oversee intensified loan management and problem loan management, including debt collections strategies. You ensure robust underlying controls are in place across all these process steps.
• Credit Portfolio Monitoring, Reporting & Provisioning: You are responsible for the oversight of portfolio health. You understand key performance and risk indicators for retail lending portfolios and oversee accurate regulatory and internal reporting. You have solid expertise in loan loss provisioning under IFRS 9, including stage transfer logic and impairment calculations.
• Credit Risk Modeling & Machine Learning: You have proven experience in the governance and usage of credit risk modeling (PD, LGD, CCF, Debt-Servicing Ability). You are experienced in applying Machine Learning techniques to credit decisioning, utilizing both conventional credit bureau data and advanced data sources (specifically transactional data). You ensure models are robust, predictive, and fit for purpose.
• Technical Stack: You possess a strong technical background in Python and SQL with solid data management skills. You can review code, understand data structures, and guide the team on technical implementation, bridging the gap between risk requirements and data science execution.
• Credit Risk Regulation: You have strong regulatory expertise regarding prudential regulations (e.g., EBA Guidelines on Loan Origination and Monitoring, MaRisk) as well as consumer and data regulations (GDPR, EU AI Act, Consumer Protection). You are experienced in engaging with internal and external auditors and external supervisory authorities.
• Managerial Skills & Collaboration: You are a fully fledged credit risk manager with strong leadership skills to lead and develop a team of experts. You excel at cross-functional collaboration, working seamlessly with Product, Business, Accounting, Regulatory Reporting, and Risk Controlling stakeholders to oversee profitable and strictly regulatory-sound growth.
• Language proficiency: Fluent in English with excellent communication skills. Proficiency in German is considered an advantage

Traits

• Rigorous critical thinking and drive to improve the status quo
• Excellent communication and presenting skills
• Passion for data and complex problem-solving
• Both attention to details and strong conceptual thinking
• Flexibility in a fast-changing environment
• Actively help yourself and the team be successful
• Will to continuously learn and act upon direct feedback

What’s in it for you:

• Accelerate your career growth by joining one of Europe’s most talked about disruptors 🚀.
• Employee benefits that range from a competitive personal development budget, work from home budget, discounts to fitness & wellness memberships, language apps and public transportation. 
• As an N26 employee you will have access to a Premium subscription on your personal N26 bank account. As well as subscriptions for friends and family members.    
• Vacation days vary depending on your location of work. Additional day of annual leave for each year of service.  
• A high degree of autonomy and access to cutting edge technologies - all while working with a friendly team of peers of diverse nationalities, life experiences and family statuses. 
• A relocation package with visa support for those who need it.

Who we are

N26 has reimagined banking for today’s digital world. Technology and design empower everything we do and it’s how we are building the global banking platform the world loves to use.

We've eliminated physical branches, paperwork, and hidden fees for an elegant digital experience and supreme savings. Giving people the power to live and bank their way is what gets us out of bed in the morning and inspires the work that we do. 

We are headquartered in Berlin with offices in multiple cities across Europe, including Vienna and Barcelona, and a 1,500-strong team of more than 80 nationalities.

Sounds good? Apply now for this position.

N26 is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status.