Head of Credit Risk & Platforms

About the role

We’re seeking an experienced Head of Credit Risk & Platforms to lead the day-to-day operation of Debenhams Group’s lending practices, credit platforms and associated systems across our Pay + Financial Services proposition.

This role holds end-to-end accountability for the full credit risk lifecycle; from customer acquisition and credit decisioning through to collections, recoveries and fraud prevention. You’ll play a critical role in ensuring we lend responsibly, deliver good customer outcomes, and balance risk with sustainable profitability. Working closely with the Chief Financial Officer and wider leadership team, you’ll shape and execute credit and fraud strategies that optimise customer acceptance, credit limits and lifetime value, while remaining fully aligned to regulatory expectations.

The role operates as a Certified Individual under the Senior Managers & Certification Regime (SMCR).

• Own and oversee the end-to-end credit risk lifecycle, ensuring robust, proportionate systems and controls are in place
• Support the Chief Risk & Compliance Officer in maintaining responsible lending practices and mitigating financial crime risk
• Balance credit risk appetite with commercial objectives, optimising acceptance rates, credit limits and profitability
• Stand in for the Chief Risk & Compliance Officer as required

• Design, implement and oversee credit scoring models and lending criteria to optimise acquisition while managing risk
• Monitor and adjust credit risk appetite and thresholds in line with market conditions, business objectives and risk appetite
• Partner closely with Product teams to ensure customer targeting aligns with credit risk strategy

• Develop lifecycle monitoring and management strategies that mitigate risk profitably
• Use data analytics to continuously refine credit policies and customer management practices

• Design and deliver effective collections and recoveries strategies to minimise credit losses
• Oversee the management of delinquent accounts, ensuring customers are treated fairly and in line with legal and regulatory requirements

• Collaborate with Product teams to ensure the core credit platform operates in line with customer and business expectations
• Ensure credit product constructs deliver a coherent, compliant customer experience aligned to credit documentation
• Work closely with internal teams and external suppliers to ensure credit products perform as designed through testing, monitoring and reporting

• Design and oversee credit fraud strategies across both acquisition and spend
• Monitor fraud performance, tuning &F tooling to minimise fraud and false positives while maximising genuine customer access and spend
• Collaborate with Group Payments and Fraud leadership to ensure alignment between payments and credit fraud strategies

• Leverage advanced data analytics to drive insight and inform decision-making across the credit lifecycle
• Develop and maintain comprehensive credit risk and fraud reporting for internal and external stakeholders
• Present clear findings, insights and recommendations to senior leadership and the Board

• Recruit, develop and retain a high-performing team of credit risk, fraud and analytics professionals
• Drive continuous improvement, cost efficiency and high standards of delivery within the function
• Identify, communicate and seamlessly deliver business change into production
• Partner with the Head of Service Delivery to manage supplier and third-party relationships

• Extensive experience across all areas of credit risk management throughout the customer lifecycle
• Strong knowledge of FCA regulation and relevant regulatory frameworks
• Proven track record of designing and delivering effective credit risk and fraud strategies
• Strong analytical capability with excellent risk, change and decision-making skills
• Demonstrated leadership experience, with the ability to build and motivate high-performing teams
• Excellent communication and stakeholder…