Credit risk strategy specialist - commercial/small business lending

EXL’s Credit Risk Practice works with leading banks, fintechs, and financial institutions to design and implement advanced risk management strategies. EXL is seeking a Credit Risk Strategy Specialist with deep expertise in Commercial or Small Business Lending to drive credit strategy development, portfolio management, and risk optimization across products such as Commercial Cards, Corporate Card Programs, Small Business Cards & Loans, Commercial Payments. Commercial Lines of Credit (LOC) - Secured / Unsecured; experience with Equipment Lending, Mortgage, HELOC is a plus.

This role requires deep analytical expertise, strong business acumen, and the ability to translate data-driven insights into effective risk strategies that balance growth and profitability within client risk appetite. Additionally, it requires strong consultative and relationship-building skills with ability to influence senior stakeholders.

Work Location: Remote, US (Occasional travel for important client meetings in the East Coast - NY/NJ/DE)

Salary Range: $140K/Yr - $170K/Yr Base + Annual Bonus

The posted range is the hiring range for this role — a subset of the broader range available to employees over time — and reflects base salary across our national hiring scale. Final offers are based on several factors, including the candidate's skills and experience, internal pay equity, work location, market conditions for the role, and the specific scope and responsibilities of the position. The top of the range is reserved for candidates who notably exceed the requirements; the lower end applies to those with less experience or fewer preferred qualifications. For positions based in higher-cost zones (e.g., California, New York, New Jersey), actual compensation may exceed the posted range; your recruiter will share specifics during the process.

For more information on benefits and what we offer please visit us at US Careers and Benefit.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design, implement, and validate credit risk strategies across the lifecycle (acquisition, underwriting, account management, exposure management, and collections).
• Perform detailed portfolio analysis using internal data, bureau attributes, and alternative data to identify opportunities for growth, loss mitigation, and risk optimization.
• Develop and enhance credit risk models and decision frameworks using advanced statistical and analytical techniques.
• Deliver MIS reports, dashboards, and performance reviews to monitor portfolio trends, assess strategy effectiveness, and inform business decisions.
• Collaborate with client stakeholders and cross-functional teams (Product, Finance, Operations, Compliance, Technology) to align credit strategies with business objectives.
• Monitor regulatory and governance requirements, ensuring all strategies adhere to compliance and audit standards.
• Drive innovation by leveraging new data sources, advanced analytics, and automation to strengthen credit risk capabilities.
• Provide insights and recommendations to senior leadership on portfolio performance, emerging risks, and forward-looking strategies.
• Build and nurture long-term client relationships by understanding business needs and positioning EXL’s credit risk solutions effectively.
• Identify opportunities to expand engagements through cross-sell/up-sell of analytics, modeling, and risk consulting services.
• Partner with business development teams to support proposal creation, client pitches, and delivery of value-driven outcomes.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, or related field; Master’s preferred.
• 6+ years of experience in credit risk strategy, credit analytics, or risk management within consulting, banking, or financial services.
• Strong expertise in commercial lending or small business lending products (like Commercial Cards, Corporate Card Programs, Small Business Cards & Loans, Commercial Payments. Commercial Lines of Credit (LOC) - Secured / Unsecured) and credit lifecycle strategies.
• Experience with Equipment Lending, Mortgage, HELOC is a plus.
• Proficiency in SQL, Python / SAS (Tableau is a plus).
• Solid background in data modeling, segmentation, regression, and statistical techniques for risk decisioning.
• Ability to synthesize complex analysis into clear recommendations for senior management.
• Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder collaboration skills.
• Knowledge of credit risk regulatory requirements, governance frameworks, and emerging trends in digital lending.
• Preferred: Experience leveraging alternative data and innovative analytical approaches in credit strategy development.
• Proven experience in managing client accounts with a track record of delivering measurable impact.
• Business development mindset with experience in proposal writing, solutioning, or contributing to revenue growth initiatives.