Following the acquisition of Virgin Money, Nationwide is on a bold journey to build a credible, relationship led Business Bank, combining strong customer advocacy, deep sector and local knowledge, sustainable growth and disciplined risk management aligned to the benefits of being a modern mutual.
In support of this ambition, we now have a leadership opportunity at the heart of our Business Credit Risk function, helping to shape how Nationwide manages credit risk across its business lending portfolio.
As Head of Business Credit Portfolio & Strategy (MRT), you’ll lead the development and ongoing evolution of our Business Credit Risk strategy, risk appetite, lending standards, assurance and portfolio oversight. You’ll bring together portfolio, sector, market and economic insight to give senior leaders, Executive and Board governance a clear, forward-looking view of risk and help support sustainable business lending growth. Reporting to the Director of Business Credit, you’ll lead a multidisciplinary team of specialists, providing independent insight and constructive challenge, working closely with Business Credit, Business Banking and colleagues across Finance, Model Risk, Compliance, Internal Audit and Technology.
Responsibilities
What you’ll be doing
• Lead the development and ongoing refinement of our Business Credit Risk strategy and risk appetite, including the metrics, limits, triggers and escalation frameworks that support effective risk management.
• Set and own Business Banking credit risk appetite, Business Lending Standards, and sector and cross-portfolio strategies, including development of an industry risk appetite framework that defines clear parameters for risk selection, concentration management and sustainable growth.
• Provide forward-looking oversight of the business credit portfolio, identifying emerging risks and opportunities through analysis of portfolio performance, sectors, market conditions and the wider macroeconomic environment.
• Bring together insight across concentrations, impairment, capital, stress testing and planning, translating complex information into clear risk opinions and recommendations for senior governance.
• Provide high-quality portfolio MI and independent credit risk insight to Executive and Board-level governance, influencing strategic decisions and challenging where appropriate.
• Lead independent credit assurance across standards, controls, file testing and customer outcomes, coordinating portfolio-level regulatory and audit evidence.
• Provide strategic credit risk input and challenge to material business, data and technology change.
• Build strong relationships across lending, underwriting, Business Banking and the wider Risk community, ensuring strategy and standards are understood and effectively embedded.
• Lead and develop specialist teams across Strategy, Standards, Assurance and Portfolio Insights, building capability and creating a strong, forward-looking credit risk function.
About You
You’ll be an established senior credit risk leader with significant experience in commercial or business banking, and a strong track record across credit strategy, portfolio management, risk appetite, lending standards or assurance.
You’ll bring:
• Deep understanding of commercial and business banking credit portfolios, including sector risk, concentrations, impairment, capital and stress testing.
• Strong experience of developing or overseeing credit risk strategy, appetite and policy within a complex regulated environment.
• The ability to interpret portfolio, sector and economic trends and turn them into clear, forward-looking risk insight and practical recommendations.
• Experience of presenting complex credit matters to senior executives and governance forums, with the judgement and credibility to provide constructive, independent challenge.
• A strong understanding of UK regulatory expectations, governance, policy management and the Three Lines of Defence.
• Strong analytical and commercial judgement, with the ability to balance customer, commercial, conduct and credit risk considerations.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary specialist teams and developing senior risk capability.
• The ability to build trusted relationships across Risk, Business Banking, Finance, Compliance, Internal Audit, Model Risk and Technology.
Above all, you’ll combine deep credit expertise with strategic perspective. You’ll be comfortable looking beyond current portfolio performance to understand what could change next, ensuring Nationwide’s approach to business credit remains controlled, evidence-led and positioned to support sustainable growth.
Your rewards
We continually review and evaluate our offering to ensure we have a broad range of market competitive benefits available for our colleagues. When you put a lot in, it’s only fair to expect a lot out. So, when you help us do the right thing for our customers, we want to reward you.
There are all sorts of employee benefits available at Nationwide, including:
• 30 days holiday
• Access to private medical insurance
• A highly competitive pension to help you build a strong foundation for retirement
• Access to an annual performance-related bonus
• Training and development to help you progress your career
• A great selection of additional benefits through our salary sacrifice scheme
• Life assurance to provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones in the event of your death
• Wellhub – access to a range of free and paid options for health and wellness
• Up to 2 days of paid volunteering a year
Banking – but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society
We forge our own path at Nationwide.
As a mutual, we’re owned by our members — those customers who bank, save or have a mortgage with us. We challenge the financial sector status quo. We don’t see customers as the engine of profit. We put their needs first. Always.
If you’re inspired by fairer finances, passionate about making a meaningful impact, and truly care about customers, you’re one of us.
At Nationwide, you are challenged to grow and rewarded for doing so. Valued. Recognised. Inspired to be your best.
We are purpose driven. Uncompromisingly customer. Unstoppably Nationwide.
What to do next
To apply, simply click the ‘Apply Now’ button. Please ensure you attach your CV and complete a few short application questions.
Skills Required
- Significant senior experience in commercial or business banking credit risk
- Deep understanding of commercial and business banking credit portfolios, sector risk, concentrations, impairment, capital, and stress testing
- Experience developing or overseeing credit risk strategy, risk appetite, and policy in a complex regulated environment
- Ability to interpret portfolio, sector, and economic trends and provide forward-looking risk recommendations
- Experience presenting complex credit matters to senior executives and governance forums
- Strong understanding of UK regulatory expectations, governance, policy management, and the Three Lines of Defence
- Strong analytical and commercial judgment across customer, commercial, conduct, and credit risk considerations
- Experience leading multidisciplinary specialist teams and developing senior risk capability
- Ability to build relationships across Risk, Business Banking, Finance, Compliance, Internal Audit, Model Risk, and Technology
Nationwide Building Society Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Nationwide Building Society and has not been reviewed or approved by Nationwide Building Society.
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Healthcare Strength — Private medical insurance is provided to all colleagues, supplemented by broader wellbeing support and external recognition for mental‑health practice. This creates strong healthcare coverage as a core part of the package.
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Retirement Support — A Group Personal Pension for new starters, with established legacy schemes and life assurance, signals robust retirement provision. The pension framework is presented as competitive within UK financial services.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Annual leave of around 25–30 days (role/tenure dependent) plus buy/sell options provides generous time‑off flexibility. Family leave and wider flexible‑benefits choices further support time away when needed.
Nationwide Building Society Insights
What We Do
A good way to bank.
