Director – Credit (MSME – Unsecured)

Company Overview

WeRize is a fintech platform founded in 2019, focused on addressing the financial needs of underserved middle-class customers in India. Through innovative unsecured consumer credit and a unique social distribution platform, WeRize aims to provide essential financial products to customers in more than 5000 small towns across the country.

Job Summary

We are looking for a seasoned Credit Leader specializing in MSME lending with profound expertise in underwriting unsecured business loans ranging from ₹1 to ₹10 lakh. This leadership role will oversee credit assessment, policy formulation, risk management, and team management within the MSME credit function. The successful candidate will play a critical role in shaping our credit strategy while fostering a strong credit culture.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate creditworthiness of MSME borrowers using bank statements, GST returns, bureau reports, and business health indicators.
• Independently underwrite unsecured MSME/business loan applications within the ₹1 – 10 lakh range.
• Formulate credit policies based on market practices, regulatory guidelines (CGTMSE, CGFMU), and risk appetite.
• Lead and manage a team of 10 – 15 underwriters and credit analysts, focusing on performance management, training, and development.
• Oversee region's credit operations and collaborate with cross-functional teams including Sales, Product, and Operations to optimize the credit decisioning process.
• Maintain strong oversight on portfolio quality and proactively identify early risk indicators to mitigate delinquencies.
• Interact with external stakeholders such as lending partners, auditors, and regulators to ensure compliance with credit norms.
• Focus on underwriting cases typical to proprietorship and partnership firms in small-town MSME sectors.
• Monitor post-disbursement performance, conduct risk reviews, and recommend enhancements to credit strategies.
• Mentor junior staff in credit principles and judgment to foster a robust credit culture.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Finance, Business, Economics, or a related field.
• 10 – 15 years of experience in MSME or unsecured business loan underwriting, preferably in NBFCs or FinTech organizations.
• Proven experience in managing regional or zonal credit responsibilities and leading large underwriting teams (10+ members).
• Deep understanding of CGTMSE, CGFMU, and relevant central/state MSME schemes.
• Demonstrated experience in credit policy creation, implementation, and optimization.
• Sound knowledge of MSME segments with emphasis on Tier 2/3/4 borrower profiles.
• Strong analytical, leadership, and decision-making skills.

Preferred Skills

• Expertise in financial data analysis and credit risk assessment.
• Familiarity with digital underwriting tools and techniques.
• Ability to work well in a team-oriented and cross-functional environment.

Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience in credit underwriting, specifically focused on MSME financing.