Hello,
Recognise Bank; a modern business bank built to support the UK’s SMEs with tailored lending and savings solutions. Founded in 2017 by experienced business owners, we set out to challenge traditional banking by offering more flexibility, understanding, and practical support to help businesses thrive. Since receiving our banking licence in 2021, we’ve built a loyal customer base and a strong, diverse team that puts people first.
Our vision is building stronger futures with bespoke financial solutions. We understand that no two financial needs are the same, which is why we work closely with UK SMEs and individuals to unlock potential others often overlook. Through smart, flexible lending and savings products, we’re here to build and grow stronger futures for lasting success.
Our values shape how we work and grow together:
💪 Can do, will do: We take ownership, solve problems, and adapt as our customers’ needs evolve.
✨ Be brilliant: We show up with curiosity and energy, always striving for better.
🤝 Do the right thing: We act with integrity, responsibility, and care in everything we do.
💡 Make a difference: We focus on impact, helping our customers, colleagues, and communities succeed.
About the role
The Director of Lending will lead a high-performing lending team to deliver Recognise Bank’s lending strategy, ensuring strong execution across underwriting standards, intermediary strategy, operations and credit quality to achieve sustainable growth across regulated and non-regulated lending.
The role requires broad real estate lending experience and a strong track record in launching new products, working closely with stakeholders to ensure market-aligned offerings and high-quality service delivery. The Director will oversee product performance and intermediary panel effectiveness.
As the senior lending subject matter expert, the Director may deputise for the Chief Commercial Officer and provide leadership on portfolio performance, policy development and strategic initiatives, while working cross-functionally to support business growth and intermediary engagement.
Key Responsibilities
* Lending, Credit & Portfolio Leadership
* Lead and manage direct and intermediated lending teams across commercial real estate products.
* Provide strong leadership, mentoring and credit expertise to support team and business growth.
* Build and maintain key internal and external relationships.
* Own end-to-end portfolio performance, including origination, credit quality, margins and mix.
* Ensure first-line adherence to credit appetite, underwriting standards and delegated authorities.
* Commercial and Retail Product Management
* Drive the commercial strategy for real estate lending products across direct and intermediated channels, including product reviews, fair value assessments and new product launches.
* Partner with the CCO to align the product suite with strategic objectives.
* Define commercial and credit requirements for products and lead cross-functional delivery to ensure scalable implementation.
* Work with Marketing and intermediaries to ensure propositions and collateral meet target market needs.
* Lead the design and operational delivery of new lending propositions, ensuring robust, compliant and scalable processes.
* Commercial Analysis & MI
* Develop and oversee MI to monitor portfolio performance, credit quality, intermediary effectiveness and Consumer Duty outcomes.
* Use data-driven insight to support pricing, benchmarking, horizon scanning and operational improvements.
* Identify structural, policy or process enhancements to improve performance and manage risk.
* Stakeholder Management
* Design, manage and evolve intermediary panel frameworks, including onboarding, performance monitoring and policy adherence.
* Produce regular MI for compliance and committee reporting.
* Work closely with Finance, Risk and Operations to align commercial objectives and delivery.
* Act as the senior Lending representative in cross-functional forums.
* Lending Expertise
* Bring deep knowledge of specialist lending markets, products and competitors.
* Demonstrate strong credit and structuring expertise across commercial and retail transactions.
* Own and continuously enhance underwriting standards and credit policy in line with risk appetite and governance.
* Continuous Improvement
* Identify opportunities to improve product performance, profitability and scalability.
* Lead initiatives to enhance efficiency, automation and consistency across lending processes
* Contribute to strategic planning and commercial initiatives.
* Corporate Responsibilities
* Read and follow all relevant company policies and procedures
* Adhere to all risk-related responsibilities applicable to your role, as set out in the Risk Management Policy
* Abide by all compliance and financial crime related policies, procedures and reporting obligations applicable to your role.
Required Skills & Experience
* Senior leadership experience in specialist or commercial real estate lending, with strong credit and deal structuring expertise and multi-team oversight.
* Proven delivery of credit policy, underwriting standards and delegated authorities in a regulated environment.
* Strong knowledge of lending products, intermediated markets and B2B SME lending.
* Experience authoring policy and committee papers and defining product scope and requirements.
* Credible, confident communicator able to influence senior stakeholders and operate effectively at executive and board level.
* Background in a regulated bank or challenger bank, with a sound understanding of Consumer Duty.
* Highly organised, delivery-focused and comfortable working autonomously in a fast-paced, growing environment.
* Knowledge of savings products desirable.
Why Join?
At Recognise Bank, we're building more than a bank — we’re creating a culture where people feel empowered to make a difference 💡, supported to be brilliant ✨ with a can do will do attitude, and trusted to do the right thing 🤝.
We believe that when our people thrive, so do our customers. That’s why we invest in an environment that reflects our values and supports your growth, flexibility, and wellbeing.
Here’s what you can look forward to:
🌴 Competitive Time Off – Generous annual leave plus bank holidays to rest, recharge, and enjoy life outside of work.
🌍 Work From Anywhere – Up to 4 weeks per year to work remotely from anywhere in the world.
📚 Learning & Development – Tailored training and support to grow your skills and achieve your professional goals.
🏠 Hybrid Working – To support your work-life balance, we offer a hybrid working model with 3 days in the office and 2 days remote.
🩺 Private Medical Care with Vitality – Comprehensive healthcare including optical and dental coverage to keep you healthy.
💼 Enhanced Pension Scheme – Helping you plan and save for a secure future.
👶 Maternity, Paternity & Adoption Pay – Supporting you and your family during important life moments.
🎉 Discretionary Company Bonus – Rewarding your contribution to our shared success.
If you're curious, driven, and ready to be part of something meaningful — where your ideas matter, your growth is supported, and your work makes a real impact — then we’d love to hear from you.
Recognise Bank is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
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