VP of Credit & Underwriting

Exponent is the fastest growing financial technology platform built for franchise and independent brand operators. We provide automated expense management, industry-specific charge cards, and flexible financing in one integrated platform.

Trusted by leading U.S. QSR franchisees, Exponent gives operators faster access to capital and real-time insight into the financial performance of their multi-unit portfolios. We recently closed our Series A from leading institutional investors, and we are scaling lending capacity through bank and credit institution partnerships to support hundreds of millions in originations.

The VP of Credit & Underwriting will be the senior leader running underwriting and credit operations day-to-day at Exponent. You will own the credit box, set pricing, and lead a growing team of underwriters across our card and loan products.

You will partner directly with the CEO and the broader leadership team on credit strategy and product, and you will be the driving force behind throughput — both in the volume of files we underwrite and in the technology and process improvements that let us scale.

Own the credit box and pricing. Set and continuously refine the credit policy across our charge card and term loan products today, and develop credit frameworks for the products on our roadmap — spot financing, AP financing, and lines of credit. Make individual credit decisions, calibrate the scorecards that scale the function, and own pricing logic across products. Be the person every underwriter on the team learns from.

Lead and grow the underwriting team. Hire, develop, and manage a team of underwriters. Set the standard for how files get worked, how decisions get made, and how the team operates. Build the career paths and the bench. Your team should ship more files, better, every quarter.

Drive throughput through product and process. Be the credit leader who actively partners with engineering and product to build technology that makes underwriting faster and better. Identify the workflow bottlenecks, the data points we're missing, and the automation we should build. Translate underwriting insight into product requirements that compound our data and credit advantage over time. We move fast because we use technology — you will be a force multiplier for that.

Manage portfolio risk and performance. Monitor portfolio health, contribute to reserve setting and loss forecasting, and operate the early-warning systems and workout playbooks across legacy and emerging franchise brands. Own the day-to-day credit quality of the book.

Required experience. 5 years in franchise lending or specialty finance underwriting. Demonstrated experience leading or mentoring underwriters. Advanced proficiency in credit underwriting, pricing, and risk management. Comfort operating in fast-moving, tech-enabled environments.

Preferred background. Degree in finance or accounting, ideally post-graduate. CFA or CPA preferred. Direct experience building or improving underwriting technology, scorecards, or automation. Genuine desire to scale a startup company and contribute to a product roadmap dedicated to providing full financial automation and support for franchise owners.

Competitive Base Bonus Equity, with significant upside as we scale originations and capital capacity.

Our offices are in Flatiron, NYC and Downtown Boston; we have an in-office culture driving collaboration, innovation, and a strong team dynamic.

Company-sponsored benefits (PTO, healthcare, 401(k), and HSA/FSA) are included.

Please send an introduction and short message describing your interest to careers@exponentfi.com.