Lead Analyst, Credit Risk Strategy

Overview

This role involves leading bank credit risk strategy development and monitoring across card, consumer, and deposits credit portfolios. The position focuses on optimizing profitable growth within risk appetite while owning operational and compliance risk embedded in credit strategy. Quantitative methods are used to identify credit risk, develop and deliver credit strategies, and monitor credit performance and external factors impacting credit risk exposure.

The position is remote eligible in the continental U.S. with occasional business travel. Individuals residing within a 60-mile radius of a USAA office are expected to work on-site four days per week.

Responsibilities

• Leverage and share industry leading practices and analytical skills to identify risks and opportunities within the managed portfolio and translate findings into strategic credit risk solutions.
• Use banking product knowledge and critical thinking to lead analyses, identify root causes, and develop clear recommendations to support credit risk strategy development and influence senior decision makers.
• Lead and partner to deliver Bank credit risk strategies across lines of defense by developing and improving complex analytical frameworks, analyzing data and processes, and clearly communicating insights and recommendations to key stakeholders and senior leadership.
• Lead analysis of internal and external scores/data for use in identifying first party fraud.
• Use industry knowledge and competitive benchmarking to lead, inform, and influence credit strategy development.
• Proactively develop advanced quantitative analysis based on internal and external data sources to provide structure and clarity to ambiguous and challenging problems.
• Develop, manage, and present comprehensive risk and financial reporting supporting senior management and committee oversight of existing and emerging risks.
• Escalate the quality and direction of credit performance to appropriate levels of management.
• Lead the design and execution of complex financial risk sensitivity analysis.
• Create and manage credit strategy infrastructure and ensure credit strategies are implemented as intended.
• Apply expert programming and analytical techniques to analyze credit data.
• Provide thought leadership, coaching, and mentoring to team members regarding analytics and risk management.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to guide and facilitate teams in developing and implementing key initiatives.
• Coach and mentor analysts to develop analytically derived insights and strategic plans with significant impact to business results.
• May have model ownership responsibilities, including accountability for quantitative model requirement definition and/or implementation of advanced credit and/or financial modeling infrastructure.
• Ensure risks associated with business activities are effectively identified, measured, monitored, and controlled in accordance with risk and compliance policies and procedures.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree; OR 4 years of relevant education and/or experience.
• 8 years of experience in an analytical field or work focused on leading analytical projects, advanced analytics, and risk assessments—or leading analysis and interpretation of complex bank credit risk data to align to team strategy.
  • OR an advanced degree in Business Management, Finance, Economics, Engineering, or a Mathematical discipline and 6 years of experience in an analytical field or work focused on leading analytical projects, advanced analytics, and risk assessments—or leading analysis and interpretation of complex bank credit risk data to align to team strategy.
• Strong understanding of banking regulations and risk and/or compliance.
• Advanced presentation and communication skills.
• Advanced business acumen and attention to detail and accuracy.
• Advanced research and investigation skills and demonstrated good judgement in problem solving.
• Experience influencing cross-functional stakeholders to action by communicating complex analytical insights and risk-mitigating solutions.
• Experience developing and improving a variety of risk-related reporting.
• Experience coaching and guiding peers on analytics and/or risk management.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office products, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Advanced knowledge of data analysis tools, including the ability to develop analysis queries and procedures in SQL, SAS, or other business intelligence and analysis software applications for data segmentation, aggregation, and statistics (e.g., SPS or Visual Basic).
• Knowledge of federal laws, rules, regulations, and applicable guidance including: FCRA, Reg B, UDAAP/UDAP, OCC Heightened Standards, OCC CREDIT RISK GUIDANCE.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven ability to develop and communicate data-driven credit strategy recommendations and complex analytical findings to senior leadership and a diverse set of stakeholders, including Credit Risk, Pricing, Product, Legal, Compliance, Underwriting, and Operations.
• Extensive experience translating internal and external industry data into actionable credit and business insights.
• Demonstrated expertise designing and executing credit strategy experiments (e.g., A/B testing, champion/challenger frameworks, and other causal evaluation methodologies), evaluating outcomes, and continuously optimizing the risk-reward framework.
• 6+ years of experience leveraging SAS, SQL, and other analytical programming languages such as Python to extract, transform, and analyze large-scale datasets, including integrating data across multiple sources, managing varying levels of granularity, resolving data quality issues, and performing advanced joins to create robust analytical datasets.
• Proven experience utilizing AI and LLM-based tools (e.g., GPT-powered copilots and similar technologies) to enhance coding productivity, accelerate analytical workflows, and develop intelligent agents and automation solutions.
• Strong track record of identifying and addressing emerging or ambiguous risk challenges with limited historical precedent, including evaluating credit impacts driven by macroeconomic conditions and policy developments (e.g., inflationary pressures, changes in student loan repayment and collection programs, and shifts in federal government employment).
• Demonstrated leadership in managing portfolio-level credit performance, proactively identifying risk and growth opportunities, and influencing strategy through partnership with senior leaders.
• Proven experience owning end-to-end credit strategy development, implementation, monitoring, and performance optimization across key customer segments and lending products.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and develop junior analysts while driving analytical excellence and collaboration.
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead multiple high-priority initiatives simultaneously, navigate ambiguity, and deliver high-quality recommendations with limited direction.

Compensation & Benefits

• Compensation range: $164,780 - $314,960
• Paid within the salary range based on experience and market data for the position. Actual salary may vary by location.
• Employees may be eligible for pay incentives based on overall corporate and individual performance and at the discretion of the board.
• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans
• 401(k) and pension
• Life insurance
• Parental benefits and adoption assistance
• Paid time off program with paid holidays plus 16 paid volunteer hours
• Various wellness programs
• Career path planning and continuing education support

Location

Remote eligible in the continental U.S. with occasional business travel.

Individuals residing within a 60-mile radius of a USAA office will be expected to work on-site four days per week.

Additional Information

• Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis; this posting will remain open until the position is filled.
• This employer does not provide visa sponsorship for this role. Do not apply if you will need immigration support (i.e., H-1B, TN, STEM OPT Training Plans, etc.).
• Equal Opportunity Employer; employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.