Principal - Credit Risk Strategy

Job Summary

The Fintech Risk team at Toast is responsible for driving risk informed growth for the rapidly expanding Toast Fintech line of business. We are seeking a Principal Credit Risk Analyst to lead the evaluation, monitoring, and optimization of credit risk across our lending portfolio. This role will be critical in balancing growth opportunities with prudent risk management, ensuring sustainable performance of both existing and new lending products. You’ll leverage data, advanced analytics, and cross-functional collaboration to shape how Toast assesses and manages credit risk. Your work will directly influence product design, portfolio performance, and the financial health of our merchant partners.

Responsibilities

Credit Risk Strategy & Portfolio Management

• Lead the design and execution of Toast’s credit risk strategy across multiple lending products and lifecycle stages.
• Develop and refine risk frameworks, policies, and performance metrics that balance growth and credit quality.
• Monitor and interpret portfolio performance, identifying emerging risks, opportunities, and portfolio optimization levers.

Product Growth & Innovation

• Partner with Product, Finance, Data Science, and Operations to launch and scale new lending products responsibly.
• Define credit strategies that align with growth targets while maintaining risk appetite.
• Support pricing, underwriting, and account management strategies to optimize customer acquisition and retention.

Analytics & Decisioning

• Build and enhance risk models (scorecards, forecasting, loss models) leveraging advanced analytics.
• Perform deep-dive portfolio analyses to support data-driven decision-making.
• Evaluate external data sources, credit bureaus, and alternative data providers to strengthen risk assessment.

Governance & Reporting & Leadership

• Ensure alignment with regulatory requirements and internal risk management frameworks.
• Deliver clear, actionable insights to senior leadership and governance committees.
• Represent the Fintech Risk team as a thought leader, mentoring analysts and influencing decision-making across the organization.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in credit risk strategy, analytics, or portfolio management, ideally within fintech, SMB lending, or financial services.
• Masters Degree or higher in a quantitative field (Mathematics / Statistics / Economics / Finance / Operations Research, etc).
• Proven track record in managing and scaling lending products across lifecycle stages.
• Strong proficiency in statistical/analytical tools (SQL, Python, R, SAS, or similar) and data visualization tools (Tableau, Hex, or similar).
• Experience with credit risk analytics/modeling, stress testing, and portfolio management.
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills for interpreting analytic results to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Exceptional problem-solving and critical-thinking ability.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders across all levels.
• Leadership presence with experience mentoring analysts or leading cross-functional initiatives.

About Toast and AI

At Toast we’re Hungry to Build and Learn. We believe learning new AI tools empowers us to build for our customers faster, more independently, and with higher quality. We provide these tools across all disciplines, from Engineering and Product to Sales and Support, and are inspired by how our Toasters are already driving real value with them. The people who thrive here are those who embrace changes that let us build more for our customers; it’s a core part of our culture.

Total Rewards

We strive to provide competitive compensation and benefits programs that help to attract, retain, and motivate the best and brightest people in our industry. Our total rewards package goes beyond great earnings potential and provides the means to a healthy lifestyle with the flexibility to meet Toasters’ changing needs.