rauva company
About Rauva:
Rauva is Portugal’s first all-in-one platform designed for business owners and entrepreneurs to start, run, and grow their businesses. From opening a business account and managing certified invoicing, expenses, and payments to accessing expert accounting services, Rauva brings everything you need into one single place. Combining cutting-edge technology with personalized human support, we simplify daily business finances, so entrepreneurs can focus on what truly matters — growing their business. And this is just the beginning, as we're in the process of acquiring the Banco Montepio Empresas.
Our achievements say it all:
• Awarded Mastercard For Fintechs Europe 2024
• Winner of the Banking Tech Awards 2024
• Recognized in the Technology Fast 50 2024 by Deloitte
• Winner of the Prémio Navegantes XXI 2024
• Selected by Banco de Portugal for the Finlab Portugal program
• Honoured as the Tech Innovator in Portugal 2023 by KPMGRauva was founded just two years ago in Lisbon
Rauva was founded just two years ago in Lisbon, Portugal, and we’ve been on an incredible growth journey ever since. Our team has expanded rapidly, from 40 members last year to 100 today, representing over 10 nationalities and proudly maintaining a workforce that is 47% female. Your work at Rauva will directly impact thousands of entrepreneurs, as you collaborate with a passionate team of innovators to create cutting-edge, user-focused products that are transforming the future of Portuguese businesses.
About you:
The Head of Lending will be a strategic leader responsible for defining and implementing the strategy, overseeing and optimizing Rauva’s growth on the SME banking lending activities, ensuring seamless service delivery to our users /clients. This role is central in steering our lending portfolio and delivering financing solutions to our business banking users/clients with focus on the SME segment through digital channels. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in implementing SME client acquisition strategy and managing SME loan portfolios within the banking and/or fintech environment, strong leadership abilities, and a passion for innovation. To lead the implementation of the Bank’s Commercial Lending area for the SME segment aligned with the defined risk appetite. The job holder is also responsible for identifying, mitigating and monitoring all risks as First Line of Defense.
Your Responsibilities:
Operational Strategy & Execution:
• Portfolio Growth: Drive the growth of the SME lending portfolio, ensuring the achievement of targets while maintaining high-quality user/client journeys.
• SME Financing Strategy: Develop strategies to serve the SME segment, tailoring products and services to support their growth.
• Market Benchmarking and Analysis: Identify key market opportunities and trends, analyse the opportunities to serve, and perform deep dive research to validate hypotheses on solutions that can address the opportunities.
• Financial Product Development: Collaborate with tech product teams to design and enhance lending products that cater to SME customers.
• Partnership Development: Establish new partnerships with external partners to grow the lending customer base and expand market reach.
• External Stakeholder Engagement: Cultivate strong relationships with external stakeholders, such as credit guarantee organizations, credit rating agencies, and other relevant entities, to support and enhance SME lending initiatives.
• Portfolio management: Manage and maintain a portfolio of commercial loans, monitoring repayment schedules, and ensuring timely collection of payments.
• Cross Selling: Build and maintain relationships with existing and potential users/clients, promoting the organization’s products and services.
• Reporting: Prepare and present comprehensive reports on lending activities, including loan performance, portfolio quality, and profitability.
Risk Management & Compliance:
• Engagement with Risk Management function: Work with the Credit Risk team to provide input during the conceptualization of lending programs and campaigns, ensuring alignment with risk policies/risk appetite and market opportunities. Implement robust risk management frameworks and operational controls.
• Financial Analysis and Risk Assessment: Conduct thorough financial analysis, including cash flow analysis, collateral evaluation, and risk assessment.
• Compliance and Regulatory Engagement: Ensure operations adhere to regulatory and compliance requirements (including but not limited to BoP, PSD2, GDPR, Complaints, AML, etc). Work closely with compliance and MLRO to mitigate risks and maintain high standards of governance.
Team Leadership & Development:
• Team Building and Mentoring: Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing operations team in an agile environment.
• Continuous Improvement and Accountability: Foster a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
• Performance Management: Set clear performance objectives and provide ongoing feedback and coaching.
• Change Leadership: Lead and motivate teams, acting as a ‘change agent’ so that development is carried out with commitment and to agreed timescales and standards.
User Experience:
• Collaboration and Service Delivery: Collaborate with product, IT, and user support teams to enhance the end-to-end user/client journey. Ensure timely resolution of user/client issues and delivery of exceptional service.
Data-Driven:
• Data Utilization and Analytics: Utilize data and analytics to drive operational decisions. Monitor KPIs and provide regular reports to senior management. Identify trends and develop actionable insights to improve operational performance.
Policy review, updates, audit:
• Policy and Procedure Development: Develop, improve and maintain policies and procedures and user manuals for the SME Lending department.
• System and Process Enhancements: Recommend enhancements to systems and processes.
• Audit and Compliance Management: Ensure that any audit points have been addressed and cleared in a reasonable time.
What’s your ideal background?
Education:
• Bachelor’s degree in Banking & Finance, Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, or a related field.
• MBA is a plus.
Experience:
• Minimum of 8-10 years of experience in SME or business banking, with a focus on lending and/or microfinancing.
• Track record in digitalizing user/client journeys is a relevant plus.
• Proven ability to manage a lending portfolio and develop market strategies.
Skills and Competencies:
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Strong financial analysis and decision-making skills.
• Experience in project planning and implementing tools for the area.
• Strong understanding of banking operations, regulatory frameworks, and best practices.
• Experience with process optimization and automation.
• Data-driven mindset with analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated leadership and decision-making abilities.
• Strong understanding of risk management principles.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and Portuguese.
• Enthusiasm for working in a fast-paced startup environment and ability to multitask.
• Appetite to work in tech/startups.
Location Requirement: This position is based in Lisbon, Portugal – relocation support is provided if required (tech visa; startup status).
What we can offer you:
• Remote Policy: Work from home or our Lisbon office following Rauva’s remote work policy.
• Competitive Salary: Above the industry average.
• Meal Allowance.
• Leadership Opportunities: Chances to lead projects and teams.
• Team Bonding: Enjoy off-site events and getaways to foster a strong sense of community.
• Top-Notch Tools: Access to cutting-edge software and technology.
• Career Growth: Opportunities to grow within a fast-expanding company aiming to establish a presence across Southern Europe soon.
The hiring process for this role:
• MBTI Test
• 1st Interview: Intro call with People team for culture fit
• 2nd Interview: Interview with the CRO
• 3rd Interview: Interview with the CEO
• Competencies & Technical Assessment
• Job Offer
Join the Rauva mission to make entrepreneurship easily accessible to everyone.
Be part of Rauva’s mission to make entrepreneurship easily accessible to everyone.
If you’re driven about innovation, excel in a fast-paced startup environment, and want to be involved in impactful solutions, Rauva is the place for you. Join us in shaping the future of banking and enabling SMEs to grow and succeed across Europe. Be part of a groundbreaking journey where innovation meets impact and help us create something truly pioneer.
