Principal - Credit Risk Strategy

Toast

About The Position

Now, more than ever, the Toast team is committed to our customers. We’re taking steps to help restaurants navigate these unprecedented times with technology, resources, and community. Our focus is on building the restaurant platform that helps restaurants adapt, take control, and get back to what they do best: building the businesses they love. And because our technology is purpose-built for restaurants, by restaurant people, restaurants can trust that we’ll deliver on their needs for today while investing in experiences that will power their restaurant of the future. Bready to make a change? 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.

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

Responsibilities

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.
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
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
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.