Director, Business Analysis

ZestFinance is a technology startup that uses machine learning and large-scale data analysis to transform credit availability for millions of Americans. Over the past 5 years, ZestFinance has built a big data underwriting technology that more accurately predicts likelihood of repayment. ZestFinance uses this technology to make loans to customer that banks typically overlook. ZestFinance also licenses its technology to other companies, including JD.com in China.

As Director, Business Analysis you will lead analytical teams to identify, structure, and penetrate strategic growth initiatives for Zest, leveraging Zest’s underwriting platform. You’ll focus on both B2C and B2B initiatives. The successful Director, Business Analysis will be highly skilled in building business cases that outline opportunities accompanied with a clear/believable path to monetization. S/he will be highly data driven and earnestly focused on testing-and-learning en route to delivering game changing results for Zest. The successful candidate will be an analytical and strategic powerhouse, a polished communicator, highly skilled team builder & leader capable of leading direct reports or influencing across a matrixed environment. This position reports to Zest’s President, Mike Armstrong. Mike is a seasoned data-driven executive and has held senior roles at Capital One, startups, and strategy consulting.

• Identify, structure, and deliver new growth opportunities that will allow Zest to leverage its core underwriting platform.
• Manage growth initiatives to meet/exceed performance expectations; key metrics will include, among others, credit risk metrics, and overall profitability.
• Recruit, motivate, and develop world-class analytical talent.
• Continuously trade-off risk against profit-generating opportunities to position the business for responsible but dynamic growth.
• Zealously drive innovation that creates proprietary advantage for Zest
• Become a recognized, credible, polished “analytical face” of ZestFinance both within and outside of the company.
• Provide massive amounts of strategic thought leadership across the organization to steer/position Zest to maximize its full potential.

• Analytical powerhouse & accomplished value creator; Strategic – goal oriented
• Deep experience and expertise in developing & shaping strategies, building/optimizing businesses or product lines, managing P&Ls, and driving business growth
• Working knowledge of statistical analysis, algorithm development, and state-of-the-art tools and methodologies for data science (advanced machine learning techniques a plus)
• Steep career trajectory characterized by increasing levels of responsibility and bona fide examples of driving value creation through innovation
• Proven team leader, proven thought leadership
• Executive presence/gravitas, polished executive-level communication skills (written & oral)