Life as a Senior Credit Analyst at iwoca

Benjamin Solanke is a Senior Credit Analyst and joined in September 2024.

So tell us about you: what’s your role and what does it involve?

I’m a Senior Credit Analyst at iwoca, responsible for underwriting credit applications from our customers, with a focus on larger, more complex businesses. I analyse and structure financial data and other pieces of information to inform credit decisions, and I share insights with our analytics teams to help improve our models. As a senior, I also support and train more junior members of the team. 

How would you describe our culture?‍

Having worked across several fintech companies and financial institutions, I can say with confidence that iwoca has one of the best cultures I’ve experienced.

I’ve been in the role for a year and have felt at home from day one, the onboarding support was excellent and the Credit Analyst team and wider business have been very welcoming! There’s a genuine open-door approach to ideas and improvements. It’s a place that celebrates individuality, nurtures talent, and focuses on growth at every level: personal, team, and company. At the same time, iwoca maintains a healthy work-life balance, a vibrant social calendar, and a consistently friendly, supportive and challenging environment.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

Every day brings new challenges and fresh applications from a diverse range of businesses. Understanding each company’s unique circumstances and providing the funding they need to grow is incredibly rewarding.

At iwoca, we think beyond the conventional to support SMEs. Each day is a chance to reassess how you view a business, learn, grow, and ultimately help more companies thrive.

What advice would you give someone applying to join our team?

We look for people who have a good understanding of the SME landscape, know its drivers and leavers, and can make sense of  key data and financials. We are always looking for those who can add to, challenge, and improve how we think and work, so don't hesitate to ask questions - we’re very open to dialogue and want candidates who are genuinely curious and engaged. We value two way feedback and dialogue and very much encourage it!

iwoca is a fantastic place to work, unlike any other. With a supportive culture and dynamic environment, we’re pushing the boundaries of lending as a leading fintech. 

We’re all about small businesses - if you were to set up a small business, what would it be? And why?

I have many hobbies, but if I turned one into a career, I’d open a gym focused on combat sports. I love sharing my passion for fitness, and few things build strength, resilience, and camaraderie like combat-sports training.

What draws you to fintech, and iwoca specifically?

There are countless fintechs, alternative lenders, and financial institutions out there, but few can serve such a broad spectrum of businesses while pushing the boundaries of lending - especially in the data, analytics, and decision making that power it.

I was struck by the calibre of talent at iwoca and, more importantly, the growth stories of people across the business. It’s a place where you can develop, with a strong focus on nurturing potential. The company has scaled significantly in recent years and is no longer the new kid on the block, yet it still operates with the agility and can-do mindset of an early-stage business.

Walk us through your experience - how has it brought you to where you are today?

I studied law at university but soon realised it wasn’t the right path for me. Drawn to finance, I took my first role in a private bank’s underwriting team and I was hooked.

Since then, I’ve worked across fintech and financial services from asset finance and insurance to private banking and alternative lending, always in credit analysis or credit risk roles.

I’m particularly drawn to the lending side of credit risk: it combines data analysis, sector understanding, and staying close to what’s happening in the market and broader economy.

Over 13 years in finance, I’ve learned a lot, and iwoca feels like the culmination of that journey - a place to keep growing and make a real impact. I’ve seen the other side and worked at competitors, but iwoca is pushing boundaries. I only wish I’d found it sooner.