Senior Merchant Risk Analyst Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Avant is looking for a Portfolio Risk Associate to join our Risk & Analytics team. We are seeking a motivated and analytically driven candidate who is passionate about problem-solving, customer behavior analysis, and portfolio performance monitoring. This person will play an important role in supporting portfolio risk monitoring and insight generation across the credit lifecycle while partnering closely with teams across Originations Risk and Account Management Risk.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys combining analytics, business understanding, and strategic thinking to help drive data-informed decisions in a fast-paced fintech environment.

What you'll do at Avant:

• Analyze portfolio trends, customer behavior, and credit performance across originations and existing accounts

• Support portfolio monitoring through recurring analyses, reporting, and strategic insight generation

• Identify emerging risks, behavioral trends, and performance shifts within the portfolio

• Conduct deep dive analyses on delinquency trends, utilization behavior, payment patterns, profitability metrics, and customer segments

• Partner with Originations Risk and Account Management teams to evaluate portfolio performance and strategy impacts

• Mine and analyze large datasets using SQL and Python to support business decisions and risk monitoring initiatives

• Build and maintain dashboards, analytical datasets, and reporting frameworks

• Translate analytical findings into clear business insights and recommendations for leadership

• Perform ad hoc analyses related to portfolio strategy, growth initiatives, and macroeconomic trends

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Risk, Finance, Data Engineering, Product, and other internal teams

Why you're at fit at Avant:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance, Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Analytics, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related quantitative field

• 1-3 years of experience in analytics, strategy, risk, financial services, or a related quantitative field preferred

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills

• Experience with SQL and Python preferred

• Ability to communicate analytical findings clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences

• Comfortable working with large datasets and ambiguous business problems

• Interest in consumer lending, credit risk, portfolio analytics, customer behavior analytics, or fintech preferred

This role is based on our downtown Chicago Office, located in the Merchandise Mart. We highly value collaboration and our hybrid schedule (M, T, Th in-office) enables flexibility to balance work and individual priorities.

Compensation Range:

The base salary range for this job is USD $77,000 - USD $115,000/ Year

Employees new to Avant typically come in below the midpoint of the pay range. The compensation range is based on the level outlined in the job posting, and compensation decisions are dependent on each applicant's experience, skills and abilities.

[If an outstanding applicant's experience and skill level is above or below the qualifications outlined in the job posting, we reserve the right to make an offer at a different level than the one listed in this job posting, which may have a different compensation range.]

This role is eligible for additional incentives, including an annual bonus. These rewards are allocated based on level, impact and performance in the role.

Our benefits include:

• Choice of great Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance Plan options

• 401(k) match

• Flexible Time Off

• Flexible Work Environment - (i.e. Mon/Tues/Thurs in-person)

• Generous Paid Parental Leave, Adoption Assistance and Post-parental leave ramp-up program

• Lunch Allowance (Fooda) and In-office Snacks

• Summer Fridays

• Fun In-Office and Virtual Social Events

• And who doesn't love the swag

Check out our Avant Blog!

We believe that a diverse set of backgrounds and experiences helps us create the most innovative solutions for our customers. We invite you to apply to our positions even if you do not meet 100% of the qualifications listed in the description. If you're passionate about our mission and aligned to our values, we hope you'll come contribute to our awesome culture.

Why Avant is the place for you:

At Avant, we believe our values make a difference:

Authenticity. We show up to work as our whole selves and make sure others can too.

Collaboration. We can only succeed when we do so as a team.

Problem-Solving. The harder the problem, the more satisfying the solution.

Customer. We are all owners of the customer experience.

Initiative. Plan. Adapt. Get Sh!t Done.

We believe that great ideas come from anyone and anywhere, that everyone is an owner who drives change, and that we have more fun when we work together. We're problem solvers who love collaborating with intelligent and highly-motivated people to reshape the face of digital banking. Avant offers terrific perks and benefits, fun social events with employees who actually like hanging out together, and a flexible growth environment where trying your hand at new projects and being the active owner of your career path is encouraged and supported.

To learn more about how Avant collects and uses your personal information, please see the Avant Privacy Policy.