Role Overview 

We are seeking a Head of AI & Innovation to lead the identification, development, and deployment of artificial intelligence across the business. This role sits at the intersection of strategy, product, technology, and operations, and will be responsible for solving known business challenges with emerging technologies. 

This leader will act as both a builder and a catalyst—partnering closely with Operations, Servicing, Collections, Risk, Business Development, Business Intelligence, and IT to modernize workflows, improve decisioning, and unlock new growth vectors. The ideal candidate is comfortable operating with ambiguity, running experiments, and scaling what works inside a regulated financial services environment. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Own Monterey’s AI and innovation roadmap, aligned to company strategy, unit economics, and regulatory constraints 

• Identify, prioritize, and deploy applied AI use cases across servicing, collections, underwriting, pricing, fraud, and customer experience 

• Lead rapid experimentation (POCs, pilots, MVPs) and scale successful initiatives into production 

• Work with Servicing and Collections leadership to redesign workflows that improve efficiency, compliance, recovery rates, and drive positive customer experiences  

• Evaluate and manage third-party vendors, tools, and platforms related to AI, automation, and data infrastructure 

Ideal Candidate Profile 

• 4–8+ years of experience in financial services, fintech, or data-driven technology organizations 

• Prior experience in one or more of the following roles within a financial services context: 

• Innovation or Transformation Lead 

• Entrepreneur in Residence 

• Growth Product Manager 

• Applied Artificial Intelligence  

• Demonstrated experience deploying AI or advanced analytics into real-world, production financial systems 

• Understanding of banking, consumer finance, servicing, collections, or risk decisioning is highly preferred 

• Ability to bridge technical concepts with business economics and operational realities 

Performance Metrics 

• Measurable efficiency and performance improvements in servicing, collections, and across business operations  

• Adoption and sustained usage of AI-enabled tools by operating teams 

• Improved decision accuracy in underwriting, segmentation, or treatment strategies 

• Time-to-value from concept to production for AI initiatives 

• ROI on innovation investments and vendor partnerships 

Why Monterey 

• High-impact role with direct access to executive leadership  

• Opportunity to shape the future of AI adoption inside a financial services platform 

• Competitive compensation and incentive structure 

• Comprehensive benefits, including health, dental, 401(k), and profit-sharing 

• Collaborative, intellectually curious culture that values rigor, experimentation, and results 

About Monterey Financial 

Monterey Financial is a 36-year-old specialty finance company that acquires consumer receivables and provides end-to-end loan servicing and collections. We partner with businesses across elective medical and dental, education and training, home improvement, legal services, and emerging markets to expand access to financing while managing risk with discipline and care. 

Monterey combines the stability and scale of a long-standing financial institution with the speed, ambition, and experimentation of a growth-oriented company. We are actively investing in data, automation, and applied AI to modernize how we originate, service, and collect consumer receivables.