Head of Small Business - Elan Financial Services

At U.S. Bank, we’re on a journey to do our best. Helping the customers and businesses we serve to make better and smarter financial decisions and enabling the communities we support to grow and succeed.  We believe it takes all of us to bring our shared ambition to life, and each person is unique in their potential. A career with U.S. Bank gives you a wide, ever-growing range of opportunities to discover what makes you thrive at every stage of your career. Try new things, learn new skills and discover what you excel at—all from Day One.

Job Description

With a strong enterprise focus on Payments and partner-led growth, Elan Financial Services is committed to accelerating its expansion in the Small Business segment. This role will lead the strategy and execution required to scale Elan’s Small Business portfolio across its financial institution partner network.

Reporting to the Head of Elan, this executive will serve as a key member of the Elan leadership team. This individual will be responsible for integrating Product, Partner Management, Marketing, Risk, and Technology capabilities to deliver a differentiated, partner-centric Small Business value proposition.

The Head of Small Business will be accountable for managing, growing, and transforming Elan’s Small Business credit card portfolio. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with internal stakeholders and external partners to deepen existing relationships, unlock new growth opportunities, and position Elan as the partner of choice for Small Business payments. Core responsibilities include P&L ownership, partner growth and retention, product innovation, digital origination expansion, risk management, and operational excellence.

This leader will define and execute a multi-year strategy that strengthens Elan’s competitive position, enhances the partner and end-customer experience, and delivers sustainable, profitable growth. The role requires leading through transformation—modernizing capabilities, scaling digital channels, and advancing Elan’s long-term strategic agenda.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Set and Drive Small Business Strategy
Develop and execute a clear, multi-year strategy for Elan’s Small Business portfolio—aligned to enterprise priorities and tailored to the FI partner model. Define where Elan will win, how it will differentiate, and the capabilities required to scale.

Deliver Profitable Growth Through Partners
Own and drive P&L performance, accelerating account growth, spend, and retention across the partner base. Identify whitespace opportunities, expand penetration within existing partners, and enable new partner acquisition in targeted segments.

Lead the Partner-Centric Growth Model
Strengthen Elan’s value proposition to financial institution partners—embedding Small Business as a core component of the broader relationship. Drive alignment with partner executives to co-create growth plans and deliver shared outcomes.

Advance Product and Digital Innovation
Lead the development and evolution of Small Business card products, including digital-first capabilities, differentiated rewards/value propositions, and integrated solutions that meet the evolving needs of small business owners.

Drive Interconnected Growth Across PCS
Partner closely across PCS and U.S. Bank (e.g., Small Business Banking, Treasury, Merchant, Consumer) to unlock cross-sell and ecosystem value. Champion an interconnected strategy that maximizes franchise value.

Lead Transformation and Execution
Drive key transformation initiatives impacting Small Business—including digital origination, servicing modernization, and data/analytics capabilities. Ensure disciplined execution with clear milestones and outcomes.

Build and Lead a High-Performing Team
Attract, develop, and retain top talent and foster a performance-driven, accountable culture aligned with Elan’s values.

Ensure Strong Risk and Governance Discipline
Operate within U.S. Bank’s risk appetite while enabling growth. Ensure adherence to all regulatory, compliance, and risk management requirements, and proactively identify and mitigate emerging risks.

TALENT PROFILE / KEY SKILLS

The ideal candidate is a proven business leader with deep experience in payments, small business, and/or partner-led distribution models. They bring a strong track record of driving growth, leading transformation, and building high-performing teams.

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience with full P&L accountability and demonstrated delivery of measurable growth outcomes
• Deep experience in payments, credit cards, or small business financial services; partner-based or co-brand/agent issuing experience strongly preferred