Editorial team
Our team
CrowdIndex is a small editorial team covering the European P2P investing sector across six languages. Each of us owns a specific dimension — research, regulation, real-estate underwriting, quantitative methodology, tax, localization, operations — and our reviews go through a structured sign-off process before they ship.
Leadership
Sets editorial direction, owns the scoring methodology, and signs off every platform review before publication.
James Thornton
CEO & Founder
Rotterdam, Netherlands
James founded CrowdIndex after a decade running financial-content operations at scale. He covered European bond markets at Bloomberg from New York and Frankfurt, then led NerdWallet's European expansion from 2018. Rotterdam-based since 2019, he watched EU P2P investing mature without the editorial scrutiny it deserved. James writes our quarterly outlook briefings and signs off platform reviews scoring above 9.0. MBA from Wharton, BA in Economics from Yale.
MBA Wharton · BA Economics, Yale
Daniel Brenner
Senior Editor
Frankfurt, Germany
Daniel oversees CrowdIndex's editorial framework and signs off every platform review on the site. He spent six years at Handelsblatt covering retail banking and consumer finance, then moved client-side as Senior Content Manager at N26, where he shipped financial-product copy for eight million European customers. Daniel joined CrowdIndex in 2026 to build the editorial discipline the P2P sector had been missing. Journalism MA from Universität Hamburg, BSc in Economics from Mannheim.
MA Journalism, Hamburg · BSc Economics, Mannheim
Lucia Marchetti
Head of Research
Milan, Italy
Lucia leads CrowdIndex's research function — the methodology behind every platform score and the 23-block dossier framework applied to all 19 platforms. She spent six years at Borsa Italiana covering ETF and listed-fund flows, then seven at Morningstar Italia as a Senior Equity Analyst across mid-cap Italian financials. Lucia joined CrowdIndex to bring Morningstar-grade discipline to a sector that had never seen it. CFA charterholder, MSc in Finance from Bocconi.
CFA · MSc Finance, Bocconi
Research & Analysis
Four analysts, each owning a specific coverage dimension. Each platform review is supported by a 23-block research dossier with 33–57 cited sources.
Sofia Ribeiro
Regulatory & Compliance Analyst
Porto, Portugal
Sofia owns CrowdIndex's regulatory framework — how MiFID II, ECSP, and SRO licensing actually map to investor protection across 27 EU member states. She spent five years at Banco de Portugal in the supervisory division, then six at KPMG Lisbon advising fintech licensing for Iberian markets. Sofia joined CrowdIndex to translate regulator-speak into plain language for retail investors. Master's in European Banking Regulation from Católica Lisbon.
MSc European Banking Regulation, Católica Lisbon
Antoine Lefèvre
Real Estate & SME Analyst
Lyon, France
Antoine covers real-estate-backed and SME-lending platforms — the segment with the highest yield potential and the messiest collateral practices. Six years at BNP Paribas underwriting €50M+ commercial RE deals, nine more at Société Générale doing the same across French and Belgian mid-market. Antoine joined CrowdIndex to apply institutional underwriting discipline to retail P2P RE platforms that had never been pressure-tested by a credit analyst. CFA charterholder, MSc from EM Lyon Business School.
CFA · MSc EM Lyon Business School
Eva Tamm
Quantitative Analyst
Tallinn, Estonia
Eva builds the math behind CrowdIndex's scoring methodology and runs the data pipelines that flag platforms moving on key indicators. Four years at Swedbank Tallinn building credit-risk models for Baltic SME lending, four more at SEB Asset Management on portfolio-construction quant for institutional clients. Eva joined CrowdIndex to bring rigor to a sector where most rankings are blogger opinion. PhD in Financial Mathematics from Tallinn University of Technology.
PhD Financial Mathematics, TalTech · MSc Stockholm School of Economics
Diego Vázquez
Tax & Cross-Jurisdiction Editor
Bilbao, Spain
Diego owns CrowdIndex's tax content — how P2P interest, capital gains and default losses are actually treated across Germany, France, Italy, UK, Spain and Portugal. He spent seven years at PwC Bilbao advising HNW clients on cross-border investment tax, then seven at Banco Santander's wealth desk. Diego joined CrowdIndex to fix the most under-researched part of European P2P: tax. Spanish-qualified Asesor Fiscal, MSc in Tax Law from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.
Asesor Fiscal (ES) · MSc Tax Law, UC3M
Content & Operations
Localization, freelance coordination, and the editorial calendar — the operational layer that makes a six-language publication ship on schedule.
Carmen Vega
Localization Editor
Barcelona, Spain
Carmen runs CrowdIndex's five-language localization — German, Italian, French, Spanish and Portuguese — and the editorial QA that makes sure each version reads like a native publication, not a translation. Four years at Reuters Madrid running multilingual news desks for Iberian markets, four more at DeepL leading enterprise localization projects. Carmen joined CrowdIndex to bring real editorial discipline to financial-content translation, where most platforms still ship raw machine output.
MA Translation Studies, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Olivia Whitfield
Operations & Editorial Coordinator
Manchester, United Kingdom
Olivia keeps CrowdIndex's editorial calendar running on schedule and coordinates our freelance network across markets. Five years subediting at the Financial Times' personal-finance desk, seven as Managing Editor of AltFi covering the European alternative-finance sector through its post-2020 maturation. Olivia joined CrowdIndex to apply newsroom-grade publishing discipline to a sector that had grown faster than its editorial standards. Manchester-based since 2018. Degree in English Literature from Durham University.
BA English Literature, Durham University
Join our team
CrowdIndex is hiring across three positions in 2026. Remote-first, European-headquartered, editorial-independence-first.
Senior Research Analyst — Real Estate & SME Lending
We are looking for an experienced credit or real-estate analyst to take ownership of 4–6 platforms in our RE and SME coverage. You will own the underwriting analysis behind those reviews, contribute to methodology refinement, and write quarterly recovery-track snapshots that go to our subscriber base.
Responsibilities
- Lead 23-block research dossiers for 4–6 RE/SME-lending platforms in CrowdIndex's coverage
- Write quarterly recovery-track snapshots covering loan performance, default cycles, and platform-level recovery progress
- Contribute to scoring methodology refinement — particularly the credit-risk and collateral dimensions
- Read regulator filings, audited statements, and court records as primary sources for every claim in every published review
- Liaise with platform operators during fact-check rounds before publication
Requirements
- 5+ years of credit, RE underwriting, or fund-side investment analysis (bank, asset manager, or consultancy)
- CFA charterholder, ACCA, or equivalent professional credential (FRM, CAIA also accepted)
- Demonstrable ability to read and interpret commercial RE term sheets, loan agreements, and collateral schedules
- Business-fluent English plus one additional EU language (French, German, Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese)
- Comfort working remote-first and async-first across multiple European time zones
Nice to have
- Prior exposure to the European P2P-lending or crowdfunding sector (not required — we will train you on platform-specific mechanics)
- Buy-side experience at a fund that has invested in P2P-syndicated or marketplace loan portfolios
- Published analyst notes or sell-side research bylined under your own name
Multilingual Content Editor — German Market
We are looking for a native German-language editor to own DE-version editorial quality across our platform reviews, pillar guides, and tax content. You will work with our translator pool to maintain native readability and manage DE-specific tax and regulatory updates as they happen.
Responsibilities
- Edit DE-language versions of platform reviews and pillar guides for native readability and German financial-publishing tone
- Manage updates to the German tax content as Anlage KAP rules evolve, working with Diego Vázquez (Tax Editor)
- Brief our translator pool on terminology decisions and maintain the DE glossary
- Catch translation artefacts before publication — false friends, English syntax bleed-through, missing capitalisation conventions
- Coordinate with Daniel Brenner (Senior Editor) on DACH-specific editorial calls
Requirements
- Native German plus business-fluent English
- 3+ years of editorial work for financial publications — Handelsblatt, FAZ, manager magazin, a German fintech in-house, or equivalent
- Familiarity with Anlage KAP and German tax treatment of foreign-platform income
- Working knowledge of European financial regulation terminology in German (MiFID II, ECSP, BaFin terms of art)
- Comfortable working part-time and async — there is no requirement to be online during set hours
Nice to have
- Prior P2P-sector writing — if you have published reviews of Mintos, EstateGuru, PeerBerry, or comparable platforms, send links
- Translation industry background (DeepL, Lokalise, or equivalent localisation tooling)
Junior Investment Writer — Editorial Fellowship
We are training the next generation of European P2P editorial voices. This 12-month fellowship is a structured development program for recent graduates or career-changers — you will write three pillar guides under senior supervision, contribute to two platform reviews, and learn the CrowdIndex methodology from the inside. Successful fellows are typically offered a permanent role at the end of the 12 months.
Responsibilities
- Write three pillar guides under senior-editor supervision (topic + scope assigned by Daniel Brenner)
- Contribute to two platform reviews — owning specific sections (Strengths, Things to Watch) under senior-analyst oversight
- Attend weekly editorial discussions and quarterly methodology reviews
- Read across one regulatory jurisdiction in depth — typically your home country — and surface what changed each quarter
- Take feedback openly. We give it generously. Bring writing samples that you reworked and a record of what you changed and why.
Requirements
- Recent graduate (bachelor's or master's) or career-changer in finance, economics, journalism, business, or a related field
- Demonstrable writing samples in English — published bylines preferred but not required; serious blog work or thesis chapters also counted
- Intellectual curiosity about how European retail investors actually behave and what they currently miss
- Openness to direct editorial feedback and ability to rework drafts multiple times before publication
- Available for the full 12-month program; no concurrent full-time employment
Nice to have
- One additional EU language at conversational level (we will route your work toward that locale's coverage)
- Exposure to Substack, Medium, university newspaper, or independent journalism — anything that demonstrates regular shipping discipline
None of these fit but you would add something specific? Write to jobs@crowdindex.org with a short pitch.
How we work
Three principles that shape every editorial decision at CrowdIndex — and that we ask every new hire to commit to before joining.
Editorial independence
Our methodology, dimensions, and scoring framework are set before any affiliate-revenue conversation with any platform. We publicly correct mistakes within 7 business days. We have publicly downgraded sponsors when the evidence warranted it. If editorial independence is the line you will not cross, this is the place to work.
Source-driven research
Every claim in every platform review is sourced to a primary document — regulator filings, audited statements, court records, investigative journalism — and the source is cited. We do not publish opinions dressed up as findings. If you cannot source it, you cannot publish it.
Remote-first by design
We are nine people across eight European countries plus one US-American. There is no head office. We meet quarterly in person (rotating European city), keep working hours flexible across CET ±3, and use async writing as the primary mode of collaboration. No 9-to-5 Slack expectation.
What we offer
Compensation, time, tools, and the kind of editorial environment that's increasingly rare in financial publishing.
- Above-market compensation for editorial roles — research analysts earn €60,000–€75,000 base + bonus, senior editors €75,000–€90,000, fellowship roles €30,000 + completion bonus.
- Equity participation for permanent roles after 12 months of employment.
- Annual continuing-education budget of €2,500 per person — covers CFA / ACCA exam fees, conferences, paid subscriptions to industry research (Crunchbase, AltFi Data, etc.).
- 30 days of paid vacation plus your national public holidays. We track time off honestly.
- Co-working stipend of €200/month for those who prefer working outside their home.
- Quarterly team meetups in rotating European cities (we have been to Lisbon, Tallinn and Lyon so far) — fully expensed.
- Editorial environment where pushing back on the methodology is encouraged, not punished.
How to apply
A short, predictable process. We respond to every application within five business days and aim to make hiring decisions within four weeks of first contact.
- 1
Send your CV and cover letter
Email the address listed on the role you are applying for. Subject line: "Application: [role title]". Attach your CV and a cover letter no longer than one page explaining specifically why this role at CrowdIndex. Generic cover letters do not advance. We respond to every application within five business days.
- 2
30-minute initial screen
If your background looks aligned, the hiring manager for the role (Lucia / Carmen / Daniel depending on role) has a 30-minute video call with you. We cover your background, what you are looking for in the next role, and a quick walk-through of how CrowdIndex actually operates. You ask the questions. No trick interview questions.
- 3
60-minute deep-dive interview
If both sides want to continue, we schedule a one-hour technical conversation with two members of the team. We walk through a specific scenario from our actual coverage — a real platform, a real source set, a real methodology question — and discuss how you would approach it. We are listening for reasoning, not the right answer.
- 4
Paid writing sample (2 hours)
Final stage. We pay you €200 for a two-hour writing sample on a specific assigned topic relevant to the role. You can do it from home, on your time, within five business days. We read it, score against our editorial rubric, and make a hiring decision within five business days of receiving it. If we do not move forward, you keep the €200 and a written debrief on the sample.
Hiring FAQ
- Do you sponsor visas for non-EU candidates?
- Generally no — we are a small remote team and visa sponsorship is operationally complex for us. We have one US-based team member (the CEO) whose residency was secured before joining. For analyst and editor roles, we require existing right-to-work in the EU, UK, or Switzerland.
- What is your timeline from application to offer?
- Four to six weeks for permanent roles, two to three weeks for the contractor role. We hold ourselves accountable to a five-business-day response time at every stage. If we are running behind, we tell you in writing.
- Can I apply if I am outside Europe but have right-to-work in an EU country?
- Yes. We require right-to-work in the role's stated location, not physical residence at the time of application. If you are an EU citizen currently living outside Europe and willing to relocate, that is fine.
- What do you look for that is not on the requirements list?
- Two things. First, evidence that you reworked a piece of writing or analysis based on someone else's feedback and the change was substantive. Second, that you can disagree with a senior editor in writing without it becoming personal — we ask for an example in the deep-dive interview.
Equal opportunity
CrowdIndex is an equal opportunity employer. We make hiring decisions based on demonstrated ability and editorial judgement — not on age, gender, ethnicity, nationality (within the regions where we can hire), religion, sexual orientation, or family status. Our current team is 5 women and 4 men across multiple European nationalities. We are actively building toward better representation across underrepresented groups in European financial publishing, including more analysts from Central and Eastern Europe and from Southern European markets currently dominated by male voices in financial press.
Our team
CrowdIndex is a small editorial team covering the European P2P investing sector across six languages. We are based across the EU and Northwestern Europe, with one team member based in the United States. Each of us owns a specific dimension — research, regulation, real-estate underwriting, quantitative methodology, tax, localization, operations — and our reviews go through a structured sign-off process before they ship.
The full editorial framework, scoring methodology, and ranking criteria are documented on our methodology page. Our affiliate-revenue model and editorial-independence rules are on the disclosure page. For corrections, partnerships, or general enquiries, see contact.
Leadership
The leadership team sets editorial direction, owns the scoring methodology, and signs off on every platform review before publication. Reviews scoring above 9.0 require senior-editor + CEO joint sign-off.
Research & Analysis
Our four analysts each own a specific coverage dimension. Each platform review is supported by a 23-block research dossier with 33–57 cited sources. Conflicts of interest (if any) are disclosed on the affected review page.
Content & Operations
Localization, freelance coordination, and editorial calendar — the operational layer that makes a six-language publication ship on schedule.
Join our team
CrowdIndex is hiring across three positions in 2026. We are a remote-first, European-headquartered editorial team. We offer fair compensation, equity participation where applicable, structured mentorship for fellowship roles, and an editorial environment where independence is non-negotiable.
If none of the listed roles fit but you believe you would add something specific to our coverage, write to jobs@crowdindex.org with a short pitch.