Mortgage Underwriter

To Underwrite Mortgage Applications accurately and to a high quality. Applications will be assessed to strictly adhere to our Lending Criteria, whilst ensuring full compliance is achieved within an acceptable risk appetite.

The ideal candidate should be able to work well under pressure, operate within prescribed timescales, and show strong decision-making abilities, with experience within the Specialist BTL sector.

They will be expected to manage key relationships, (e.g. Sales, Risk, Pre-Offer & Post-Offer), but also externally (e.g. Brokers & Valuers).

The candidate will report to the Head of Underwriting and provide support to colleagues within the Underwriting Team and the wider business, managing their own pipeline effectively & efficiently to provide the right outcome for each Application.

Summary of Main duties

• Underwrite Mortgage Applications to high standards, ensuring the Lending Criteria is adhered to.
• Interpret CAIS/Credit data for all individual/company Applications.
• Assess Portfolio Landlords in accordance with current regulations and guidelines.
• Effectively, and proactively, manage their own pipeline.
• Provide training, knowledge and assistance to colleagues when required.
• Take ownership of complex cases and queries.
• Plan and prioritise allocated workloads against agreed service standards.
• Assess Applications within a prescribed Mandate level and presenting Applications to higher Mandate holders/Credit Committee when applicable.

People Related Tasks

• Liaise with various internal departments to ensure the efficient progression of Applications.
• Ensure timely, accurate and appropriate responses to enquiries or correspondence from internal or external sources.
• Escalating any relevant issues with Senior Management to proactively seek a resolution.
• Quickly identify errors and liaise with other departments to promptly resolve any issues.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with colleagues across the business.

Daily Operations

• Work within prescribed procedures and practices.
• Input, update, and maintain data within internal systems to ensure accuracy and full audit compliance.
• Providing a detailed and clear Rationale to support all decisions.
• Flexible working approach with the ability to adapt to a fast-paced and changing environment.
• Awareness of the team’s priorities, targets and objectives and ability to work accordingly.

Specialist Lending Market - Adapting to new regulations and knowledge requirements.

• Fully understand the Mortgage process and have a strong knowledge of the Mortgage market.
• Goes above and beyond - Both in assessing Applications and communicating with external clients, but also internally within the business, seeking to exceed customer expectations.
• Strong understanding of Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook is essential.
• Supports colleagues with a positive approach, seeking the best outcome.
• Adaptable working approach, with the ability to cope in a fast-changing environment.
• Proactively facilities positive changes/improvements to existing processes.
• Analytically minded with high attention to quality and detail.
• Has a minimum of 1 years underwriting experience within the Buy to Let market, although residential or commercial markets can be considered.
• Must have previously held an Underwriting Mandate.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and to strict deadlines.
• Strong planning and problem-solving skills.
• Previous experience within Specialist Lending - Limited Companies, Portfolio Landlords, Ex-Pats, Holiday Lets, HMO’s, Multi-Unit Properties.
• Strong teamwork, communication, and collaborative skills.
• Participates as a team member, creating effective and professional working relationships with colleagues.
• Cooperates openly and honestly with colleagues and participates in team activities, sharing experiences and ideas.
• Assists other team members when necessary.
• Strong analytical skills and logical approach to problem solving, with high attention to detail.