Senior Mortgage Underwriter

About Chetwood Financial Bank:
We are a digital, forward thinking fintech Bank using the best technology to help make our customers financially better off. We focus on creating distinctive and disruptive financial products for underserved segments of the market. We are experts within the intermediary market specialising in Loans and Savings as well as buy to let mortgages. Our tech platform is designed to make buy to let mortgages smarter, faster and simpler for brokers and landlords. We have secured strategic investment from Elliott Advisors of over GBP150mil of capital, underpinning the planned growth of the business over the next few years.
What you'll be doing?
Our Technical Underwriting Team Manager will lead the delivery of high-quality mortgage processing and underwriting. They will specialise in the technical delivery of complex BTL, Portfolio & Residential mortgage applications. They will encourage interactions over live chat, email, and telephone to be as efficient as possible, ensuring that brokers and customers are supported at all stages of their journey. The Technical Underwriting team Manager will form a pivotal role in communication across a number of operational functions including Underwriting Team support, broker, conveyancing and customer interaction, and complaint handling. Solid exposure to leading a team within an origination mortgage environment will add value to an application, with a hands-on approach to delivering an exceptional level of service.
Role Purpose
Our Senior Underwriter will support and help deliver training, coaching and mentoring to other team members as required. They will assess risk and underwrite both personal and Limited Company buy-to-let mortgage applications, including the more complex cases and where a higher authority level is required. They will be required to adhere to rules set out within the credit framework, as well as adhere to compliance and regulatory policy and procedures. The Senior Underwriter will work collaboratively and build good relations within the secured lending team, as well as the wider business and should be a source of reference/first point of referral for all internal and external stakeholders.
Responsibilities
Act as first point of contact for underwriters and other team members, assisting with all queries to ensure best practice and knowledge is shared and adhered to.
Support the business in identifying and implementing required changes to improving working practices and/or procedures.
Undertake project work/thematic reviews to update or enhance existing lending criteria and associated parameters of policies and procedures.
Identify areas of risk and/or opportunity to the business; investigating and analysing the issues and presenting to the Underwriting Team Leader for wider consideration.
Deal with escalated/complex queries and applications, taking ownership and identifying a way forward.
To be a Subject Matter Expert (SME) on all stages of the mortgage process from pre-application through to completion.
Structure, negotiate, and analyse proposals for approval under own authority.
Analyse and interpret any documentation required (credit bureau, payslips, bank statements, accounts, mortgage statements, assets & liabilities, business plans) in order to comply with lending policy and protect our interest. Approve loans within specified lending mandates.
Demonstrate strong analytical skills that aid effective decision-making, good problem-solving skills, and a "can do" attitude.
Provide guidance to customers, brokers, and solicitors on mortgage applications, lending policy, and internal processes and procedures all within a timely manner.
Demonstrate excellent communication skills and the ability to communicate decisions to management, brokers, and customers via all mediums and within published SLAs.
Demonstrate an excellent understanding of mortgages and underwriting within a specialist lending environment and application of the lending policy.
Have an excellent understanding of all regulatory requirements relating to both personal and Limited Company mortgages.
Skills and experience
A minimum of 5 years of mortgage underwriting experience at a senior level is desirable
Working in a similar fast-paced environment in an underwriter role
Ability to prioritise tasks and manage time effectively, working on own initiative and as part of a team in order to meet SLAs and deadlines
An excellent understanding of mortgages /underwriting
Good IT skills
Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to remain calm under pressure
Up-to-date knowledge of FCA /PRA and all relevant regulatory mortgage requirements
Excellent organisational skills
Attention to detail
Flexible approach and "can do" attitude
Chetwood Benefits:
Competitive salary
25 days holiday PLUS your BIRTHDAY off
Pension contribution with Royal London
Life Assurance
Private medical, dental and optical health insurance with Axa
Hybrid working - Wrexham or Central London
Free breakfast available
Data Protection
We anticipate that we will retain your data as part of the recruitment process for no longer than is necessary for the purpose for which it was collected unless we have sought your consent to keep your data for future suitable job vacancies. Chetwood Financial Ltd does not accept speculative or unsolicited CVs from Recruitment Agencies.
Any unsolicited CVs received will be treated as the property of Chetwood Financial and Terms & Conditions associated with the use of such CVs will be considered null and void.