Are you an experienced underwriting leader who thrives on developing people, driving performance, and maintaining excellence in every lending decision?

Do you take pride in leading high-performing teams, shaping processes, and ensuring underwriting standards stay ahead of the curve?

Ready to take ownership of a key leadership role where your expertise, judgement, and mentoring skills directly influence the success of a growing specialist lender?

If this sounds like you, apply today and take the next step in your underwriting career with West One.

The overall responsibility of the role is to manage a team of underwriters ensuring services levels and accuracy are maintained within the department. This role is mandated role which requires all loans to be approved in accordance with the divisions Credit Risk Appetite.

Key Accountabilities

• Manage & support a team of Underwriters.
  
• Developing staff and promoting self-improvement within the team.
  
• Be first point of contact in the absence of the Head of Residential and Second Charge Operations.
  
• Maintain broker relationships that are integral to the growth for WOSL.
  
• Promote our Team Ethic.
  
• Maintain and review all internal process documents ensuring the relevant information is captured that are used by the underwriting team.
  
• Take ownership of UAT testing requirements of the business, ensuring the underwriting operating system functions as required.
  
• Take ownership of product set up in fusion ensuring accuracy is maintained and the products reflect the requirement of the business.
  
• Ensure Quarterly One-to-Ones are carried out with the underwriters, ensuring all training/development needs are met.
  
• Prepare and deliver 6 monthly/Yearly appraisals.
  
• Ensure all underwriting is in line with Company policy and within regulation.
  
• Underwrite large loan applications (above £750K) and maintain a pipeline of cases.
  
• Be a referral point for Underwriters and broker support for queries on applications.
  
• Liaising with introducers, valuers and solicitors ensuring an excellent relationship is maintained.
• As a Mandate holder ensuring all cases are approved within the Groups Risk appetite.

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent Leadership skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Pass internal competency tests post induction.
• High attention to detail.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.

Knowledge & Qualifications

• A strong understanding of FCA regulation
• Current/Previous Mandate Holder with a Lender in the Second charge secured loan market.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience, underwriting mortgage applications for a Lender, specifically within the First or Second Charge Residential loan market.
• Experienced in Managing people.
• CeMAP (desirable, not essential).
• Minimum of 5 GCSEs A-C (Including Maths and English).

Personal Attributes

• Flexible
• Articulate
• Well organised
• Robust and comfortable working to deadline and under pressure

Why Join Us?

At West One, we’re growing quickly and looking for talented people to join our journey. You’ll receive the training, tools, and support you need to succeed, with clear career development opportunities.

Alongside this, we offer a competitive benefits package, including private medical healthcare and paid volunteer days.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your career and make an impact in specialised property finance, apply today and grow with us!