We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Underwriter to join our dynamic team. In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for assessing referred residential mortgage applications, applying sound judgment and deep underwriting expertise to deliver well-reasoned decisions. Your focus will be on balancing the growth of new business with the prudent management of our mortgage portfolio.
With a lending mandate that includes the authority to make exceptions to policy, you will play a key role in shaping outcomes that support both commercial objectives and responsible lending practices. You will also liaise with solicitors to resolve complex queries, ensuring a smooth and efficient process that enhances the customer experience.
Key Responsibilities:
* Evaluate referred residential mortgage applications with a focus on quality, compliance, and risk.
* Exercise discretion within your lending mandate, including policy exceptions.
* Collaborate with solicitors to resolve legal and procedural queries promptly.
* Contribute to a positive customer journey through proactive problem-solving and clear communication.
Why Join Us? This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment. You’ll be part of a supportive team where your expertise is valued and your decisions help shape our business.
We are happy to consider flexible working approaches to help you perform at your best.
At Nationwide we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues together across our UK wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and to feel connected.
For this job you'll spend at least two days per week, or if part time you'll spend 40% of your working time, based at either our Swindon or Northampton office. If your application is successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this works. You can also find out more about our approach to hybrid working here.
If we receive a high volume of relevant applications, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so please apply as soon as you can.
What you’ll be doing
As well as assessing referred residential propositions the role will also require you to coach and support colleagues in your own team, as well as across the wider business, using your detailed criteria and industry knowledge.
There will also sometimes be challenges to your decisions and you’ll need to stay resolute unless new and substantive information is provided, always communicating your lending decision in a way that will be understood.
About you
* You’ll need to have held a lending mandate and have experience of manually underwriting complex mortgage applications (large loans would also be an advantage). You must be able to investigate, identify and consider the risks associated with each application and use personal judgement to make holistic lending decisions.
* Demonstrate extensive knowledge of the mortgage industry including regulatory requirements and industry best practices
* You’ll be a strong communicator with a track record for managing stakeholder relationships while underwriting to the highest standard.
* An individual who can self-motivate and thrive under pressure whilst maintaining accuracy and providing excellent customer service.
Our customer first behaviours put customers and members at the heart of how we work together. They are the set of behaviours that every colleague needs to display, in every role:
* Feel what customers feel - We step into our customers’ shoes, using their feedback and insights to empathise with them and to understand their needs, so that every decision we make starts and finishes with our customers in mind
* Say it straight - We are brave in speaking out and saying what we think – we’re honest and direct with good intent, openly sharing diverse perspectives to reach the best conclusions and using language everyone can understand
* Push for better - We don’t settle for mediocrity, we challenge the status quo, taking responsibility for continuous improvement and personal development
* Get it done - We prioritise what will have the greatest impact, we are decisive, and we take accountability for delivering brilliant customer outcomes.
You can strengthen your application by showing how our customer first behaviours resonate with you, and where you may have already demonstrated these.
The extras you’ll get
There are all sorts of employee benefits available at Nationwide, including:
* A personal pension – if you put in 7% of your salary, we’ll top up by a further 16%
* Up to 2 days of paid volunteering a year
* Life assurance worth 8x your salary
* A great selection of additional benefits through our salary sacrifice scheme
* Wellhub – Access to a range of free and paid options for health and wellness
* Access to an annual performance related bonus
* Access to training to help you develop and progress your career
* 25 days holiday, pro rata
Banking – but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society
We forge our own path at Nationwide.
As a mutual, we’re owned by our members - those customers who bank, save or have a mortgage with us. We challenge the financial sector status quo. We don’t see customers as the engine of our own profit. We share our profits with them and put their needs first. Always there when they need us. Supporting them and their lives.
If you’re inspired by fairer finances, passionate about making a meaningful impact, and truly care about our customers, you’re one of us.
At Nationwide, you are challenged to grow and rewarded for doing so. Valued. Recognised. Inspired to be your best. As a community we want our working lives to count. As a team, we celebrate what we achieve. As a standard-setter, we work for the good of customers, communities, and broader society.
We are Purpose-driven. Uncompromisingly Customer. Unstoppably Nationwide.
What to do next
If this role is for you, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button. You’ll need to attach your up-to-date CV and answer a few quick questions for us.
We respond to everyone, so we will be in contact shortly after the closing date to let you know the outcome of your application.
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