About Abound
We're redefining consumer lending in the UK, and beyond. Using advanced AI and Open Banking data, we make fair, affordable personal finance available to more people. While traditional lenders rely almost entirely on credit scores, we look at the full financial picture - how much you spend, and what you can afford to repay to build a deeper, more accurate understanding of each customer's unique financial situation.
And we've shown it works at scale. We've issued over £1.3bn in loans directly to customers while delivering market-leading credit performance - for every 10 defaults the industry expects, we see only 3. We also reached profitability just 2.5 years after launch.
Backed by £2bn+ of funding from top-tier investors including Citi, GSR Ventures, and Deutsche Bank, we're recognised as one of Europe's fastest-growing fintechs (Sifted, CNBC). Now, we're expanding into new markets and product lines - and we're looking for ambitious people who want to learn fast, take ownership, and grow with us.
About the Team
The Underwriting team has grown from a single underwriter to a team of over 20 people, bringing together a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. We work closely, support one another, and have built a genuinely positive team culture. Everyone's contribution is visible and valued, with individual efforts having a clear and immediate impact on how the team performs and how the wider business develops. While we are target-driven, we are always looking for better ways of working, and new ideas are encouraged, tested, and often implemented quickly.
How we work
Shifts: Monday-Friday 8 am - 8 pm (shift patterns).
One Saturday a month- returned in Overtime or time in lieu.
Bank holidays – Minimum of two bank holidays per year- returned in Overtime or time in lieu.
About the role
We are seeking an experienced Second Charge Mortgage Underwriter to join our underwriting team as we launch and scale a new secured lending proposition within the business. This is a key role in building the foundations of our second charge offering, helping shape processes, policy application, and decisioning standards from the outset.
The role is responsible for assessing and approving second-charge mortgage applications in line with the company's credit policy, regulatory requirements, and responsible lending standards.
You will make balanced lending decisions using a combination of credit data, affordability assessment, property security analysis, and professional judgement.
As this is a growth venture, we are looking for an underwriter who is comfortable working in a developing environment and contributing to the creation and refinement of processes and controls. Experience in unsecured lending is highly desirable, and we welcome candidates who are either already experienced across both secured and unsecured products or willing to cross-train and broaden their expertise across our wider lending portfolio.
What you'll be doing:
* Assess secured second charge mortgage applications using Open Banking data and credit reference agency information to evaluate creditworthiness
* Contribute to the development and ongoing improvement of underwriting processes and procedures.
* Conduct fraud prevention and AML checks in line with regulatory and internal requirements.
* Apply underwriting policies and procedures consistently and accurately.
* Liaise with customers to obtain, verify, and document information where required.
* Work independently while proactively developing your knowledge and skills.
* Manage and progress your own underwriting pipeline effectively.
Who you are:
* Proven experience in underwriting second charge mortgages
* Some experience in unsecured lending is desirable
* Thrive and enjoy and high performance environment
* Able to operate effectively in a start-up environment, building and embedding robust underwriting
* CeMAP or equivalent qualification
* Experience with specialist or non-prime lending
* Exposure to manual underwriting and complex case assessment
* processes and controls from the ground up.
* You have a strong understanding of fraud, AML, and customer vulnerability, with a high level of attention to detail and the ability to identify emerging risk trends.
How the team works:
* We prioritise sound credit decisions and continuous learning from outcomes.
* We take ownership of our work, support one another when required, and follow through to delivery.
* We operate as one team, contributing beyond individual responsibilities and focusing on the success of the wider business.
* We encourage open dialogue and constructive challenge, and once decisions are made, we commit and execute.
* Strong performance is recognised and rewarded.
What we offer
* Everyone owns a piece of the company - equity
* Hybrid with 3 days a week in the office
* 25 days' holiday a year, plus 8 bank holidays
* 2 paid volunteering days per year
* One month paid sabbatical after 4 years
* Employee loan
* Free gym membership
* Team wellness budget to be active together - set up a yoga class, a tennis lesson or go bouldering