Mortgage Underwriter

Step One Finance Limited is a rapidly growing specialist lender in the second charge market located in Woking, Surrey. The company is looking for an experienced full-time BTL Mortgage Underwriter to fulfil a dual role: supporting the launch of a new BTL mortgage offering while also contributing to the existing second charge underwriting team as a mandated underwriter. This is a great opportunity to develop skills and knowledge outside of the day-to-day tasks of an underwriter.

Located just a two-minute walk away from Woking town centre, Step One Finance provides challenging and rewarding careers. We achieve this by offering continuous learning and development, a collaborative teamwork environment and exposure to a wide variety of tasks in a small business.

Imagine and shape your future at Step One Finance Limited where you can grow professionally, in a diverse and inclusive workplace that rewards your contribution.

Step One Finance is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we take affirmative action to create a more inclusive and equitable world of work.

Purpose of the Role

Reporting to the Underwriting Operation Manager, the role has two purposes:

1. Provide a first-class underwriting service for intermediary introduced business within Step One, initially for 2nd charges and when ready, for BTL mortgages.
2. Support the development of the BTL business including development of an underwriting manual, designing screen layouts, developing test strategies, and supporting with post offer process design.

Main Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development of the BTL business by using your experience to articulate requirements and develop solutions
• Support the creation of underwriting and training manuals for the BTL business
• Underwrite 2nd charge mortgage applications, making decisions in line with mandate levels whilst ensuring exceptional customer service is delivered.
• When the business is ready, move across to underwriting complex BTL mortgage applications.
• Ensure that all lending files are reviewed throughout the underwriting process in accordance with the company’s policies and procedures
• Ensure the accuracy of customer and loan related data that is captured within the underwriting forms, documents and internal systems.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with 3rd party business partners.
• Manage a pipeline in line with the business priorities while achieving agreed production and quality targets, and annual objectives.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of our mortgage products and our bespoke underwriting approach, aligned to Step One’s risk appetite, products, and criteria
• Ensure that all mandatory training is undertaken.

Desirable Skills/Qualifications

• Underwriting experience in a lending organisation having held a mandate for at least 2 years
• CeMap is helpful but not required

Person Specification

• Extensive experience of specialist mortgage underwriting, the mortgage intermediary market, its products, marketing approach and processes.
• Held a specialist BTL lending mandate for a minimum of 2 years (£500k+ mandate desirable).
• Strong team player who is committed, conscientious and hardworking.
• A detailed understanding of complex BTL lending types, such as: Portfolio Buy to Let, SPV’s, New Build, Contractors, Ex-Pats, Self-Employed, Credit Repair, HMOs and MUBs.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Proactive, hardworking and flexible attitude to work and be team player
• Confident and clear communicator.
• Open, honest, reliable and with work with integrity.
• Must pay due regard to the interests of customers and treat them fairly.
• Proficient in MS Office, credit risk decision systems

Benefits (subject to scheme rules)

• Company pension (up to 5%)
• Private Medical Cover
• Income Protection
• Death in Service/Life Cover
• Cycle to work scheme
• Holiday Purchase/Sale
• Employee Referral Scheme
• Tuition Reimbursement

Work location:

Office based (Woking GU21 6DJ)