Senior Underwriter
About the team:
The Underwriting department supports the Bank by assessing the risk of lending and protecting the Bank against this risk and losses. With strong market knowledge, diagnostic approach and ability to give dependable decisions, the team take a common sense approach to manual underwriting.
About Us:
The OSB Group is a FTSE 250 specialist mortgage lender, primarily focused on carefully selected segments of the mortgage market.
Our specialist lending is supported by our Kent Reliance and Charter Savings Bank retail savings franchises. Diversification of funding is provided by sophisticated securitisation platforms. OSB’s unique cost-efficient operating model is supported by our wholly-owned subsidiary OSBIndia.
Alongside passion for our products and customers, we're passionate about our people and want to continue building a collaborative and engaging environment. Being dedicated to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, we encourage differences and recognise that individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences can bring valuable insights and enhance the way we work.This is supported by our Diversity, Community and Environment Employee Engagement Networks and our commitment to the Women in Finance Charter and Women in Leadership Programme.
What you will be doing:
You will be working within the Bridging team and will progress mortgage applications, within the assigned mandate level, through to mortgage offer and completion in line with the Bank’s operating policies and procedures.
The role requires a combination of technical knowledge, strong communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate with various teams.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Reviewing and Issuing Terms: Quickly assessing and issuing terms for agreement in principle requests from intermediaries.
- Underwriting Applications: Reviewing mortgage applications, taking a risk-based approach to ensure they align with company policy and criteria, offering loans within the assigned mandate level.
- Handling Out-of-Policy Cases: For applications outside normal policies or your approved mandate, providing recommendations for escalation.
- Communication: Regular interaction with intermediaries and solicitors, both over the phone and in writing.
- Collaboration: Understanding time-sensitive customer needs and collaborating with sales teams to meet them.
- Policy and Process Implementation: Assisting management in making sure internal policies and processes are properly followed.
- Coaching Team Members: Offering guidance and training to newer or less experienced colleagues.
- Managing Escalations: Dealing with difficult queries or complex situations and helping resolve them, while also training team members.
- Identifying and Escalating Potential Fraudulent Activity: recognising red flags and inconsistencies that might indicate fraudulent behaviour, adhering to company processes for escalating concerns and reporting.
In return for your commitment:
We offer a base salary dependent on experience of between £38,000 - £41,000 and a competitive benefits package including:
- Discretionary annual bonus opportunity of up to 15%
- 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Contributory pension (8% employer 5% employee)
- Life Assurance (4x salary) plus Group Income Protection
- Access to Private Medical Insurance and Medical Cash Plan
- Maternity & Adoption Leave – Occupational Maternity/Adoption Pay provided at 100% of salary for the first 26 weeks.
- Paternity Leave – 8 weeks of paid leave to be taken within 12 months of birth or adoption.
- Additional benefits such as Hybrid working, Cycle Purchase scheme, Technology Purchase scheme, Season Ticket Loan, Holiday purchase / sell schemes, Employee Perk Portals, Payroll giving and Save as you Earn scheme.
Could you be the one?:
We are looking for talented individuals who have the experience/knowledge and qualifications set out below:
- Strong mandated mortgage underwriting experience within a UK financial operation (including portfolio lending and/or specialist buy to let and/or credit repair/subprime and/or bridging and/or bespoke priced residential loans).
- Strong knowledge of the Data Protection Act, Anti-Money Laundering, MCOBS and MMR.
- Detailed knowledge of the FCA/PRA regulations regarding residential mortgages.
We also believe that your career and how you progress is as unique as your individual personality. We continually support our people so they can become the best version of themselves.
What to do next:
If this sounds like you, please apply now! For internal applications please visit the internal careers page to apply.
Alternatively, if you wish to have an informal and confidential chat please get in touch. Contact details can be found on our careers page.
If shortlisted from your initial application we operate a personalised recruitment process. Interviews are a two way street, we aim for them to be relevant and conversational to get the best out of you!
OSB Group are dedicated to diversity in the workplace and committed to treating all our employees and job applicants equally. We embrace equal opportunities and are opposed to discrimination on any grounds.
As part of our public commitment to the Women in Finance Charter, we have introduced our own initiatives to attract, develop and advance senior women in our sector. We don’t stop there though, we have broadened our approach to encourage diversity and inclusion at all levels and in all roles.Our leadership and Executive Committee are right behind us, to the extent that our Diversity Champions sit at Board level and on a monthly basis receive updates on our progress.
Whilst we are an organisation that values face-to-face interaction to build and nourish our culture, we also acknowledge that people are not just productive in an office and tied to the 9 to 5. Flexible-working opportunities are important for establishing a healthy work-life balance so if you see a role of interest we are happy to be asked about flexibility and explore together if we can make it work.
All applicants must have rights to work in the UK and be willing to undertake the relevant pre-employment screening checks should your application be successful.