At a Glance
- Tasks: Assess residential mortgage applications and make informed underwriting decisions.
- Company: Join Nationwide, the UK's largest building society, focused on fair banking for all.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous holidays, a strong pension scheme, and wellness support.
- Why this job: Be part of a purpose-driven team that values customer relationships and personal growth.
- Qualifications: Experience in manual underwriting and strong communication skills are essential.
- Other info: Hybrid working available; apply early as positions may close quickly.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
As a Senior Underwriter you will assess referred residential propositions, using your judgement and experience to make fully reasoned underwriting decisions that reflect the need to maximise new business whilst protecting the integrity of our mortgage book. The lending mandate associated with the role carries the authority to make exceptions to lending policy. You will resolve solicitor queries resolving issues as they arise to ensure the best possible customer experience.
We are happy to consider flexible working approaches to help you perform at your best. The working hours (per week) for this role can be between 28 and 35. 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. 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:
- Assessing referred residential propositions.
- Coaching and supporting colleagues in your own team, as well as across the wider business, using your detailed criteria and industry knowledge.
- Communicating your lending decision in a way that will be understood.
About you:
- Have held a lending mandate and have experience of manually underwriting complex mortgage applications; large loans would also be an advantage.
- 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.
- Have strong communication skills with a proven track record of managing stakeholder relationships while underwriting to the highest standard.
- Be an individual who can self-motivate and thrive under pressure whilst maintaining accuracy and providing excellent customer service.
Our Customer First behaviours are all about putting customers and members at the heart of how we work together. You can strengthen your application by showing the behaviours that resonate with you, and how you might have already demonstrated these:
- Say it straight - This is about being honest and direct with good intent and saying what needs to be said in the room. It’s also about being clear, precise, and using language that we and, importantly, our customers and members can understand.
- Push for better - This is about aiming high and constantly looking for better in how we work together and serve our customers and members.
- Get it done - This is about prioritising what will have the greatest impact, being decisive and taking accountability for delivering on the end-to-end outcome.
The extras you’ll get:
- 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
What makes us different:
Nationwide is the world’s largest building society. With over 15 million customers, we have a relationship with almost a quarter of the UK’s population. We’ve got the scale to compete with the big banks, but we’re not a bank. As a building society, we’re owned by our members – that’s our customers who have their current account, mortgage or savings with us. It means we can do things differently to deliver our Purpose – Banking – but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society. When you work at Nationwide, you can experience that difference for yourself. You’ll be part of a high-performing, purpose-driven organisation that offers rewarding career experiences and a highly competitive range of benefits to match.
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.
Senior Risk Underwriter (Senior Mortgage Underwriter) employer: UK Nationwide
Contact Detail:
UK Nationwide Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Risk Underwriter (Senior Mortgage Underwriter)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends and regulations in the mortgage industry. This will not only help you during interviews but also demonstrate your commitment to staying updated, which is crucial for a Senior Risk Underwriter.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare to discuss specific examples from your past experience where you've successfully managed complex mortgage applications. Highlighting your decision-making process and how you navigated challenges will showcase your expertise.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely. Since strong communication skills are essential for this role, being able to explain your underwriting decisions in an understandable way will set you apart.
✨Tip Number 4
Demonstrate your customer-first mindset by preparing to share how you've prioritised customer service in previous roles. This aligns with Nationwide's values and will show that you can contribute positively to their culture.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Risk Underwriter (Senior Mortgage Underwriter)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Relevant Experience: Make sure to emphasise your experience with manual underwriting and any lending mandates you've held. Clearly outline your ability to assess complex mortgage applications, especially large loans, as this is crucial for the role.
Demonstrate Industry Knowledge: Showcase your extensive knowledge of the mortgage industry, including regulatory requirements and best practices. This will help you stand out as a candidate who understands the complexities of the role.
Communicate Effectively: Use clear and precise language in your application. Reflect on how you have successfully managed stakeholder relationships and communicated decisions in a way that is easily understood, as strong communication skills are essential for this position.
Align with Company Values: Incorporate examples of how you embody the 'Customer First' behaviours mentioned in the job description. Highlight instances where you have prioritised customer needs, aimed for improvement, and taken accountability in your previous roles.
How to prepare for a job interview at UK Nationwide
✨Showcase Your Underwriting Experience
Be prepared to discuss your previous experience with manual underwriting, especially with complex mortgage applications. Highlight any large loans you've handled and how you made decisions that balanced risk with business needs.
✨Demonstrate Strong Communication Skills
Since the role involves resolving solicitor queries and communicating decisions clearly, practice articulating your thought process. Use examples from your past where effective communication led to positive outcomes.
✨Emphasise Customer-Centric Behaviours
Familiarise yourself with Nationwide's 'Customer First' behaviours. Be ready to provide examples of how you've put customers at the heart of your decision-making in previous roles, showcasing your commitment to excellent customer service.
✨Prepare for Challenging Questions
Expect questions that challenge your decisions or require you to justify your underwriting choices. Stay resolute in your answers, but also be open to discussing new information that could influence your decisions.