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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Assess complex credit applications and support junior team members in a dynamic environment.
- Company: A growing SME and Real Estate Finance lender with a personalised approach to business lending.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, supportive team culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Join a fun, ambitious team and make impactful lending decisions.
- Qualifications: 5+ years of SME business credit underwriting experience and strong communication skills.
- Other info: Collaborative atmosphere with opportunities to innovate and streamline processes.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
An established, successful, dynamic SME and Real Estate Finance lender who have recently embarked on a substantial UK wide growth and expansion programme. By combining technology with some good common sense, they take a personalised approach to business lending. Their lending decisions are often bespoke and it’s this personal touch that makes them different. A small, ambitious team with diverse backgrounds working in a non-corporate, social environment. They support each other, learn from each other, and have a lot of fun along the way.
The Role
As a senior credit underwriter, you will be an integral part of the credit underwriting team and contribute to the credit philosophy of the business. You will be joining a growing team with an entrepreneurial, commercial mindset and make-work attitude. You will focus on unsecured and secured SME business loans (with possible exposure if appropriate to Real Estate and Asset Finance transactions). Successful applicants will be granted a sign-off mandate and be expected to contribute towards streamlining the end-to-end processing of credit decisioning and development of junior team members.
Key Responsibilities
- Assess complex credit applications to determine serviceability, affordability, and alignment with the company’s lending policies and risk appetite.
- Conduct in-depth reviews of borrower financials, credit history, security, and repayment capacity across a range of lending scenarios.
- Identify and mitigate credit risks through sound judgement, data analysis, and consistent application of underwriting standards.
- Perform second-level reviews of credit decisions made by junior or peer underwriters as part of the formal four-eye process.
- Provide constructive feedback and challenge where necessary to uphold credit quality and ensure consistency across the team.
- Support the development and coaching of junior team members through review discussions and knowledge sharing.
- Investigate and analyse the root causes of non-performing loans or arrears cases.
- Prepare clear, data-backed reports offering insights and recommendations for policy or procedural adjustments.
- Collaborate with Risk and Collections teams to track early warning signs and portfolio trends.
- Play a key role in monthly Credit Committee meetings, presenting cases, defending decisions, and contributing to broader credit strategy discussions.
- Articulate underwriting decisions and portfolio insights to senior leadership.
- Maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, including Sales, Risk, and Legal, to support commercially sound and risk-aligned lending.
- Identify opportunities to enhance the underwriting process through automation, data tools, or revised workflows.
- Contribute to testing, implementing, and embedding new credit systems or technology solutions.
- Help build scalable, consistent underwriting frameworks that support both volume growth and credit discipline.
- Provide support to ensure the credit team meets service level agreements (SLAs) and turnaround expectations for deal reviews.
- Prioritise workload to balance commercial responsiveness with thorough credit analysis.
- Step in to support urgent cases or workflow bottlenecks where senior-level input is required.
About You
- 5+ years SME business credit underwriting experience with a lending mandate in a UK bank or lender.
- Self‑motivated, able to work under pressure and driven to succeed.
- Strong communication skills both written and oral.
- Ability to analyse and dissect information and present results in a logical and understandable format for all stakeholders across the business.
- Growth mindset and ability to adapt to changing business requirements in a fast‑paced business environment.
Senior Credit Underwriter - SME Finance employer: Chamberlain Career Management
Contact Detail:
Chamberlain Career Management Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Credit Underwriter - SME Finance
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their approach to lending and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their personalised business model.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your expertise during interviews. Bring examples of how you've assessed complex credit applications or mitigated risks in previous roles. This will demonstrate your value to the team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our dynamic team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Credit Underwriter - SME Finance
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience that match the Senior Credit Underwriter role. Highlight your SME business credit underwriting experience and any relevant lending mandates you've held. We want to see how you can bring your unique flair to our dynamic team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about this role and how your background aligns with our personalised approach to business lending. Don’t forget to mention your growth mindset and how you thrive in fast-paced environments like ours.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: As a Senior Credit Underwriter, you'll need to assess complex credit applications. In your application, give examples of how you've successfully analysed financials and mitigated risks in previous roles. We love seeing data-backed insights that demonstrate your decision-making prowess!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, we’re excited to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Chamberlain Career Management
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Senior Credit Underwriter, you'll need to be comfortable with financial data. Brush up on your understanding of financial statements, credit history analysis, and risk assessment metrics. Be ready to discuss how you've used these in past roles to make lending decisions.
✨Showcase Your Personal Touch
This company values a personalised approach to business lending. Prepare examples of how you've tailored your underwriting decisions to meet the unique needs of clients. Highlight any instances where your judgement made a significant difference in a lending scenario.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect to face complex scenarios during the interview. Practice articulating your thought process when assessing credit applications or mitigating risks. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses clearly.
✨Demonstrate Team Spirit
Since this role involves coaching junior team members and collaborating with various departments, be prepared to discuss your experience in mentoring and teamwork. Share specific examples of how you've supported colleagues and contributed to a positive team environment.
