Corporate CRE Underwriter in Harrow

We are looking for an experienced and commercially minded Corporate & Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Underwriter to join our Credit team based in West London. This is a key role within the Credit function, responsible for assessing, underwriting and managing a range of lending proposals across Corporate, Commercial Real Estate (CRE), Buy-to-Let (BTL) and personal lending. You will work closely with the Business and Originations teams, senior management, Credit Committees, solicitors and valuation firms to ensure lending decisions are robust, commercially sound and aligned with the organisation's credit policies and regulatory requirements. This is a fully office-based position, offering the opportunity to work closely with senior stakeholders and play an important role in supporting the growth and quality of the lending portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Underwrite Corporate, CRE, BTL and personal loan proposals, ensuring transactions are appropriately assessed and successfully executed.
• Assess and process lending proposals received from the Business team and present recommendations to the relevant Sanctioning Committee.
• Work closely with the Originations team to establish a clear rationale for approving or declining applications.
• Monitor the existing loan portfolio, identifying early arrears, emerging risks and potential problem accounts, and make appropriate recommendations.
• Take responsibility for the annual review process across the existing credit portfolio, ensuring borrowing requirements and financial covenants are being met.
• Minimise credit risk associated with lending applications while operating within established credit policies, procedures and risk appetite.
• Undertake property and borrower site visits where required.
• Present proposals and recommendations to Risk Committee and other UK management committees where appropriate.
• Liaise with solicitors, valuation firms and other professional advisers to facilitate an efficient end-to-end credit process.
• Ensure credit decisions are made in accordance with relevant regulatory standards, including Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) principles and Customer First standards.
• Support the Chief Credit Officer across the operational activities of the Credit Department.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal stakeholders, clients and introducers.

About You

We are looking for someone with strong credit assessment and underwriting experience who can demonstrate sound commercial judgement alongside a disciplined approach to risk. You will ideally have:

• 3-5 years' experience in underwriting, credit assessment or a similar lending role.
• Experience of underwriting Corporate and/or Commercial Real Estate lending.
• Good knowledge of the UK lending environment.
• A strong understanding of the UK regulatory framework, principles and rules relevant to lending.
• Excellent analytical and credit assessment skills, with the ability to identify and evaluate key risks.
• The confidence to make balanced decisions, considering both credit risk and commercial requirements.
• The ability to clearly articulate recommendations and communicate complex credit arguments to senior stakeholders and committees.
• Strong attention to detail and a careful, diligent approach.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• The ability to work independently while also contributing effectively as part of a wider team.
• A proactive and enthusiastic approach, with the ability to adapt to new challenges.

What We're Looking For

The successful candidate will be a confident credit professional who can take a measured view of risk while understanding the commercial objectives of the business. You will be comfortable challenging proposals where appropriate, presenting your recommendations to senior stakeholders and managing multiple lending cases through to completion. Strong communication, judgement and relationship-management skills are essential, as the role involves regular interaction with senior management, Business Development teams, Credit Committees, Credit Administration and external professional advisers.

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Corporate & CRE Underwriter to join an established Credit function and take on a role with significant exposure to senior stakeholders and a broad range of lending transactions.