Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead mortgage underwriting, ensuring high-quality outcomes and compliance with lending policies.
- Company: Join a values-driven team at Newbury Building Society, focused on community and collaboration.
- Benefits: Generous holiday allowance, pension scheme, wellbeing programmes, and two paid volunteering days.
- Other info: Opportunities for career growth and continuous learning in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in mortgage lending while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Strong credit risk management experience and proven leadership in underwriting teams.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Hours: Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm (35 hours per week).
Interview: There will be two interview stages in the week commencing 4 May 2026, held in our head office. Feedback will be provided regardless of outcome. Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any point.
We are looking for an experienced, values-led leader to take on a high impact role within our mortgage lending function. Reporting to the Director of Customer Service, you will be responsible for credit risk oversight, the application of lending policy, and ensuring consistent, high quality mortgage underwriting. You will work closely with Executive colleagues and play an active role in Credit Committee, providing insight, assurance and constructive challenge to support good and sustainable outcomes for both customers and intermediaries.
You will thrive in this role if you balance commercial judgement with responsible risk management, and bring confident, values-driven leadership along with deep expertise in credit risk and mortgage lending. You’ll communicate clearly and credibly with senior stakeholders and committees, build trusted relationships, and lead with clarity, integrity and accountability. You will also join a supportive and collaborative team where ideas are welcomed, expertise is valued and autonomy is encouraged. This highly visible senior role offers a significant opportunity to influence the Society’s mortgage lending proposition and shape the future of our credit strategy. If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.
Tasks will include:
- Leading the application of our lending policy, ensuring alignment with MCOB and wider regulatory expectations.
- Monitoring credit and conduct risks, using MI to spot trends, emerging risks and opportunities.
- Recommending changes to lending policy and processes based on market, regulatory and portfolio insights.
- Driving operational effectiveness, consistency and quality across underwriting and valuation activity.
- Overseeing key third party relationships linked to underwriting and valuation services.
- Championing continuous improvement of lending processes and the customer and intermediary journey.
- Embedding a strong risk culture and delivering excellent customer outcomes.
- Leading, developing and empowering underwriters to perform at their best.
Essential skills and experience:
- Strong understanding of credit risk management and able to make sound underwriting decisions.
- Proven experience leading underwriting, credit or mortgage servicing teams.
- Sound knowledge of the external property and mortgage market, and regulatory framework.
- Ability to interpret MI and provide clear, proportionate recommendations.
Desirable skills and experience:
- Existing or recent senior leadership role in a bank or building society.
- Experience contributing to senior level committees.
- Exposure to specialist lending (e.g. lending in/into retirement or shared ownership).
We want to help you develop – we are accredited by the Financial Services National College for the quality of our learning and development practices. No matter your role, there will be opportunities to take on new responsibilities and be involved in projects to further your career.
We want to look after and reward you - you will receive a generous holiday allowance, contributory stakeholder pension scheme, access to wellbeing programmes, and your birthday off.
We care about our communities – as well as providing financial services, we get involved in supporting local charities and people. This means regular opportunities to volunteer, fundraise, and help with community events and activities. All employees also receive two paid days of volunteering every year to help causes they feel passionately about.
The salary offered is dependent on evidence of key competencies and skills you currently have. Newbury Building Society pride themselves on recruiting for potential so if you do not meet all of the criteria in terms of knowledge, experience and skills, you will benefit from learning and development opportunities to enable you to work towards the top of the salary range. This will be via ongoing feedback from your line manager and assessment of your progression against all the criteria.
Head of Underwriting employer: Newbury Building Society
Contact Detail:
Newbury Building Society Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Underwriting
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the mortgage lending space and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a role that’s perfect for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company, understand their values, and think about how your experience aligns with their needs. Practise answering common interview questions, especially around credit risk and underwriting.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to discuss how you've empowered teams in the past and how you can bring that same energy to the Head of Underwriting role. Remember, they want someone who can lead with clarity and integrity.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our team and contributing to our mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Underwriting
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your leadership in underwriting and credit risk management, as these are key for us.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've led teams and improved processes in previous positions.
Showcase Your Values: We’re all about values-led leadership, so don’t forget to mention how your personal values align with ours. This will help us see how you can contribute to our culture.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and get back to you with feedback!
How to prepare for a job interview at Newbury Building Society
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of credit risk management and mortgage lending. Be prepared to discuss specific examples from your past experience that demonstrate your understanding and decision-making skills in these areas.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Head of Underwriting, you'll need to exhibit strong leadership qualities. Think about how you've led teams in the past and be ready to share stories that highlight your values-driven approach and ability to empower others.
✨Understand the Regulatory Landscape
Familiarise yourself with MCOB and other regulatory expectations relevant to the role. Being able to articulate how you ensure compliance while driving operational effectiveness will impress the interviewers.
✨Build Relationships
Demonstrate your ability to build trusted relationships with stakeholders. Prepare to discuss how you've successfully collaborated with senior colleagues and committees in previous roles, as this will be crucial for the position.