At a Glance
- Tasks: Sanction credit proposals and analyse complex lending transactions in a dynamic banking environment.
- Company: Well-established specialist bank with a strong focus on credit risk.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, private healthcare, dental care, and hybrid working.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a supportive and collaborative culture.
- Why this job: Join a leading bank and make impactful credit decisions in specialist lending.
- Qualifications: Experience in Credit Risk Underwriting and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Location: London
Working Arrangement: Hybrid – minimum 50% of the month in the office
Salary: £80,000 - £90,000 + bonus and benefits
Department: Credit Risk
Function: 2nd Line Credit Risk
The Opportunity
We are working with a well-established specialist bank seeking an experienced Senior Credit Risk Underwriter to join its 2nd Line Credit Risk function. This is a senior opportunity for an experienced credit professional with a strong background in specialist lending, particularly across Specialist Mortgages, Bridging Finance, Buy-to-Let and HMO.
The successful candidate will operate as a sanctioned within the 2nd Line of Defence Credit Risk function, taking responsibility for sanctioning credit proposals within their own delegated lending authority and providing independent credit risk oversight and challenge to the business.
The role will provide exposure to significant and complex lending transactions, with typical facilities ranging from £1m to £35m.
Key Responsibilities
- Sanction credit proposals within personal delegated lending authority, in line with the Bank’s Credit Risk Framework and policies.
- Analyse new and existing lending propositions across Real Estate Bridging and Investment.
- Act as a credit risk sounding board to the Bridging and Specialist Mortgages business.
- Provide independent challenge and balanced credit decisions across complex lending proposals.
- Prepare comprehensive credit risk assessments and recommendations for presentation to Transactional Credit Committee where required.
- Work closely with 1st Line Credit teams and lending stakeholders to ensure appropriate risk assessment and decision-making.
- Support the development of a strong credit risk culture across the business.
- Contribute to the ongoing development and review of credit risk policies, frameworks and sanctioning processes.
- Support portfolio-level credit risk monitoring, analysis and reporting.
- Assist with portfolio reviews and detailed investigations where required.
- Support lending decision assurance activity and provide appropriate oversight of lending decisions.
- Maintain a strong understanding of the Bank’s risk appetite and ensure lending decisions are made within agreed parameters.
Experience Required
The successful candidate will ideally have:
- Recent and substantial experience within Credit Risk Underwriting and Sanctioning.
- Proven experience operating within a 2nd Line of Defence Credit Risk environment.
- Experience operating with personal delegated lending authority.
- Strong experience across Specialist Mortgages, including Buy-to-Let and HMO.
- Strong Real Estate Bridging Finance experience.
- Experience assessing complex property-backed lending propositions.
- A strong understanding of financial, economic and property markets.
- Good knowledge of credit risk grading systems and processes.
- Experience making independent lending decisions and providing balanced recommendations.
- Confidence challenging first-line credit recommendations where appropriate.
- Experience presenting credit assessments and recommendations to senior stakeholders and/or Credit Committee.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent attention to detail and the ability to distil complex information into clear, concise recommendations.
- Strong communication and influencing skills.
- The ability to exercise sound and independent judgement.
The Ideal Candidate
This role would suit an experienced Senior Credit Underwriter, Credit Risk Underwriter, Credit Manager or similar professional who has moved beyond purely first-line underwriting and has genuine experience within a 2nd Line Credit Risk and sanctioning environment.
You will need to be comfortable making independent credit decisions, operating within delegated authority and providing appropriate challenge to lending teams. Experience within specialist banking, property finance or specialist mortgage lending would be particularly relevant.
Benefits
In addition to the salary and bonus opportunity, the role offers a comprehensive benefits package including:
- Private healthcare
- Private dental care
- Pension contribution
- Hybrid working
- Further employee benefits
Working Arrangement
The role is based in London with a hybrid working arrangement, requiring a minimum of 50% of the month to be spent working from the office.
Interested?
If you are an experienced Credit Risk Underwriter with genuine 2nd Line sanctioning and delegated authority experience across Specialist Mortgages, Bridging, BTL or HMO, I’d be very interested in having a confidential conversation with you.
Please get in touch for further information and a full discussion around the opportunity.
Senior Credit Risk Underwriter (2nd line) in City of London employer: Stride Recruitment
Join a well-established specialist bank in London as a Senior Credit Risk Underwriter, where you will thrive in a dynamic hybrid work environment that promotes a strong credit risk culture and offers significant exposure to complex lending transactions. With a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits including private healthcare and pension contributions, and ample opportunities for professional growth, this role is perfect for those looking to make impactful decisions in the world of specialist mortgages and bridging finance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Credit Risk Underwriter (2nd line) in City of London
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
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Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
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Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Stride Recruitment. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Credit Risk Underwriter (2nd line) in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Stride Recruitment.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Stride Recruitment's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Stride Recruitment
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Stride Recruitment.
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✨Show Your Passion for Finance
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✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Stride Recruitment employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
