At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead mortgage underwriting, ensuring high-quality outcomes and effective risk management.
- Company: Join Newbury Building Society, a values-driven organisation focused on community and customer service.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, pension contributions, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Collaborative team environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on mortgage lending and shape the future of credit strategy.
- Qualifications: Strong credit risk management skills and proven leadership experience in underwriting.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 80000 € per year.
Location: Newbury (hybrid working, min. 2 days in office)
Hours: 35 hours per week (Monday–Friday, 9.00am–5.00pm)
Salary: £70,000 – £80,000 dependent on experience
Introduction: Newbury Building Society 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 and operationalisation 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.
What you’ll be doing:
- 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.
What We’re Looking For: 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.
Why choose Newbury: We invest in your development — through excellent learning opportunities, meaningful responsibilities and project work that supports your long‑term growth. We look after and reward you — including a generous holiday allowance, contributory stakeholder pension, wellbeing support, and your birthday off. We support our communities — through regular volunteering, fundraising and local initiatives. You will also receive two paid volunteering days each year to support causes you care about.
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.
- Direct involvement in lending policy development.
- Exposure to specialist lending (e.g. lending in/into retirement or shared ownership).
Interviews: There will be two interview stages. Feedback provided regardless of outcome. We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any point.
Head of Underwriting in Manchester employer: Ultimate Banking
Newbury Building Society is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee development and well-being, offering a supportive work culture where collaboration and innovation thrive. With a focus on meaningful responsibilities and opportunities for growth, employees enjoy generous benefits including a competitive salary, extensive holiday allowance, and paid volunteering days to support community initiatives. Located in Newbury, this hybrid role allows for a balanced work-life dynamic while contributing to impactful decision-making in the mortgage lending sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Underwriting in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about letting people know you’re on the hunt for a Head of Underwriting role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Newbury Building Society thoroughly, understand their values, and think about how your experience aligns with their needs. Practise answering common interview questions and be ready to discuss your approach to credit risk management.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! During interviews, share specific examples of how you’ve led teams and improved processes in previous roles. Highlight your ability to empower others and drive operational effectiveness, as this is key for the Head of Underwriting position.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to 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 joining Newbury Building Society and contributing to their mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Underwriting in Manchester
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 at Newbury Building Society.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for the Head of Underwriting role. Share specific examples of how you've led teams and improved processes in the past, and don’t forget to show your passion for customer outcomes!
Showcase Your Leadership Style:In your application, let us know about your values-driven leadership approach. We want to see how you empower teams and foster a strong risk culture, so share any relevant experiences that demonstrate this.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity with Newbury Building Society!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ultimate Banking
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of credit risk management and mortgage lending. Brush up on the latest regulatory frameworks and be ready to discuss how they impact lending policies. This will show that you're not just familiar with the basics, but that you can also navigate the complexities of the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Head of Underwriting, you'll need to demonstrate your leadership capabilities. Prepare examples of how you've led teams in the past, particularly in underwriting or credit servicing. Highlight your ability to empower others and drive operational effectiveness, as this is key to the role.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask you to solve hypothetical problems related to credit risk or lending policy. Think about potential challenges you might face in the role and how you would address them. This will help you showcase your commercial judgement and responsible risk management skills.
✨Engage with the Interviewers
Remember, interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions about the company's culture, their approach to continuous improvement, and how they support their teams. This not only shows your interest in the role but also helps you assess if the company aligns with your values.
