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- Tasks: Lead mortgage underwriting, ensuring quality and compliance while driving operational effectiveness.
- Company: Join Newbury Building Society, a values-driven organisation focused on community and customer outcomes.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, pension contributions, and wellbeing support.
- 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 teams.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for personal growth and community support.
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 Newbury employer: Ultimate Banking
Contact Detail:
Ultimate Banking Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Underwriting in Newbury
✨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 hunt for a Head of Underwriting role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on opportunities or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Brush up on your knowledge of credit risk management and be ready to discuss how you've led teams in the past. We want to see you shine, so practice articulating your experience and how it aligns with the values of Newbury Building Society.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership style! During interviews, share examples of how you've empowered your team and driven operational effectiveness. Highlighting your ability to build trusted relationships will resonate well with the hiring team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Underwriting in Newbury
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 Values: We’re all about values-driven leadership, so make sure to convey your personal values and how they align with ours. This will help us see how you can contribute to our culture and mission.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ultimate Banking
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of credit risk management and mortgage lending. Familiarise yourself with the latest regulatory frameworks and MCOB guidelines, as these will likely come up in conversation. Being able to discuss recent trends in the property market will also show that you're on top of your game.
✨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. Think about times when you've empowered your team or driven operational improvements, and be ready to share those stories.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since this role involves communicating with senior stakeholders and committees, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Prepare to discuss how you've built trusted relationships in previous roles and how you can bring that experience to Newbury Building Society.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street, so come prepared with questions that show your interest in the role and the company. Ask about their current challenges in mortgage lending or how they envision the future of their credit strategy. This not only demonstrates your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the company aligns with your values.