At a Glance
- Tasks: Underwrite complex commercial mortgage transactions and support less-experienced underwriters.
- Company: Join YBS, a leading name in commercial mortgages with a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, bonuses, pension contributions, and health benefits.
- Other info: Hybrid working available; develop your skills in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Take your underwriting career to the next level with real impact and leadership opportunities.
- Qualifications: Experience in corporate buy-to-let and commercial investment transactions required.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 € per year.
Do you want to see the impact your work really makes? With us, you can. You’ll be joining a team at the heart of YBS Commercial Mortgages, where underwriters at the next stage of their career are supported to strengthen judgement, broaden exposure and build towards more senior responsibility. If you’re an experienced Commercial Underwriter looking to take the next step in your career, broaden your exposure to more complex lending, and start building greater leadership responsibility, this role could be right for you.
About the role
This role is designed for experienced Commercial Underwriters who are ready to broaden their scope, build confidence in more complex lending, and develop towards greater responsibility over time. This role presents a strong development opportunity for an experienced Commercial Real Estate Underwriter who is ready to take the next step. You’ll progressively underwrite higher‑value and more complex cases within your mandate, supported by senior colleagues as you continue to build confidence, judgement and technical depth. As part of your development, you’ll have the opportunity to support and, over time, present cases outside mandate to Credit Committee, gaining valuable exposure to senior decision‑making and governance. You’ll assess and approve a range of commercial mortgage transactions, with a focus on commercial investment, corporate buy‑to‑let and owner‑occupied lending. There will be the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing evolution of lending policy and propositions to ensure risks are clearly understood and well managed.
Alongside underwriting, the role provides real opportunity for personal development. As you develop in the role, you’ll have opportunities to build leadership capability by supporting and coaching less‑experienced underwriters, with guidance from senior colleagues. You’ll work closely with the Lead Underwriter, gaining exposure to escalation handling, complex decision‑making and strategic risk initiatives as part of your longer‑term development. You’ll have appropriate autonomy within your mandate, while working closely with relationship management, portfolio management and senior underwriters to provide clear, independent risk insight. In addition to new lending, you’ll support in‑life credit matters, working collaboratively to manage risk across the existing portfolio.
Please note: Most of the team are based in Leeds, however we operate on a hybrid basis. You can be based anywhere in the UK, with an expectation of some travel as required.
About you
You’ll have experience underwriting corporate buy‑to‑let and commercial investment transactions. You’ll already be operating with a delegated lending mandate, enabling you to demonstrate sound judgement and experience at this level, and be motivated to build on this through broader and more complex cases over time. In addition, you’ll bring:
- Great attention to detail and sound credit judgement.
- Experience underwriting complex cases, with the ability to cut through complexity and make clear, well‑reasoned decisions.
- Excellent communication skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively.
This role is well suited to an underwriter who sees this as a step‑up opportunity and is keen to grow towards more senior accountability over time, rather than someone already operating at a senior underwriting level. If you’re already operating with a lending mandate and looking to stretch yourself further, this role offers the right balance of challenge and support. You’ll work on increasingly complex commercial cases, gain exposure to senior‑level decision‑making, and develop leadership capability over time — all while being backed by a strong risk culture and a clear development pathway.
About our Benefits
We offer lots of fantastic rewards that you can make the most of in and out of work, including:
- Holiday. You’ll get 25 days plus Bank Holidays, as well as the option to buy up to a further 5 days.
- Bonus. At YBS we work collaboratively and share in our success together, so when we reach our goals we all rewarded with an on target bonus of 7% of eligible pay (with the opportunity to earn up to a maximum 15%).
- Pension. We know how important it is to save towards the future, that’s why we’ll contribute up to 11% into your YBS pension.
- Healthcare. Health and wellbeing are an important part of life at YBS, when you join us you’ll have access to a range of health benefits to suit your life including private medical insurance, dental and healthcare plans.
- My Benefits. When you join YBS you’ll have access to our self‑service benefits portal, where you can access a range of retail, hospitality and health discounts.
Please note: Internally this role is known as Senior Commercial Underwriter.
Commercial Real Estate Underwriter in Leeds employer: Yorkshire Building Society
At YBS, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that fosters a supportive and collaborative work culture. As a Commercial Real Estate Underwriter, you'll benefit from a clear development pathway, opportunities for leadership growth, and a strong emphasis on personal and professional development, all while enjoying competitive rewards and a flexible hybrid working model based in the vibrant city of Leeds. Join us to make a meaningful impact in your career and be part of a team that values your contributions and encourages your growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Real Estate Underwriter in Leeds
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the commercial real estate sector. Attend industry events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have a lead on that perfect underwriter role!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge. Be ready to discuss complex lending scenarios and showcase your judgement skills. Practise articulating your thought process clearly, as communication is key in this field.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership potential! Even if you’re not in a senior role yet, highlight any experience you have in coaching or mentoring others. Employers love to see candidates who are keen to grow and support their teams.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always looking for passionate individuals ready to take the next step in their underwriting careers.
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Real Estate Underwriter in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your underwriting experience, especially with corporate buy-to-let and commercial investment transactions, to show us you’re the right fit.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re excited about this role and how it aligns with your career goals. Share specific examples of complex cases you've handled to demonstrate your judgement and decision-making skills.
Showcase Your Communication Skills:Since excellent communication is key for this role, make sure your application is clear and concise. Use straightforward language and structure your thoughts logically to reflect your ability to challenge constructively.
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 don’t miss out on any important updates during the process.
How to prepare for a job interview at Yorkshire Building Society
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of commercial mortgages, especially corporate buy-to-let and investment transactions. Be ready to discuss specific cases you've underwritten and the decisions you made, as this will show your depth of experience and sound judgement.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Potential
Since this role involves developing leadership capabilities, think of examples where you've supported or coached less-experienced colleagues. Highlighting these experiences will demonstrate your readiness to take on more responsibility and contribute to team development.
✨Prepare for Complex Scenarios
Expect questions that test your ability to handle complex lending situations. Prepare by reviewing challenging cases you've worked on and be ready to explain how you navigated through complexities to make clear, well-reasoned decisions.
✨Communicate Confidently
Excellent communication skills are key in this role. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently, especially when discussing risk insights and decision-making processes. This will help you stand out as someone who can challenge constructively and engage with senior colleagues.
