Grow with UTB

This is a hybrid role – 3 days in the office (City of London location) and 2 days working from home.

Role Purpose: 

Oversee day to day management of the underwriting department. Lead, manage, coach, & develop the underwriting department by working closely with the Head of UW by providing direction. Responsible for the management of transaction workflow. Deliver high service levels to brokers & deliver within SLA’s. Direct management of the specialist loan team (high value and complex). Manage the BF relationship with the bank Credit team. Review & enhance BF credit policy  lending procedures & ensure the BF teamwork within this framework and deliver best practice around compliance and regulatory matters. Provide decisioning support to Servicing (in life) team from a credit perspective to mitigate loans in Aexcess.

Responsibilities:

Underwriting Management:

• Oversee the BF underwriting team (circa 20) by training, coaching and mentoring to make sure colleagues are technically and practically competent and achieving mandates within expected timeframe
• Monitor and provide guidance on staffing levels relative to service levels, business demands and quality
• Oversee the credit inbox (new enquiries) with direct management of high value and/or complex loans (heavy refurb) – lead by example
• Report to the BF Director and BMC on the performance of the Underwriting and other Credit risk functions against the risk appetite
• Manage the team to ensure delivery against the credit policy & other relevant procedures including financial crime, KYC and Consumer Duty
• Monitor business performance and team productivity to maximise results
• Provide regular clear reporting to BF Director and other stakeholders on business and team performance against business objectives
• Maintain and develop own skills, knowledge and behaviours whilst maintaining awareness of industry and regulatory standard and changes
• Lead Underwriting change management projects in support of business objectives
• Support the wider BF management on process and operational improvements

Credit Risk & Portfolio:

• Oversee portfolio risk, identify trends, and adjust front line underwriting approach accordingly. Improve the existing approach to managing and reporting against portfolio risk by working with Servicing team
• Support BF governance requirements with the wider SMT
• Work with Risk & Compliance function to ensure effective quality assurance processes, which evidence compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements
• Provide high level support to Servicing to mitigate loans expiring and supporting extension decisions
• Attend Watchlist & Recoveries monthly meeting with Head of Servicing
• Support project to deliver automation in underwriting by working with head of ops and change team
• Key role in supporting BF achieve growth strategy while mitigating risk appropriately
• Own stakeholder engagement relationship with Credit risk team
• Support the development of new products from a credit risk perspective
• Ownership of any updates to credit policy and lending procedures including roll-out to the business and ongoing adherence by the team
• As part of the BF senior management team you will be expected to participate in management meetings, provide input into the budgeting process, and act as a brand ambassador for UTB in the BF market
• Attend relevant internal and external risk meetings

Skills and Experience:

• At least 10 years’ experience in term and short term lending with an emphasis on asset underwriting
• Unregulated lending experience is vital
• Good knowledge of specialist lending market
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in a senior credit role
• Minimum 3 years people management experience
• Qualified in credit management
• Experience working / presenting at exco level
• Strong IT skills and awareness of emerging technologies
• Experience of auto-decisioning frameworks preferred
• Experience preparing credit papers and analysing financial information
• Highly organised with excellent time management skills, with the ability to work under pressure to tight timescales whilst paying attention to detail

UTB is a dynamic and expanding specialist bank that provides solutions to our customers and brokers, which help them achieve their ambitions. Recognised as being one of the most dependable and well-respected Specialist Banks in the UK, we were delighted to see our balance sheet exceed the £2bn mark in 2022.

Exceptional customer service and the ability to provide rewarding deposits accounts and flexible lending solutions have helped us to develop productive and enduring relationships with our customers. We understand that their success is our success and that the quality of our people and teams, is key to delivering special outcomes for them.

We also understand that the performance of our people is directly linked to the culture in which they work. There is a strong sense of community at UTB and as well as promoting a clear set of internal values, and providing a wealth of facilities for training, personal development, and team building, we run a busy and varied calendar of engagement and social activity. Typical recent examples include: Pizza Lunch Days and Coffee Catch-ups; London Marathon and Sahara Challenge Sponsorships; Success Sharing and Value Awards; and Awesome Autumn social events ranging from Theatre Trips, Cocktail Mixology, and Cookery Classes, to Go-karting, Mini Golf and Clay pigeon shooting.

• competitive salary and discretionary bonus scheme
• matched pension contributions up to 7%
• 26 days annual leave plus two wellbeing days and opportunity to purchase additional holiday
• flexible and hybrid working
• private medical insurance via Vitality
• life, income protection and critical illness insurance
• enhanced family leave pay
• extensive learning and personal development opportunities
• electric car scheme and cycle to work scheme
• season ticket loan
• wellbeing support – discounted gym membership, employee assistance programme, 24/7 private GP access for staff and their immediate family (online), 1:1 key life stage coaching

Thank you for your interest in our current vacancy. Please click the link below to complete your online application.

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