Underwriting Leader – Landlord Portfolio
Office presence required 2-3 times each week
Manchester
Up to £85k plus bonus and benefits
We’re pleased to be working with a challenger bank as they seek an Underwriting Leader in their Property team. You will be instrumental in developing a high-performing team of specialist underwriters and ensuring high-quality lending decisions that support sustainable growth across the portfolio. The team is focussed on landlord portfolio lending up to £10m and often highly complex / out of criteria.
Another key focus is using underwriting insights, particularly the reasons behind declines, to refine credit policy, enhance lending criteria, and shape future propositions. You will also prepare and support business cases for exceptions and policy changes, helping the company remain competitive, responsible, and aligned to its strategic goals.
Duties of the Underwriting Leader will include:
- Lead lending operations across multiple mortgage brands.
- Manage and develop underwriting teams to ensure compliant, consistent decisions.
- Oversee fraud prevention, risk management, and complex case escalations.
- Support business continuity, supplier oversight, and process improvement.
- Lead readiness for operational change and staff training initiatives.
- Contribute to quality assurance, risk mitigation, and performance monitoring.
- Collaborate with leadership to deliver strategic and operational goals.
- Track KPIs/KRIs and ensure full regulatory compliance.
The successful candidate will possess:
- A demonstrated ability to lead teams within property credit underwriting.
- Recent experience of being a senior mandate holder.
- Extensive experience across credit operations and functional management.
- Expertise in influencing and developing credit and risk policy frameworks.
- A good knowledge of landlord portfolio lending with experience of policy making.
- Experience as an inspiring people leader who nurtures capability and drives high team performance.
In return you can expect a highly competitive salary as well as strong benefits which include generous bonus and pension. There will be a requirement to be office based two to three times each week in Manchester.