SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Allica Bank, the UK's fastest-growing fintech, is seeking an Underwriter for Commercial Mortgages to join the risk function within its award-winning Commercial Mortgage division. The role is critical to ensuring safe delivery of lending objectives while serving established SMEs—a historically underserved market segment representing over a third of the UK economy.
You will underwrite borrowing requests across Allica's commercial mortgage and lending products, assessing credit applications within your personal discretion in line with regulatory requirements, credit appetite policy, and underwriting standards. Key responsibilities include:
- Assess and underwrite direct credit loan applications using appropriate credit data and analytical tools, adhering to all regulatory requirements and the Bank's credit policies.
- Produce clear, accurate written documentation and recommendations for applications outside personal discretion or policy, escalating to appropriate Delegated Lending Authorities as needed.
- Manage the end-to-end application process from initial enquiry through completion, liaising with panel solicitors on security instructions and ensuring proper documentation and full security before draw-down.
- Liaise with the Credit team on credit risk management, concentration risk, and credit policy development.
- Undertake regular control checks and monitoring to ensure risk and customer requirements are met; escalate concerns immediately.
- Manage a portfolio of advances according to defined arrears and collections policies.
- Liaise with applicants, brokers, and valuers to gather information supporting credit decisions.
- Deliver excellent service to customers, brokers, and Relationship Managers, building strong relationships aligned with Bank values.
- Ensure compliance with all mandatory policies and credit procedures to maintain internal controls.
- Develop MI and KPI indicators and reporting to track mortgage processing pipeline.
- Identify and own improvements for the Bank and team, demonstrating appropriate values and behaviour.
The Bank offers flexible and hybrid working arrangements, full onboarding and development support, pension contributions, discretionary bonus, private health cover, life assurance, and family-friendly policies including enhanced maternity and paternity leave.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Exposure and knowledge of underwriting with experience in the SME sector; understanding of competitor landscape and SME market dynamics and trends.
- Excellent credit and financial analysis skills, including analysis of financial accounts, budgets, and cashflow forecasting.
- Understanding of the loan underwriting process and associated risks; ability to assess applications within personal discretion and make commercial decisions.
- Experience escalating and presenting at Credit Committee level and managing arrears.
- Strong analytical, verbal, and written communication skills.
- Ability to build strong relationships with internal stakeholders (distribution, operations, senior management) and third-party suppliers (intermediaries, valuers, solicitors).
- Understanding and compliance with all regulatory requirements, internal policies, procedures, guidelines, risks, controls, and service levels.
- Good understanding of TCF (Treating Customers Fairly), AML, KYC, and Conduct risk.
