Underwriter

Collins Recruitment Group has partnered with a well-established Toronto based credit union in search of a new Mortgage Underwriter.

Job Overview

The Underwriter actively promotes full range of lending solutions, with emphasis on mortgages. The role is responsible for a senior lending approach to determining the credit worthiness of members (customers) based on established lending criteria. This includes managing broker relationships, originating new business, underwriting, and recommending lending applications for approval in an environment focused on operational and service excellence.

Major Duties & Responsibilities

Job Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Business Development: 

• Develop and strengthen internal and external relationships in a sales culture environment through networking/marketing with brokers, members, lawyers and represent the credit union at various industry related functions.
• Ensure regular contact with Mortgage Brokers. This may include visits and presentations at the Mortgage Brokers’ offices.
• Actively promote sales of existing lending products, up-sell and cross-sell their full range of lending solutions with a focus on residential mortgages.
• Introduce and train broker community on new mortgage offerings.
• Actively participate in all credit union campaigns.
• Maintain both a high personal profile and the reputation of the financial institution of choice amongst the Mortgage Broker community.
• Maintain sufficient sales call volumes to the Mortgage Brokers and Mortgage Agents to sustain assigned Target volumes.
• Work with reporting manager on marketing and business development initiatives.

Credit Review, Analysis, and Recommendation:

• Successfully contribute to the Residential Lending results, ensuring growth and profitability targets are being met.
• Evaluate, assess, and recommend complex residential mortgage and loan applications to Management by assessing customer’s credit history, collateral and income or ability to pay within established guidelines, policies and procedures.
• Evaluate credit risk in compliance with internal and external regulatory guidelines, apply a prudent lending approach to underwriting, ensure suitability of lending products to borrowers’/members’ circumstances.
• Negotiate, structure, and evaluate received mortgage applications according to internal policies.
• Responsible for the review of complex deals and higher risk credit analysis.
• Issue mortgage commitments with appropriate conditions.
• Ensure accurate record keeping and records retention to meet Company and regulatory standards.
• Identify, embrace and implement continuous improvement opportunities.
• Follow AML procedures on all files with an emphasis on “Know Your Member” rules.
• Adhere to compliance and operational risk controls in accordance with company’s policies and procedures.
• Manage portfolio risk by exercising consistent, objective and sound credit decisions, escalating with quality rationale to support recommendation where appropriate.
• Maintain minimum funded volumes as assigned.
• Effectively interact with Solicitors and Funding staff to ensure proper workflow and funding procedures.
• When required, interview loan and mortgage applicants, assist in the proper completion of credit applications, analyze financial information, assess credit, and make recommendations for approvals/declines.
• If Credit Limits have been issued, adhere to the approved Letter of Authority.
• Underwrite and maintain loan and mortgage applications submitted from retail branches and refinancing applications referred by the Retention team.

Leadership

• Lead by example to reflect company values, integrity, accountability, and respect for others.
• Act with honesty, take responsibility, and treat everyone with dignity.
• Inspire and motivate a positive work environment that encourages collaboration.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the competition, industry trends and market conditions.
• Serve as a mentor and embrace a culture of continuous on-the-job knowledge, sharing, learning and professional development.

Who Are We Looking For?

The successful candidate is someone who is experienced, passionate about the lending industry, has existing broker relationships and the ability to achieve assigned target volumes. Additionally, the candidate meets the following qualifications:

• 5+ years of retail credit adjudicating experience in the banking industry, with at least 2+ years of residential mortgage underwriting experience in the alternative mortgage lending space.
• Completion of post-secondary education in combination with relevant mortgage underwriting experience and job-related courses/education.
• Self-starter, self-motivated, creative and entrepreneurial with solid interpersonal & communication skills and an ability to work within a team environment.
• Strong English written & oral communication skills; excellent phone etiquette; proficiency in other languages an asset.
• Strong working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, Outlook.
• High degree of numerical competency.
• Strong focus on customer service excellence, organization, attention to detail and sense of urgency; ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Valid driver’s license with good driving record and access to a reliable vehicle on a regular basis.

Please respond with your cv directly to Stephanie Osbourne at sosbourne@collinsrecruit.com.