Mortgage Underwriter

Job Description

What will your ‘typical’ day look like? Different that’s for sure…:

Our Mortgage Underwriting team plays a critical role in delivering fair, transparent, and efficient lending for our customers. As a Mortgage Underwriter, you won’t just process applications - you’ll be the ultimate owner of case assessments, driving balanced lending decisions and ensuring “the buck stops with you.” We’re looking for an individual who thrives on problem-solving, is meticulous in investigation, and comfortable making clear decisions within policy and risk appetite.

This is a dynamic role where your expertise directly impacts both our business objectives and our commitment to an exceptional customer journey.

What you’ll be doing:

• Own Lending Decisions: Primarily responsible for reviewing and underwriting new residential mortgage applications, further advances, account reviews, and loan modifications within your mandated authority.
• Masterful Assessment: Underwrite in line with Atom’s lending policy, applying principles of credit assessment models (e.g., CAMPARI) and ensuring adherence to Conduct Risk, TCF, Responsible Lending, and all relevant regulatory principles (e.g., MCOB, MCD, KYC, KYB, AML).
• Investigate & Problem Solve: Manage your own caseload, investigate applications, handle underwriting queries, and resolve issues on individual cases to ensure effective and timely processing.
• Clear Communication: Interact effectively via digital channels and face-to-face with a variety of stakeholders, including brokers, customers, valuers, and internal teams, to gather information, explain decisions, and maintain productive relationships.
• Drive Quality & Improvement: Ensure all applications are complete and accurate, manage personal and team KPIs, and proactively identify improvements to underwriting systems, policies, and processes.

What’s the process?

• Competency-Based Assessment (completed under supervision).
• First Stage Interview.
• Second Stage Interview with the Head of Department.

What do we need from you?

• Experience in residential mortgage lending is essential.
• Experience holding a commercial or residential lending mandate, or a proven track record in making mortgage application assessments and decisions.
• A strong understanding of mortgage regulation including MCOB, Consumer Duty, KYC, AML, CDD, Responsible Lending, TCF, and FCA thematic reviews.
• A natural problem solver and critical thinker, able to investigate applications thoroughly and come to clear decisions autonomously based on the available information and your expertise.
• Strong verbal and non-verbal communication skills, with the ability to deliver challenging messages effectively to a variety of stakeholders.
• A ‘go-getter’ who is proactive, highly adaptable, flexible, and comfortable taking ownership of cases. You’ll possess the confidence and assertive, pragmatic approach to exercise judgment and discretion where appropriate.
• CeMAP qualification is preferable but not essential.

What you’ll get from us:

• Flexible hybrid working.
• Salary dependant on experience
• 4-day work week
• Incredibly generous company pension scheme (maximum of 13% of Atom input – you can put in more)
• ‘All About Me’ fund: £200 per year to spend on personal development.
• 22.5 days annual leave plus public holidays
• Private Medical Insurance, Health Cash Plan & Life Insurance
• Electric Vehicle Scheme

PLEASE NOTE: You must have the legal right to work in the UK to apply for this role as Atom is unable to support Visa Applications/Sponsorship

Atom is an equal opportunities employer. We value you as an individual and therefore disregard race, religion/belief, gender, sexual orientation, maternity/pregnancy, age, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership and disability in any hiring decisions we make. Atom will always adhere to the Equality Act 2010.

All roles within Atom must adhere to the Conduct Rules as set out by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

As part of Atom bank’s commitment to the FCA’s Consumer Duty, Atom will, take all reasonable steps to avoid causing foreseeable harm to customers, take all reasonable steps to enable customers to pursue their financial objectives and act in good faith.