Underwriter

Have you ever wanted to work with start-up businesses? Ever fancied a career in finance? Have a logical brain and a strong eye for detail? Then this could be the perfect role for you. A Startup Loan is a government-backed personal loan available to individuals looking to start or grow a business in the UK.

We’re looking for an Underwriter to join our Growth Company Business Finance Team (GCBF). You’d spend the day talking to entrepreneurs, helping them to take their first steps into self-employment. Reviewing Business Plans and Financial documents, you are there to help the new business owner fine-tune their business planning tools in order to gain funding from the Startup Loans scheme.

You will work with the Underwriting Team Leader to meet loan delivery KPI’s (currently up to a value of £3.8m per annum) while ensuring the necessary credit parameters are maintained within the loan portfolio.

As an Underwriter you will be responsible for developing relationships with new and existing loan applicants, in order that the structure of any loan facility meets the demands of the entrepreneur and their start-up business.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build and manage a caseload of loan applicants, ensuring fast advancement to payaway, whilst maintaining high quality and integrity.
• Carry out holistic reviews of business planning documents to identify any discrepancies or potential barriers to market entry for the new business.
• Understanding key SME start-up challenges.
• Meeting/communicating with customers to assess loan applications.
• Where loan applicants need further support to develop the business plan, signpost clients to internal/external partners where appropriate.
• Provide a judgemental balanced loan recommendation to support/decline an application
• Record referrals on an internal system and develop reciprocity with partners.
• Ensure that all responsibilities under Treating Customers Fairly are adhered to and exceeded
• Predominantly assess and make judgemental lending recommendations to support/decline loan applications (currently up to a maximum value of £100,000) under the Start-Up Loans contract for new and eligible existing businesses.
• Undertake training to achieve delegated lending authority of £25k by the British Business Bank: ensuring that status is maintained throughout the contract.
• Communicate with Bank Managers, Accountants, and other Finance Professionals.
• Deliver on annual targets and maximise the profile of GCBF.

About You:

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Have a keen eye for detail and ability to demonstrate common sense approach.
• Strong written report writing.

Requirements:

• Whilst a background in lending is desirable, it is not essential, and we will offer all the training necessary to the right candidate.
• Judgemental lending background in a financial institution (desired).
• Proven track record of business assessment to support loan funding (desired).
• Financially astute, with a lending background (desired).
• Experience of IT and CRM systems an advantage.
• Ability to work with a wide range of partners at various levels.
• Able to work with a high volume of clients.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: Up to £29,300.00 per year

Benefits:

• Additional leave
• Casual dress
• Company events
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Life insurance
• Sick pay
• Wellness programme

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Holidays
• Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Manchester, M1 5JW: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Experience:

• Underwriting: 3 years (required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Manchester, M1 5JW

Application deadline: 03/03/2023
Reference ID: 3350