Mortgage Underwriter (Bridging)

monument.co; City of London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A challenger bank is seeking a senior Mortgage Underwriter in London to manage complex loans in specialist property finance. You will lead underwriting decisions, conduct thorough audits, and collaborate with key partners. A successful candidate will have significant experience in UK mortgage underwriting and Bridging finance, with excellent analytical and communication skills. This role offers a hybrid working model, requiring 2 days per week in the office.

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of UK mortgage underwriting and significant lending mandate (e.g., £500,000+).
• Proven expertise in underwriting Bridging finance, including complex security and exit strategies.
• Demonstrable experience with loans over £5m and understanding of the mortgage lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary contact for lender partners, making underwriting decisions.
• Conduct due diligence on loan acquisitions ensuring compliance with risk appetite.
• Perform quality assurance on purchased loans, auditing credit decisions and eligibility.

Skills

UK mortgage underwriting

Bridging finance

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Job description

Job Description

Mortgage Underwriter – Bridging

Location: London (Oxford Circus)

Hybrid: 2 days per week in the office

About Monument

We’re a challenger bank with a bold ambition: to transform the financial experience of the mass affluent – an incredibly valuable community that has been underserved for far too long. We’re inviting the mass affluent to join a growing mindset that believes there’s more to wealth than money. And we are dedicated to providing a service experience that leaves clients in no doubt that we treat their wealth with the same care, dedication, and thoughtfulness as if it were our own.

“I’m looking for something unrealistic – an organisation that looks after my money as if it were their own.” – Monument Client (ex-Barclays Premier, HNW profile)

Role

We are seeking a highly experienced and meticulous Senior Underwriter to join our dynamic Credit Portfolio Management team. This pivotal role is central to the management and acquisition of our Forward Flow loan portfolios from key lender partners, with a significant focus on specialist property finance.

You will act as a subject matter expert, particularly in Bridging Finance, taking responsibility for approving loan purchases, co‑underwriting complex and high‑value transactions (over £5m), and performing quality assurance audits. This is a fantastic opportunity for a seasoned underwriter to apply their deep credit knowledge, manage key partner relationships, and contribute directly to the quality and performance of our growing loan book.

How You'll Make an Impact

• Underwriting & Credit Assessment:
  • Serve as a primary point of contact for our lender partners, providing expert guidance and making decisive underwriting decisions on Forward Flow loan purchases.
  • Conduct thorough due diligence on proposed loan acquisitions, ensuring every transaction aligns with our credit policy, risk appetite, and responsible lending principles.
  • Co‑underwrite, providing recommended approval to Head of Credit Portfolio Management or Chief Risk Officer on large and complex loans exceeding £5m, with a particular focus on bridging, BTL portfolio, and commercial real estate (CRE) facilities.
  • Analyse and adjudicate on exceptions and policy variances, structuring solutions that balance commercial opportunities with prudent risk management.
  • Review potential back‑book purchases, effectively underwriting the loan to ensure it meets eligibility criteria and risk appetite.
• Quality Assurance & Portfolio Management:
  • Perform detailed quality assurance checks by re‑underwriting a sample of purchased loans, focusing on validating the original credit decision, security, eligibility criteria, and viability of the stated exit strategy for bridging loans.
  • Provide clear, constructive, and timely feedback to lender partners based on audit findings to ensure continuous improvement and alignment with our standards.
  • Manage the active loan book, including arrears monitoring, statement requests, loan variations, and restructuring.
• Stakeholder & Partner Collaboration:
  • Work seamlessly with internal teams, including Treasury, Finance, and Regulatory Reporting, to ensure the smooth and timely purchase of loans and release of funds.
  • Assist in the due diligence process for onboarding new forward flow partners, critically reviewing their credit policies and operational processes.
  • Liaise effectively with external stakeholders, including lender partners, solicitors, valuers, and brokers, to resolve queries and ensure transactions proceed efficiently.
• Risk, Compliance & Reporting:
  • Ensure all underwriting and portfolio activities strictly adhere to Monument’s credit risk policies, as well as AML, CTF, and fraud prevention protocols.
  • Assist in the production of Credit Risk MI, providing insightful analysis on the existing loan book and new acquisitions.
  • Maintain an up‑to‑date, expert knowledge of all applicable regulations (FCA, MCOB, etc.) and demonstrate unwavering adherence to internal policies and procedures.

We’re Looking For Someone With:

• Advanced knowledge of UK mortgage underwriting, with experience holding a significant lending mandate (e.g., £500,000+).
• Proven, deep expertise in underwriting Bridging finance is essential. This must include experience with regulated and unregulated loans, complex security structures, assessing refurbishment costs, and validating credible exit strategies (e.g., sale, refinance).
• Significant experience in other areas of specialist lending, including Buy‑to‑Let (for portfolio landlords, HMOs, MUFBs) and Commercial Real Estate (CRE).
• Demonstrable experience underwriting large and complex loans with facilities of £5m and above.
• A comprehensive understanding of the UK mortgage intermediary market and the entire mortgage lifecycle.
• Strong analytical skills with a proactive, solution‑oriented approach and exceptional attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate complex decisions clearly and logically to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work autonomously under pressure, manage a demanding pipeline, and meet tight deadlines.
• A thorough understanding of TCF principles, responsible lending, vulnerability indicators, and the regulatory landscape.

Values

Our culture and values align with our mission to truly understand and offer exceptional service to our clients. The Monument team are all here because we are passionate about building so much more than a bank. We want to be renowned for giving people a service experience that leaves them in no doubt that we appreciate what their time and lives are worth.

We will be known for our integrity, attentiveness, sense of community and innovation. We build strong relationships through trust and a keen eye for detail. Our commitment and collaboration delivers an attentive and outstanding service offering. All combined with our community, both internal and external, our approach to diversity and our pursuit for innovation, we will help our clients and colleagues to do more and be more.