Job Description
Senior Development Finance Underwriter
London (4 days office / 1 day WFH)
Exceptional salary depending on experience
A highly exciting opportunity has arisen with a new institutional-backed lender launching in London. Backed by significant funding from some of the world's largest banking institutions, this lender is entering the market with serious lending capacity and a bold growth strategy.
This is not simply a new entrant looking to disrupt the market; the ambition is far greater. With substantial capital and an experienced leadership team, the business is set to make a major impact on the UK property finance market.
For the right individual, this represents a rare opportunity to join at the beginning of the story, helping to build what is expected to become one of the most exciting and influential lenders in the sector.
The Role
As a Senior Development Finance Underwriter, you will play a key role in underwriting and structuring a broad range of property finance transactions across development finance, commercial bridging and investment lending.
You will work closely with the origination team to assess opportunities, structure facilities and present transactions to credit committee.
Key Responsibilities
- Underwrite ground-up development finance transactions across residential, mixed-use and commercial schemes
- Assess light and heavy refurbishment projects, including repositioning and value-add strategies
- Underwrite commercial bridging loans secured against a wide range of commercial property assets
- Analyse transactions across sectors including:
Residential development
Mixed-use development
Commercial development (office, retail, industrial and logistics)
Commercial investment property
Healthcare assets including care homes
Agricultural assets including farms and rural estates
Leisure and hospitality assets such as holiday parks, holiday let businesses
- Review and assess:
Development appraisals
Build cost schedules
GDV and rental assumptions
Exit strategies including refinance or sale
- Conduct detailed borrower and sponsor analysis, including developer track record
- Review professional teams including contractors, monitoring surveyors and valuers
- Analyse loan-to-cost (LTC), loan-to-GDV (LTGDV) and loan-to-value (LTV) metrics
- Prepare detailed credit papers and present transactions to credit committee
- Work closely with legal advisers, valuers and monitoring surveyors
- Assist with portfolio monitoring and risk management
Requirements
- 6+ years' experience underwriting development finance transactions
- Experience within a specialist property lender, challenger bank or bridging lender
- Strong understanding of:
- Ground-up residential and commercial development
- Heavy and light refurbishment
- Commercial bridging finance
- Development appraisals and viability modelling
- Experience underwriting transactions typically £1m+
- Strong commercial judgement and credit risk awareness
- Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail
- Ability to operate with autonomy within a fast-growing lending platform
Why This Role?
This is an opportunity to join a lender at the start of an extraordinary growth journey.
With deep institutional funding and a leadership team with an exceptional track record, the business is poised to become one of the most dynamic platforms in the market.
For ambitious professionals who want to be recognised for their ability and play a part in building something truly significant, this role offers exceptional long-term career prospects.
