Head of Underwriting

Hours Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm(35 hours per week)

Interview

• There will be two interview stages in the week commencing 4 May 2026,held in our head office.
• Feedback will be provided regardless of outcome.

Please note:We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any point.

We are looking for an experienced, values-led leader to take on a high impact role within our mortgage lending function. Reporting to the Director of Customer Service, you will be responsible for credit risk oversight, the application of lending policy, and ensuring consistent, high quality mortgage underwriting.

You will work closely with Executive colleagues and play an active role in Credit Committee, providing insight, assurance and constructive challenge to support good and sustainable outcomes for both customers and intermediaries.

You will thrive in this role if you balance commercial judgement with responsible risk management, and bring confident, values-driven leadership along with deep expertise in credit risk and mortgage lending. You'll communicate clearly and credibly with senior stakeholders and committees, build trusted relationships, and lead with clarity, integrity and accountability.

You will also join a supportive and collaborative team where ideas are welcomed, expertise is valued and autonomy is encouraged. This highly visible senior role offers a significant opportunity to influence the Society's mortgage lending proposition and shape the future of our credit strategy.

If this sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you.

• Leading the application of our lending policy, ensuring alignment with MCOB and wider regulatory expectations.
• Monitoring credit and conduct risks, using MI to spot trends, emerging risks and opportunities.
• Recommending changes to lending policy and processes based on market, regulatory and portfolio insights.
• Driving operational effectiveness, consistency and quality across underwriting and valuation activity.
• Overseeing key third party relationships linked to underwriting and valuation services.
• Championing continuous improvement of lending processes and the customer and intermediary journey.
• Embedding a strong risk culture and delivering excellent customer outcomes.
• Leading, developing and empowering underwriters to perform at their best.

• Strong understanding of credit risk management and able to make sound underwriting decisions.
• Proven experience leading underwriting, credit or mortgage servicing teams.
• Sound knowledge of the external property and mortgage market, and regulatory framework.
• Ability to interpret MI and provide clear, proportionate recommendations.

• Existing or recent senior leadership role in a bank or building society.
• Experience contributing to senior level committees.
• Exposure to specialist lending (e.g. lending in/into retirement or shared ownership).

We want to help you develop - we are accredited by the Financial Services National College for the quality of our learning and development practices. No matter your role, there will be opportunities to take on new responsibilities and be involved in projects to further your career.

We want to look after and reward you - you will receive a generous holiday allowance, contributory stakeholder pension scheme, access to wellbeing programmes, and your birthday off.

We care about our communities - as well as providing financial services, we get involved in supporting local charities and people. This means regular opportunities to volunteer, fundraise, and help with community events and activities. All employees also receive two paid days of volunteering every year to help causes they feel passionately about.

The salary offered is dependent on evidence of key competencies and skills you currently have. Newbury Building Society pride themselves on recruiting for potential so if you do not meet all of the criteria in terms of knowledge, experience and skills, you will benefit from learning and development opportunities to enable you to work towards the top of the salary range. This will be via ongoing feedback from your line manager and assessment of your progression against all the criteria.