Chief Underwriter (Finance)

Role  

This position is an in-office position located in Topeka, Kansas.  Remote work only on an as needed basis. 

 The Chief Underwriter keeps underwriting standards consistent with managements lending philosophy and communicates them to loan underwriters and other loan department personnel. Answers any underwriting related questions from loan underwriters or other loan department personnel. Assists in training new underwriters. Reviews, evaluates, and then accepts or denies loan files using the approved Underwriting Standards as well as general FNMA and FHLMC underwriting guidelines to determine creditworthiness of the applicant. Is board approved at the highest level of authority in making loan decisions.
 

Essential Duties & Responsibilities  

• Continually monitors secondary market and private mortgage insurance activity and underwriting guidelines to determine if changes to Bank products, underwriting guidelines, corporate policy or insurance premiums may be required. Manages the private mortgage insurance relationships for the Bank.
• Manages all staff underwriters, including monitoring training requirements, reviewing and evaluating performance and recommends salary adjustments, promotions to higher underwriting levels, and other personnel related actions.
• Establishes general underwriting guidelines for correspondent purchase loans and coordinates software support for the underwriting process. Reviews, approves, or declines loan exception considerations and responds to inquiries regarding Bank underwriting guidelines from Correspondent Lenders.
• Prepares correspondent and retail origination loan files over $800,000 for ALCO and/or Board approval. Communicates decisions to appropriate party.
• Supervises personnel in Central Region. Responsible for hiring new Central Region loan employees. 
• Reviews and evaluates performance of subordinate personnel and recommends salary adjustments, promotions, discharges and other personnel related actions.
• Provides standard underwriting reviews for retail loan origination staff and correspondent lending as needed. Maintains and reviews underwriting exception log.
• Assists with prospective bulk purchase loan package reviews and credit quality audits. Manages credit vendor relationship for the Bank.
• Coordinates audits on loan files approved by the Automated Underwriting decision making tool, early delinquency file reviews, and periodic reviews of staff underwriter decisions. Assists with Bank response to Fair Lending exam and other examinations, as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Participate in proactive team efforts to achieve departmental and company goals.
• Must comply with current applicable laws, regulations and bank policies and procedures. Comply with all safety policies, practices and procedures. Report all unsafe activities to supervisor and/or Human Resources.

Requirements

• A college degree.
• Has a working knowledge of the organizations products, services, commercial loan policy, and of basic compliance and regulatory requirements for lending. Understands lending terms, forms and underwriting policies and procedures, including the approved underwriting standards and general guidelines issued by FNMA and FHLMC. Has experience interpreting loan file documentation, including personal and business tax returns, profit and loss statements and balance sheets.
• Is responsible for a width of information including but not limited to: the organizations current mortgage loan interest rates, commitment/rate lock/re-lock fee procedures, consumer loan products/rates/guidelines that are used in conjunction with Mortgage Lending (Execulines, second mortgage products, swing loans, land loans, etc.), Bankpro loan origination software system, and Easy Lender consumer loan software.
• The ability to motivate or influence others is a critical part of the job, requiring a significant level of diplomacy, influence and trust. Obtaining cooperation internally or externally from a senior level, as well as frequent material presentations are important keys to successfully fulfilling the responsibilities of this position.

 

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c) Underwriting