US Mortgage Underwriter - Team Lead

Job Title : US Mortgage Underwriter - Team Lead

Experience : 5+ years

Location : Pune

Notice Period : Immediate to 30 days

Job Description :

Domain Expertise

• Solid working knowledge of All 4C's: Income, Credit, Collateral, and Capital

• Proficiency in calculating all income types: Salaried, Self-Employed (1084/1120S/K-1), and Other Income

• Hands-on experience underwriting Purchase, Refinance, and Construction loans

• Strong working knowledge of Agency Guidelines (Fannie Mae DU / Freddie Mac LPA)

• Ability to evaluate full loan files and render Approve / Suspend / Counter-offer decisions

• Reviewing appraisals for valuation accuracy, comparables, and property conditions

• Identifying red flags across credit reports, title, title insurance, and closing documents

• Working knowledge of overlays, exception management, and investor-specific guidelines.

Technical Competencies

• Act as the primary quality checkpoint for the team before files are delivered

• Perform pre-delivery QC on a defined sample of loans; track error trends by underwriter

• Serve as the first escalation point for complex income calculations, guideline interpretation, and creditexceptions

• Stay current on FNMA/FHLMC guideline updates; cascade changes to the team through structuredbriefings

• Identify recurring error patterns and drive targeted retraining or process correction

• Maintain working knowledge of LOS/workflow tools used by the team (e.g., Encompass, CLUES, DU/LPfindings)

Leadership Competencies

• Lead daily floor operations: assign queues, monitor progress, and clear blockers in real time

• Conduct structured daily huddles covering targets, quality flags, and guideline reminders

• Monitor individual and team utilization; redistribute workload to prevent bottlenecks

• Maintain a positive and energized team environment; address interpersonal issues promptly

• Set clear daily/weekly output expectations aligned to SLA targets set by the AM

• Escalate people and process risks to the AM with proposed solutions, not just problems.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Support the AM on client calls; own responses to day-to-day client queries on file status

• Ensure all client-facing deliverables are accurate, complete, and on-time

• Represent team performance data accurately when called upon during client reviews

• Flag potential client-impacting issues (quality dips, volume spikes) to the AM proactively

Talent Management

• Train new hires through structured onboarding; ensure ramp targets are met

• Upskill existing staff through case-based coaching and guideline walkthroughs

• Provide daily constructive feedback; maintain a coaching log for each team member

• Flag underperformance patterns to the AM with documented observations

• Identify high-potential underwriters and recommend them for advancement to the AM

Operational Execution

• Manage daily queue allocation based on loan complexity and underwriter capability

• Track volume inventory in real time; alert AM when capacity thresholds are at risk

• Coordinate shift handovers with accurate file status and pending action notes

• Maintain daily productivity and quality trackers; submit consolidated report to AM

• Propose process improvements at floor level; pilot small-scale changes with AM approval Key

Behaviors & Attributes

• Technical credibility: earns team respect through deep underwriting expertise

• Accountability: owns team outcomes, not just personal output

• Coach mindset: invests time in making each team member better

• Attention to detail: zero-tolerance for quality defects in delivered files

• Proactive communication: surfaces issues early with facts and context

• Adaptability: adjusts approach during high-volume periods without loss of quality

Generic Skills

• Graduate degree; additional certification in mortgage underwriting preferred

• Excellent written & verbal English communication skills

• Strong analytical skills – ability to connect dots, spot red flags, and escalate early

• Independently handle business email communication and summarize key findings concisely

• High degree of professionalism, integrity, and initiative

• Proficiency in MS Excel for productivity tracking and basic MIS

• Seeks continuous learning; stays updated on mortgage regulation and guideline changes

• Flexible to work in shifts aligned to North American business hours.

Working Conditions

• Willingness to work on customer timings aligned to North America

• Consistently deliver assigned work within TAT with a focus on quality

• Ability to work overtime on weekdays and shift hours on Saturdays (on need basis)

• Flexible to work in rotating shifts