Senior Mortgage Underwriter

About the role

The Senior Mortgage Underwriter is responsible for independently underwriting, approving, and presenting complex and higher-risk residential mortgage loan applications. This role serves as a subject-matter expert for complex underwriting scenarios and provides guidance to underwriters and lending team members.

Responsibilities

• Analyzes borrower income, creditworthiness, assets, and collateral for complex and higher-risk residential mortgage loan applications.
• Underwrites applications in accordance with bank policy, regulatory requirements, secondary market guidelines, and other third-party guidelines.
• Approves, approves with conditions, or denies mortgage applications within assigned authority limits.
• Reviews and analyzes income, asset, appraisal reports, and other supporting documentation for accuracy, adequacy, and compliance.
• Identifies, evaluates, and documents compensation factors, layered risk, and policy exceptions as appropriate.
• Prepares clear, well documented underwriting decisions to support audit, quality control, and regulatory examination requirements.
• Serves as resource for complex underwriting scenarios providing technical guidance to lending and processing teams.
• Collaborates with the Underwriting Manager regarding pipeline oversight, loan assignment, reporting, and exception tracking, as requested.
• Collaborates with internal team members, closing attorneys, and appraisers, and other third parties to ensure loan files are complete and ready for closing.
• Reviews and provides builder approval recommendations, construction advance schedules and draw requests.
• Participates in quality control reviews and completes audit and compliance activities for the residential lending portfolio as assigned by management.
• Maintains knowledge of changes in underwriting guidelines and regulatory requirements to ensure compliance.

Requirements

• Proven experience in residential mortgage underwriting, including proficiency with Fannie Mac, Fannie Mae, FHA, and/or VA guidelines.
• Exceptional organizational and analytical skills with a meticulous attention to detail, particularly in reviewing complex financial documentation and borrower profiles.
• Strong passion for helping people in the community, applying ethical, sound judgement, to help qualified applicants achieve homeownership.
• Refined communication and customer service skills to clearly convey complex credit decisions and collaborate effectively with loan officers and processors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience required.
• 6 years of mortgage underwriting or related mortgage experience required.
• Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS) license or ability to obtain within the first 30 days required.
• Designations such as Direct Endorsement (DE) and/or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Lender Appraisal Processing Program (VA LAPP) preferred.

Skills

• Strong problem solving, organizational and analytical skills; ability to extract and interpret information from multiple sources.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal; comfortable communicating with customers, co-workers, management, and other stakeholders.
• Thorough knowledge of underwriting, mortgage products, and current lending regulations.
• Knowledge of Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) program guidelines preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook) as well as department specific systems and software.
• Excellent organizational, attention to detail, and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks and consistently meet established deadlines.
• Ability to provide thorough income analysis, which includes reviewing self-employment income for all business structures.

Benefits

We offer a pleasant, inclusive work environment, career development opportunities, and competitive compensation. Through our total rewards program, we offer a comprehensive benefits package featuring:

• Competitive compensation including potential bonus and incentives as well as paid vacation, sick time, and holidays.
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance and Flexible Spending Plan.
• Multiple retirement plans including: 401(k), Pension, and Employee Stock Ownership.
• Education and Tuition Reimbursement.
• Employee Assistance Program for our employees and their immediate family members.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $65,000 - $75,000 commensurate with experience and education. Additional compensation may be earned through the Company’s annual bonus program, subject to individual and company performance.

Schedule

This role is not a fully remote opportunity. The schedule is hybrid optional, but candidates must be able to easily commute to Glens Falls, New York for required office days.