Temporary Sr. Mortgage Underwriter

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Senior Mortgage Underwriter to support a state government housing and community development program. This position is responsible for reviewing and evaluating residential mortgage loan files to determine eligibility, creditworthiness, compliance, and overall lending risk.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive underwriting reviews of residential mortgage loan applications and supporting documentation.
• Analyze borrower income, employment, assets, liabilities, credit history, debt-to-income ratios, and other financial information to determine loan eligibility.
• Review loan files for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with established underwriting and program guidelines.
• Evaluate credit reports, income documentation, bank statements, tax returns, appraisals, title documentation, and other supporting materials.
• Determine whether applicants meet applicable loan program and eligibility requirements.
• Approve, suspend, condition, or recommend denial of loan files based on underwriting findings and established guidelines.
• Identify missing, inconsistent, or potentially problematic documentation and communicate conditions necessary for loan approval.
• Review documentation submitted to satisfy underwriting conditions and determine whether requirements have been met.
• Ensure underwriting decisions comply with applicable federal and state regulations, fair lending requirements, internal policies, and program guidelines.
• Maintain accurate and thorough documentation supporting underwriting decisions.
• Work closely with loan processors, lenders, closing staff, program personnel, and other stakeholders to resolve loan-level issues.
• Monitor assigned loan files to help ensure established processing and closing timelines are met.
• Research and resolve complex underwriting questions and loan eligibility issues.
• Provide guidance and technical assistance regarding underwriting requirements, documentation standards, and program policies.
• Assist with quality-control reviews and identify documentation or compliance issues that may require corrective action.
• Maintain confidentiality of borrower financial, personal, and loan information.
• Stay current on changes to mortgage lending regulations, underwriting standards, and applicable housing program requirements.
• Perform additional underwriting, administrative, and program-related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, Real Estate, or a related field and professional mortgage underwriting experience; OR an equivalent combination of education and significant professional experience in mortgage lending, underwriting, loan processing, or financial services.
• Several years of progressively responsible residential mortgage underwriting experience, including experience independently reviewing and making decisions on complex loan files.

Skills

• Strong knowledge of residential mortgage underwriting principles and practices.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze credit, income, assets, liabilities, and borrower financial documentation.
• Knowledge of mortgage loan documentation and the residential loan lifecycle.
• Understanding of federal and state mortgage lending regulations and compliance requirements.
• Ability to interpret underwriting guidelines, policies, procedures, and program requirements.
• Strong analytical and risk-assessment skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage a high-volume loan pipeline while meeting established deadlines.
• Ability to identify discrepancies and resolve complex documentation issues.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound professional judgment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Experience working with mortgage loan origination, underwriting, document management, or related financial systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years of residential mortgage underwriting experience.
• Previous experience as a Senior Mortgage Underwriter or in a comparable senior-level underwriting role.
• Experience underwriting conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, or other residential mortgage products.
• Experience with affordable housing, down payment assistance, first-time homebuyer, or government-sponsored mortgage programs.
• Knowledge of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac underwriting guidelines.
• Experience using automated underwriting systems such as Desktop Underwriter (DU) and Loan Product Advisor (LPA).
• Experience reviewing complex income scenarios, including self-employed borrowers.
• Previous experience in a government, public-sector, housing finance, or highly regulated lending environment.
• Experience performing quality-control or compliance reviews of mortgage loan files.

Pay

$37.50 per hour

Schedule

Monday – Friday (temporary until further notice)