Underwriter III

Guild Mortgage Company, closing loans and opening doors since 1960, is dedicated to serving home owners and buyers. Our goal is to provide affordable home financing using the best terms available, while delivering professionalism and service unsurpassed in the lending industry.

About the role

The Underwriter III plays an important role by performing activities related to the company’s retail operations. This role is primarily responsible for underwriting conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, new construction, and condominium project loans according to company, secondary market investor, and government agency standards. Responsibilities include ensuring all tax, title, insurance, and closing documentation are accurate and complete, and approving or denying loan applications based on compliance with underwriting standards and risk management factors. The Underwriter III serves as the subject matter expert when the Lead/Supervisor/Manager is not available.

Responsibilities

• Review and evaluate loan documents to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with company standards, federal and agency guidelines, and state-specific or local regulations.
• Analyze customer’s loan-to-value ratio, debt-to-income ratio, credit report, application, income and assets, source(s) of down payment funds, and supporting documentation to identify potential fraud or misrepresentation.
• Review appraisals to ensure loans meet secondary market, investor, and company standards.
• Work with Loan Processors and Loan Officers to collect information and documentation necessary to finalize incomplete loan packages.
• Determine if additional documentation or information would aid loan decisions; request additional documentation accordingly.
• Provide options and recommendations to borrowers regarding suitable loan programs.
• Stay abreast of current regulations and industry trends affecting compliance and decision-making.
• Verify that system input is accurate and that company systems match Automated Underwriting System (AUS).
• Use expertise to answer questions and resolve escalated issues from junior-level teammates.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required; college courses or technical training related to Business, Finance/Accounting, or Legal is preferred.
• Five or more years of recent underwriting experience with conventional, FHA, VA, or Bond Program loans, and/or five or more years underwriting jumbo or permanent/one-time close loans.
• Direct Endorsement (DE) certification required; must have current certification(s) for any assigned region with state-specific requirements to originate/supervise loans, including Direct, VA, Auto, and SAR endorsements.
• Expert-level knowledge of mortgage lending processes, including underwriting, funding, and loan processing.
• Expert-level knowledge of valid documentation for processing consumer mortgage applications (e.g., tax returns, financial statements, verification of income and deposits).
• Detailed knowledge of underwriting and regulatory requirements, including federal, state, and internal processes and controls.
• Ability to think critically, evaluate facts and data, and assess downstream impacts of decisions and risks.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a deadline-driven environment; strong sense of urgency and responsiveness.
• Intermediate math skills and strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong detail orientation and highly organized.

Supervision

• Intermittent to infrequent supervision required, depending on experience.
• Moderate to high levels of independent judgment and discretion; resolves escalated issues of high complexity.
• May provide guidance to less experienced teammates.
• Possible 1 indirect report.

Physical Requirements

• Work is primarily sedentary; occasionally walks and/or stands.
• Frequent use of computer keyboard and mouse.
• Ability to accurately interpret sounds and meanings at conversational volume.
• Regularly required to accurately perceive, distinguish, and interpret visual and audio information (e.g., words, numbers, data).
• Office environment – no substantial exposure to adverse conditions.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Life insurance and AD&D.
• Long-term disability (LTD).
• 401(k) with employer match.

Pay

Target salary range: $90,000.00 per year.