Senior SME Underwriter - Lending & Portfolio Risk

Lovey; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Lovey in Birmingham is seeking a Senior Underwriter to join our credit team. This hands-on role goes beyond a deal: you’ll underwrite larger, more complex SME loans, monitor performance after funding, and influence how we lend.

You’ll work closely with the credit leadership team to shape lending practices as we grow, with a strong focus on data-driven decisions. This full-time, office-based position offers a competitive salary and clear progression.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years underwriting experience in SME or commercial lending.
• Experience lending to asset-heavy businesses such as construction, including contract-based revenue, retentions and work in progress.
• Hands-on portfolio monitoring: annual reviews, early warning indicators and managing deteriorating credits.
• Data-driven approach: confidence-building reports, spotting trends and explaining what they mean.
• Strong financial analysis skills, with the confidence to challenge numbers and assumptions.
• Clear written and verbal communication, including presenting to committee.

Responsibilities

• Underwrite SME loan applications end to end, including complex cases in asset-heavy sectors.
• Analyse financial statements, management accounts, Open Banking data, cash flow and forecasts to build an evidence-based view of affordability and risk.
• Understand how asset-heavy businesses really make and spend money: contract-based revenue, retentions and work in progress.
• Build and maintain portfolio reporting that tracks arrears, defaults and early warning indicators.
• Run vintage, cohort and segment analysis by sector, product and risk grade, and turn the findings into practical recommendations.
• Track underwriting decisions against expectations, including approval rates, overrides and loss rates.

Skills

Underwriting experience

Financial analysis

Portfolio monitoring

Data-driven approach

Communication skills

Risk assessment

Tools

SQL

Python

BI tools (ThoughtSpot)

Job description

Lovey in Birmingham is seeking a Senior Underwriter to join our credit team. This hands-on role goes beyond a deal: you’ll underwrite larger, more complex SME loans, monitor performance after funding, and influence how we lend.

You’ll work closely with the credit leadership team to shape lending practices as we grow, with a strong focus on data-driven decisions. This full-time, office-based position offers a competitive salary and clear progression.