Underwriting Team Leader

Nouvo Recruitment; Borehamwood; On-site; GBP 68,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A respected property finance firm seeks an experienced Underwriting Team Leader to manage a team focused on bridging and development finance. As the team leader, you will be responsible for maintaining underwriting standards, supporting operational efficiency, and coaching underwriters. This role offers a dynamic culture with excellent career progression opportunities. Candidates should have strong experience in property-based lending and risk assessment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in property-based lending—specifically bridging, development, or specialist real-estate finance.
• Strong understanding of risk assessment, due diligence, legal processes, and property-backed security.
• Prior experience coaching or managing underwriters (or ready to take a step up).

Responsibilities

• Manage and mentor a team of underwriters handling bridging, refurbishment and development finance cases.
• Act as a senior decision-maker on complex or higher-value applications.
• Ensure underwriting standards and risk controls remain robust.

Skills

Risk assessment

Property-based lending

Coaching or managing underwriters

Commercial mindset

Job description

Underwriting Team Leader – Property Finance (Bridging & Development Lending)

Location: Borehamwood

Salary: Up to £80,000

Are you an experienced underwriting professional with a strong background in bridging and short term property finance? Do you have the leadership skills to guide and develop a high-performing underwriting function within a fast-growing lender? If so, this could be the perfect next step in your career.

I'm currently supporting a well-established and highly respected property investment and lending business that is continuing to expand its specialist finance offering. With a strong pipeline, an ambitious leadership team, and a reputation for delivering quick, commercial decisions, they are now looking for an Underwriting Team Leader to drive quality, efficiency, and consistency across their underwriting operations.

The Role:

• Manage and mentor a team of underwriters handling bridging, refurbishment and development finance cases.
• Act as a senior decision-maker on complex or higher-value applications.
• Ensure underwriting standards, SLAs, and risk controls remain robust while supporting a fast-paced environment.
• Work closely with credit, operations, BDMs and senior management to streamline processes and maintain exceptional service levels.
• Support continuous improvement across the underwriting function as the business scales.

About You:

• Proven experience in property-based lending—specifically bridging, development or specialist real‑estate finance.
• Strong understanding of risk assessment, due diligence, legal processes and property-backed security.
• Prior experience coaching or managing underwriters (or ready to take a step up).
• A commercial mindset with the ability to balance speed and quality.
• Note: candidates from an insurance underwriting background will not be suitable for this role.

Why Apply?

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a dynamic lender where your expertise will genuinely shape the underwriting function. You'll be part of a collaborative culture where decisions are made quickly, ideas are welcomed, and progression is actively supported.

If you're ready to lead an underwriting team within a thriving property‑finance environment, I'd be delighted to discuss the role further. Please apply online or contact Laura Richards at Nouvo Recruitment.