Underwriting Team Leader

Unico Recruitment London; Borehamwood; On-site; GBP 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

Unico Recruitment London is seeking an Underwriting Team Leader for bridging and development lending in Borehamwood. You will lead a team handling bridging, refurbishment and development finance cases to drive quality and efficiency in a fast-growing lender.

You will act as a senior decision-maker on complex applications, collaborating with credit, operations and senior management to streamline processes and maintain exceptional service levels as the business scales.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in property-based lending—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.
• Please note: candidates from an insurance underwriting background will not be suitable for this role.

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, 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.

Skills

Underwriting Leadership

Property Finance

Risk Assessment

Due Diligence

Mentoring

Process Improvement

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 your 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.


• Please 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.