Lead Credit Underwriter

Watercress Financial Group LLC; West Des Moines (IA); Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 86,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Competitive pay

Job summary

Watercress Financial Group LLC seeks a Lead Consumer Underwriter to oversee residential home improvement loan adjudication and mentor a high-volume underwriting team. You will drive analytical reviews, support contractors, and ensure policy compliance across the Risk department in a fast-paced production environment.

The role emphasizes leadership, coaching, and process improvement to deliver accurate credit decisions while maintaining regulatory standards and quality assurance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, with finance/business focus preferred.
• 7+ years in underwriting, with home improvement or residential lending preferred.
• At least 2 years in a leadership/supervisory role focusing on mentorship.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to train and develop team performance.
• Knowledge of lending regulations and industry trends.

Responsibilities

• Lead underwriting and adjudication of consumer home improvement loans.
• Mentor and coach underwriting and contractor support teams.
• Lead quality assurance and documentation of underwriting processes.
• Collaborate across risk, audits, and policy development to address risk trends.

Skills

Leadership experience

Underwriting experience

Residential lending

Analytical skills

Policy compliance

Communication skills

Excel proficiency

Time management

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Excel

Microsoft Office

Job description

Description

We are seeking an experienced individual to join our dynamic team within the home improvement financing sector as a Lead Consumer Underwriter. This elevated role combines the analytical rigor of consumer credit underwriting with the leadership qualities needed to guide and enhance our underwriting team's capabilities. The individual will be a source of support for the entire Risk department, including Underwriters, Contractor Support Specialists, and blended roles. The selected candidate will be instrumental in overseeing the adjudication of residential home improvement loans, providing expert analysis, providing support to contractors, and leading the credit team through mentorship and quality assurance. The ideal candidate will bring a blend of analytical expertise and leadership background to ensure our underwriting processes are both efficient and effective, supporting our mission to offer superior home improvement financing solutions in a high-volume production environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Credit Underwriting & Analysis: Perform in-depth credit analysis and adjudication for consumer credit applications, ensuring compliance with company policies. Handle complex cases and provide guidance on escalated issues from team members.
• Team Leadership & Development: Serve as a mentor and coach for the underwriting and contractor support teams fostering skill development in credit analysis, risk assessment, and policy compliance. Act in a supervisory capacity, promoting a culture of high performance and continuous improvement.
• Quality Assurance & Policy Documentation: Lead quality assurance efforts, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of underwritten loans. Participate in creation and maintenance of underwriting procedures and documentation, contributing to system testing and enhancements.
• Operational Collaboration: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify risk trends, participate in audits, and support system and process improvements. Provide strategic input on credit policies and practices to adapt to changing market conditions.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, with a preference for backgrounds in finance, business, or related fields.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in underwriting, with a strong preference for expertise in the home improvement or residential lending sector.
• At least 2 years in a leadership or supervisory role, with proven ability to train, mentor, and enhance team performance.
• Exceptional analytical, organizational, and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Proven ability to manage time effectively and work both independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of lending regulations, compliance standards, and industry trends in home financing.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and other Microsoft Office applications
• Ability to work independently and within a team.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities, with a keen attention to detail.
• Superior time management and organizational skills, capable of managing high-volume workloads in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team.
• Broad industry knowledge, particularly in home improvement lending, with a continuous drive for learning and improvement.

DETAILS

• Hybrid environment available.
• Schedule will be Tuesday - Friday 230PM - 11PM, Saturday 10AM - 630PM.
• Pay based on experience, starting at $35/hour.
• Up to 7.5% of annual salary paid out on a monthly basis, based upon performance, after the first 90 days of employment.