Underwriter (Loans)

Location: Based in our Dalston office with flexibility to WFH

Reporting to: Underwriting Team Leader

Contract: Permanent, full-time (you may be required to work up to 2 Saturdays per month)

About Fair Finance

Fair Finance is a social business with ambitious plans to revolutionise financial services to give everyone a fair chance. Our vision is to scale our alternative to the high-cost lending market and help reduce financial exclusion across the UK.

Over the last twenty years Fair Finance has helped over a hundred thousand people escape the clutches of high-cost money lenders, start businesses or avoid eviction. Our work has helped influence Government policy and legislation, as well as demonstrate how purpose and profit can work together to change the financial system for the better.

About the role

We are looking for a Loan Underwriter with experience of working in a regulated financial services organisation. The successful candidate will want to work in a fast-paced environment in the non-profit sector and make a difference to our clients.

The Underwriter will be responsible for making lending decisions directly and autonomously, assessing personal loan applications coming from our clients. Their primary goal will be to ensure that we lend responsibly and affordably to our clients.

The successful candidate will join a team of skilled underwriters from whom they’ll be able to learn. This is a challenging role which requires good organisational skills and the ability to analyse large amounts of data.

The role will give you the opportunity to work in a social business that puts clients before profits and is focused on making a difference for individuals who lack access to fair financial services.

About you

You will be eager work for a changemaking organisation to help those who are excluded by traditional lenders. You will bring your experience working in a regulated financial services organisation and ability to analyse complex information to contribute to the underwriting team.

You will be at an advantage when applying for this position if you have experience in underwriting, loan administration or client management.

You will have high attention to detail as well as demonstrating accountability, diligence and integrity at all times. You will also have a high level of computer literacy and the ability to work across several systems.

Key Responsibilities:

Lending decisions / underwriting

• Review financial information and documents and assess them against our policies and procedures.

• As necessary, discuss with clients to better understand their financial situation and ensure that we are lending fairly and responsibly.

• Make recommendations or direct lending decisions, depending on training and experience.

• Work towards achieving our business targets, both in terms of quantity but also quality and compliance.

Loan administration and client support

• Provide clients with prompt and clear information about their application and support them to complete their application.

Responsible lending and compliance

• Ensure that all loan decisions are compliant and meet our responsible lending criteria.

• Keep up to date with changing policies and procedures.

Any other duties as required by the Company that are commensurate with the position.

Skills and Experience:

• A desire to work in the non-profit sector and make a difference for our clients.

• A desire to work in a fast-paced environment and bring your energy and passion to our team.

• Experience of working in a regulated financial services organisation, ideally in an underwriting role, loan administration or client management.

• The ability to analyse complex information.

• High attention to detail.

• Demonstrate accountability, diligence and integrity at all times.

• A high level of computer literacy and the ability to work across several systems.

This job description may be amended from time to time to reflect the changing needs of the business.

Why work for Fair Finance?

• Fair Finance is a social business with ambitious plans.

• We have demonstrated how purpose and profit can work together to change the financial system for the better.

• We believe in employing, growing and building around exceptional people who share our values.

• We have created an environment where you can genuinely put clients before profits and make a difference to our clients’ lives.

• We will provide you with a supportive workplace surrounded by peers who want you to do well, with responsibility to make a real difference in the organisation and the opportunity to thrive and make the role your own.

• We are a diverse organisation full of people who understand the balance between achieving business objectives and our social mission.

• Our Head Office is in a shared workspace in Dalston, housing creative businesses, social enterprises and charities.

• Hybrid working and work practice flexibility is offered.

Employee Benefits

• An additional paid day off for your birthday.

• Staff receive an additional 'WFH allowance' to allow even greater location flexibility.

• Private Health Insurance.

• Perkbox access for a wide range of discounts.

• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).

• 3% matching contribution towards a stakeholder pension.