FHA DE Mortgage Underwriter

FHA DE Mortgage Underwriter

Exempt – Grade Level 8

Equal Employment Opportunity 

Corporate Values & Mission

“Provide superior service, quality advice and show our utmost respect to everyone we meet.”

General Summary

The Underwriter is responsible for the overall underwriting quality of mortgage loan production. This is a leadership role where maintaining focus on producing quality loans while supporting pro-growth initiatives is necessary. The Underwriter will need to stay abreast of the most up-to-date underwriting guidelines and loan programs from Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, Rural Housing, MSHDA and various investors to whom the bank sells loans, as well as provide flexible, common-sense underwriting that may from time to time require a business decision. It will be important that the Underwriter facilitate additional assistance from senior management when a business decision is required. Position will proactively develop, promote and train staff with FHA transactions

Reports To:  SVP Head of Loan Operations

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

· Provide fair and consistent underwriting decisions, based on factual information in the file without personal bias or judgment.

· FHA DE certification with experience in underwriting and delivery of FHA loan to various channels. 

· Experience with LOS systems as it relates to FHA lending. Will help with product development and system controls. 

· Underwrite to Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, FHA, Rural Housing, MSHDA and investor guidelines, as well as requirements of various mortgage insurance providers, and adhere to bank policies and procedures and state and federal requirements.

· Follow Bank established Portfolio Guidelines. Noting and requesting approval for any exceptions falling outside of the program scope.

· Provide leadership in streamlining underwriting and documentation requirements, requiring only that information that is pertinent and necessary to make an underwriting decision. Care should be taken not to ask for excessive or unnecessary documentation; however, caution should be exercised in issuing conditional approvals where the approval could be rescinded based on additional information requested.

· Responsible for staying up to date on all new bank loan programs as well as secondary marketing underwriting guidelines.

· Maintain manual of loan programs, keeping information up-to-date and keeping staff aware of any changes to these programs or investor guidelines. Utilize email and Intranet to get information out to the staff on a consistent basis.

· Assist in the loan processing or closing areas as needed, providing support in making decisions or assisting occasionally with workflow as requested.

· Keep an open door to loan staff, giving helpful advice or training as needed, with the objective of helping the staff be able to be more knowledgeable to enhance the overall team capability.

· Conduct relationships in a manner that will enhance the overall marketing effort of the organization.

· Additional responsibilities as assigned.

· Be familiar with and comply with the provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act and USA PATRIOT Act as they relate to the functions of this position. Complete all required reports related to those acts and reports any observed violations or potential violations of those acts to a supervisor or other appropriate bank officer.

· Be familiar with and comply with all federal and state banking regulations as applicable.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an Individual in this position must be able to perform each of the above essential duties satisfactorily and exhibit the values of the Company. In addition, the requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.

Experience and/or Education

· High School Diploma or equivalent

· Minimum of two (2) years’ experience underwriting to the secondary market, with solid knowledge of Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, FHA, Rural Housing, MSHDA and other investor underwriting guidelines and loan programs.

· Excellent people skills as well as detail orientation. 

· Must have the ability to examine the details of a loan but still maintain an understanding of the loan’s overall merits.

· Flexible, dependable, and service-oriented

· Good organizational and communication skills. Excellent written and verbal skills

· Computer knowledge - Windows, Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, miscellaneous software applications (basic working knowledge)

· General Accounting Knowledge

· Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously

· Ability to meet established deadlines

Competencies 

Written and Oral Communication – Effective written and oral communication skills required, with the ability to interface with Internal and external stakeholders and community partners. Has group presentation skills.

Quality – Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; monitors own work and the work of others to ensure quality.

Analytical – Synthesizes complex and diverse information; collects and researches data; uses intuition and experience to complement data.

Technical Skills – Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; pursues training and development opportunities; strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; shares expertise with others. Has a thorough understanding of underwriting, coverages and rating procedures

Dependability – Follows instructions; responds to management direction; takes responsibility for own actions; keeps commitments; commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.

Initiative – Undertakes self-development activities; takes independent actions and calculated risks; looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; asks for and offers help when needed.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Must      be able to lift 25 lbs
• Reasonable      accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to      perform the essential functions.

· Ability to work in an office environment which may include many hours of computer and telephone usage. 

This position is remote-eligible on a hybrid basis. 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This position description is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees may be required to perform any other job-related instructions as requested by their supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodations.