Director, Mortgage Underwriting

The Opportunity:

We are looking for an experienced Director, Home Equity Underwriting.

The Director, Lendage Home Equity Underwriting, is directly responsible for the management of all activities related to the effective and efficient handling of all underwriting and loan processing of our Home Equity loan product. In this role, you will be a key member of the Lendage Leadership team, providing guidance and strategic direction throughout the originations process. Specifically, you will manage teams of personnel that are tied directly to the processing of customers applications and the investigation and discovery of our customers capacity to borrow and repay debt.

You will work closely with our sales organization, constantly looking to provide support of their efforts while providing feedback on the best and most compliance means of originating new origination volumes. Additionally you will work with a number of support teams across the organization to ensure that all services are delivered within agreed upon risk models, that specific underwriting and processing criteria are followed, and that all loan activities meet strict quality guidelines. You will also work integrally with our Product and Engineering team to ensure the effective delivery of product and process enhancements, including aggressive goals around the use of new tools and processes that drive automation and speed to funding. Finally, you will be a key strategic driver in the business; you will work with your team, and your leadership group, to identify new and enhanced ways to deliver enhanced customer experiences.

You will help form, deliver, and monitor for success the future state delivery of Lendage Home Loans in an effort to support the growth and profitability of the organization. Keys to success in this role will be focus on delivery versus objectives, identifying and championing new and bold means of enhancing the product and process by which loans are delivered, ensuring complete compliance to regulatory guidelines as well as those internal credit guidelines of which you will have a part in forming or reforming. As a leader of people, you will be measured by the success of your team, ensuring a high level of productivity while providing a culturally positive environment in which to work.

How Youll Contribute:

• Oversee all aspects of the Underwriting and Loan Processing functions. Ensure the daily management of SLAs, full adherence to corporate policies and procedures that govern lending, as well as the attainment of budgeted expectations of the department.
• Work closely with teams across the Lendage organization to ensure the effective management of the product. This includes, but is not limited to Closing/Post Closing, Sales, Servicing, Product, Engineering, Business Intelligence, and Risk/Compliance. Take an active role as the leader of the UW Team to ensure that your organization is both represented, and supportive, when working with each of these key organizations.
• Ensure the highest level of adherence to all facets of Credit Policy, and build/measure/monitor processes within your area of influence to see that your team performs in alignment with these policies. Take regular, consistent steps to oversee this process, make recommendations for improvement where warranted, and engage in discussions over enhancements when approached by others.
• Similarly ensure the same high standards are in place relative to the delivery of a high quality product. Work with all QA and QC functions, and take steps where necessary/identified to remediate deficiencies.
• Work with Business Intelligence to ensure the highest and most comprehensive level of reporting is made available relative to your area of influence. Use this data to manage and improve your business.
• Be an agent of change. Take a leadership position when it comes to enhancing the product or process by which our loans are offered and serviced. Be strategic at all times, seek out means of getting better and demonstrate a desire to see our product and process improve over time, providing greater value to our clients, investors, partners, and organization.
• Manage the day-to-day activities of your team. Ensure all hiring and training is completed in such a way as to employ only the best and most caring of teammates. Ensure that performance metrics are in place, that there is constant transparency around objectives, and that all team members are allowed to grow and prosper within your organization. Promote a healthy work environment at all times; provide support where needed, and work closely with support organizations, such as Human Resources, to address issues of concern.
• Work closely with each the Product and Engineering teams to develop and drive initiatives that add value to the overall Lendage experience. Support on-time delivery of product roadmap deliverables, be collaborative when it comes to change and enhancements to the process, and be recognized as the primary driver of improvement over your area of influence.
• Support any and all activities related to the investor team. Work closely to ensure that our investor experience is always at a premium, and that any issues related to loan originations is handled quickly and capably.
• Be active and drive change as necessary as the result of defaulted loan reviews. Learn from the process, seek out ways to improve your teams delivery, and where opportunities to enhance credit policy or risk models present, be aggressive and ensure that these efforts receive your fullest support.
• Work closely with all vendors as necessary. Ensure efficient management, compliance to contracted agreements, and ongoing oversight of expenses.
• Participate in the development of your annual budget, and take consistent steps to delivery at or beyond expectations. Seek out means of improved efficiency and cost, be a leader when it comes to cost of servicing a single loan, and make recommendations broadly on how Lendage can leverage additional cost savings while not sacrificing the customer or investor experience.
• Maintain a high level of communication broadly within the organization around your area of influence. Ensure clarity of purpose and transparency around team and work efforts at all times.

Why This Opportunity Is Unique:

This challenging, multi-dimensional role will have a critical impact on the rapid growth of Lendage. You will be looked to as a senior thought leader in underwriting and process excellence who will need to educate and influence others in your areas of expertise. If you are looking for your next big opportunity and have an ability to thoughtfully prioritize, direct, and execute on key underwriting items under tight deadlines, with an exceptional focus on quality, attention to detail, collaboration and communication, then come join us, as we scale up our business and change the mortgage industry.

What Youll Bring:

• 3-5 years of leadership level experience in managing each underwriting and processing functions in a mortgage space.
• Minimum of 5 years of practical, UW experience. Making decisions, adhering to policies, etc.
• 15+ years of overall mortgage servicing, originations, sales or compliance experience, with a heavy focus on the Home Equity product.
• Easily demonstrated experience in driving a high growth environment
• Similarly, easily demonstrated experience in managing within a highly compliant space where adherence to policy and procedures has been held at a premium.
• A change leader, someone who has a wealth of experience in changing process for the better, driving growth or efficiency in the products they serviced.
• Advanced analytic skills; able to work with data, to understand and interpret trending, and to be able to recommend appropriate fixes
• An inquisitive mind; able to consider the many sides of an issue, to ask the right questions, and to be able to reach conclusions that are actionable
• Prior experience designing, executing, and presenting Quality Control reviews preferred
• Exceptionally strong interpersonal skills and communication, both written and verbal.
• Bachelors degree or equivalent experience
• Strong analytical skills, critical thinking and ability to interpret performance data
• Proven ability to identify and execute process improvements
• Experience working cross-functionally
• A high level of curiosity, a willingness to investigate new or trending opportunities, and to think critically about how these opportunities can be leveraged for the betterment of the Lendage team, our partners and our customers.
• Must be able to multi-task; this role will require an ability to manage a vastly diverse set of initiatives
• Must be able to stay organized while working on multiple projects.
• Strong knowledge of PC skills in using both the Microsoft and Google line of office support products
• Strong knowledge of PC based programs ability to learn quickly.

About Us:

Freedom Financial Network is a leading digital personal finance company, built to help people. We do what traditional banks dont: Put people first. We believe in treating people like humans, not account numbers. We help everyday people get on, and stay on, the path to a brighter financial future, with innovative technology and personalized support at every step. We help people control expenses, manage debt, save money, plan ahead, and make better financial decisions. By leveraging our proprietary data and analytics and artificial intelligence we offer solutions tailored for each step of a consumer's financial journey, including personal loans, home equity loans, help with debt, and even financial tools and education.

With 2,400 employees across California, Arizona and Texas, we have served more than 1 million customers, resolved more than $15 billion in consumer debt and originated $6.5 billion in loans over the course of our 20 years in business.

Driven by our core values, were passionate about supporting our communities and proudly awarded over $500,000 in grants distributed by the Freedom Foundation Fund and the Freedom Family Fund in 2021. We believe in a culture led by diversity, equity, and inclusion, and encourage our employees to bring their full selves to work every day. Our diversity-focused Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are open to all, whether a member of the ERG community or an ally of the group and we are a member of the Fintech Racial Equity Coalition to address and improve inequality in the fintech industry.

Finally, we take great pride in our achievements. This year we topped the list of Best Place to Work by the Phoenix Business Journal, were a top 100 Corporate Philanthropist by the San Francisco Business Times, a 2021 Most Admired Company and a Tech Company with the Best Company Culture by BestCompaniesAz, a 2021 Top Work Places winner by AZcentral and a BuiltIn Best Places to Work winner, to name a few.

Attention Agencies & Search Firms:

We do not accept unsolicited candidate resumes or profiles. Please do not reach out to anyone within Freedom Financial Network (FFN) to market your services or candidates. All inquiries should be directed to Talent Acquisition only. We reserve the right to hire any candidates sent unsolicited and will not pay any fees without a contract signed by FFNs Talent Acquisition leader.

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