Summary:
The Sr. Underwriter is responsible for independently evaluating and underwriting FHA mortgage loans in compliance with HUD/FHA guidelines and internal quality standards. This role requires an active Direct Endorsement (DE) certification and at least 10 years of hands-on FHA underwriting experience. The Sr. Underwriter serves as a subject matter expert, providing guidance to offshore underwriting teams, responding to complex underwriting scenarios, and supporting training and quality control functions. This position requires deep technical knowledge, sound risk assessment and decision-making skills, and the ability to work effectively across cross-functional and offshore teams.
Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:
Act as the primary point of contact for resolving underwriting queries raised by offshore teams.
Review submitted queries, provide clear, timely, and accurate guidance to enable timely loan decisioning.
Ensure all communication with offshore teams supports FHA guideline adherence and quality delivery.
Perform random quality control reviews on loans underwritten by offshore teams.
Analyze findings to identify trends, gaps, and risks in underwriting quality.
Provide constructive feedback and recommendations to offshore leadership.
Assist in delivering refresher training programs to maintain offshore team’s knowledge of FHA guidelines and regulatory updates.
Partner with supervisors to identify knowledge or performance gaps and provide targeted coaching or resources.
Participate in the development and maintenance of assessments used for hiring offshore underwriters.
Ensure assessments reflect real-world FHA scenarios and evaluate key underwriting competencies accurately.
Comply with all company policies and procedures.
Maintain regular and punctual attendance.
Other Job Duties and Responsibilities:
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
This position is an individual contributor.
Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
Education and/or Experience:
High school diploma or equivalent required. Bachelor’s Degree from a Four (4) year College or University preferred.
10+ years of experience performing live FHA underwriting.
Deep expertise in HUD/FHA guidelines and FHA Handbook.
Proven experience using AUS (TOTAL Scorecard) and LOS platforms (e.g., Encompass).
Familiarity with risk mitigation tools (e.g., FraudGuard, DataVerify).
Ability to accurately evaluate income (salaried, self-employed, rental, etc.), review credit reports, and assess asset documentation in alignment with FHA standards.
Demonstrated skill in applying business judgment in complex underwriting scenarios.
Exceptional attention to detail, risk assessment, and decision-making skills.
Strong communication, presentation, and collaboration skills.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:
Active DE (Direct Endorsement) certification – Required.
Work Complexity:
Problems and issues faced are difficult and complex, and may require understanding of broader set of issues. Problems typically involve consideration of multiple issues and understanding of the financial/mortgage industry. Problems are typically solved through drawing from prior experience and analysis of issues.
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work is normally performed in a typical interior office work environment which does not subject the employee to any hazardous or unpleasant elements. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Equal Employment Opportunity:
The company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, ethnicity, color, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.
Americans with Disabilities Act:
Applicants as well as employees who are or become disabled must be able to satisfactorily perform the essential job functions of the position either with or without reasonable accommodation. Applicants as well as employees are encouraged to meet with Human Resources as the organization shall review reasonable accommodations on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable law.
Job Responsibilities:
The statements reflect the general duties and responsibilities considered necessary to perform the essential functions of the job and should not be considered as an all-inclusive list of all the work requirements of the position. The company may change the specific job duties with or without prior notice based on the needs of the organization.
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