My alarm goes off at…
…4.45am Monday to Friday and 6.00am at weekends.
I am an early bird and use this time to get out in nature for a walk. There is less noise and fewer distractions, allowing me to focus on some mindfulness, and I get a headstart to the day.
I wanted to work in the finance industry because…
…when I bought my first home at 18 years old, I found the process of navigating the homebuying process fascinating.
I find myself advocating for both the bank’s financial security and the borrower’s ability to manage their mortgage
Although it was a stressful period as a first-time buyer with no experience, I enjoyed researching the mortgage options, understanding the financial implications and feeling the excitement when my offer was approved and then when I unlocked the front door to step inside for the first time.
This sparked my interest in mortgage finance. Not long after completing, I decided to change my career and venture into the world of real estate — more than 28 years ago.
I found moving into the underwriting sector a natural progression, learning how the decision-making process worked. I always saw this as a way I could still play a significant role in people’s lives, and I found navigating the complexities of the mortgage market a stimulating process, knowing it unlocked a major life goal for our borrowers.
Something that surprised me about my job was…
…the juggling act between following regulations to the letter and ensuring the department was delivering responsible lending. I find myself advocating for both the bank’s financial security and the borrower’s ability to manage their mortgage.
I review emails for escalation, discuss complex queries, and establish if our product and criteria offers work for our brokers/packagers
Also, the turbulence the market has been experiencing has kept us on our toes.
The world of finance is never static. New regulations, evolving loan products and technical advancements can reshape the way we underwrite, but it keeps my role fresh and intellectually stimulating.
A misconception about my role is…
…that it’s a purely technical position focused solely on crunching numbers and approving/denying loans based on our criteria. Actually, along with the strong understanding of financial regulation, it requires a much broader skillset.
Leading a diverse and exceptional department of underwriters and completions consultants is a large element of the role. My coaching of my management team and individuals to enhance their engagement and motivation, and to help them deliver high performance with a bigger-picture focus, might surprise some people.
My typical working day entails…
…kick-off meetings with my team to discuss how the previous day’s application submissions and completions have been progressed, and I may need to attend a working group for projects that are running in the background.
New regulations, evolving loan products and technical advancements keep my role fresh and intellectually stimulating
I review emails for escalations, discuss complex queries from our heads of sales, and work closely to establish if our product and criteria offers work for our brokers/packagers.
I also support our marketing department, giving them guidance on the technical side of the stories they are putting together, to launch our Let’s Chat campaign, for example, where we want our brokers to chat to us about the bespoke buy-to-let cases.
A perk of the job is…
…the continuous learning and development of my skills and knowledge in an ever-changing market.
I found navigating the complexities of the mortgage market a stimulating process, knowing it unlocked a major life goal for our borrowers
As an OSB colleague, I love the volunteer hours we are given and I help at a local animal rescue centre.
My favourite work memory is…
…being part of many career journeys. Helping someone’s potential to grow and change their future is simply wonderful.
To unwind after work, I…
…relax with a good book or Netflix series during the week. On Fridays I have a veggie Thai curry and wine with my husband, watching a good movie.
This article featured in the September 2024 edition of Mortgage Strategy.
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