Underwriter – Real Estate Development, Bridging & Mezzanine Finance

Caravel are partnering with a high-growth Real Estate debt fund that is actively scaling its lending platform. With deep access to capital and an ambitious deployment strategy, the business is quickly building momentum across Development, Bridging and Mezzanine finance.

What makes this opportunity particularly compelling is the timing — the firm is investing heavily in both its people and its infrastructure, including a significant upgrade to their technology stack with a strong focus on AI and smarter underwriting processes. For someone who enjoys being close to decision-making and shaping how a lender evolves, this is a genuine chance to have impact early in a growth story.

You’ll join a lean, entrepreneurial team where underwriters are trusted to think commercially, not just tick boxes. The role offers direct exposure to live transactions and the chance to help structure loans across multiple asset classes in a fast-moving environment. The fund is already deploying capital at pace and targeting substantial loan book growth in the near term.

Working closely with originators, credit committee members and external advisors, you’ll take deals from initial review through to funding — balancing risk with creativity to get transactions over the line. They have an experienced origination team that help pre‑underwrite deals and before this role helps to do the deep dives into opportunities, then using your analysis to help price individual deals.

• Underwriting and structuring Development, Bridging and Mezzanine loans secured against UK real estate
• Carrying out detailed due diligence on borrowers, assets, planning, costs and exit strategies
• Analysing financial models, development appraisals and borrower accounts
• Interpreting valuation reports, QS feedback and legal documentation
• Writing clear credit papers and presenting key risks and mitigants
• Engaging directly with brokers, borrowers and professional counter parties throughout the deal lifecycle
• Supporting post‑completion monitoring where required

• Around 2+ years’ experience in real estate lending, underwriting or structured finance
• Strong understanding of development and bridging loans (mezzanine exposure is advantageous)
• Solid knowledge of the UK property market and development feasibilities
• Comfortable managing multiple live transactions with tight timelines
• Clear communicator with the ability to articulate deal risks succinctly
• Highly organised, detail‑oriented and commercially minded

Beyond a strong salary and bonus, there is a clear mid‑term path to equity — something rarely offered at this level. If you’re motivated by growth, want to work closer to capital, and like the idea of helping shape a lender as it scales, this role offers far more than a typical underwriting position.