Lead Commercial Underwriter

We have an opportunity for an experienced Lead Commercial Underwriter to join a high-performing Business & Commercial Credit team, underwriting lending requests to businesses and corporate customers.

This is a senior role, offering exposure to complex, high-value transactions and the opportunity to influence key credit decisions across a diverse portfolio where you will be responsible for assessing new lending opportunities, credit referrals, and exceptions, ensuring decisions align with the Bank’s strategy and risk appetite.

The Lead Commercial Underwriter will make lending decisions up to £2.5million and play a key role in larger transactions up to £25million & including preparing and presenting cases to Credit Approval Committees up to £100million.

The role also includes oversight of existing lending, conducting annual reviews and renewals while monitoring customer performance and early warning indicators. The role holder is expected to build a good awareness of the overall portfolio performance.

Sector exposure includes real estate, housing associations, healthcare, and renewables, with a strong focus on ESG and sustainable lending.

Location:

We operate on a team-led hybrid approach with 1 day per week in the Manchester office.

Our benefits include:

• 28 days holiday a year plus bank holidays and a holiday buy/sell scheme.
• Annual discretionary bonus scheme
• Personal pension with matched contributions
• Life assurance (6 times annual salary)
• Private Medical Insurance

For this role you’ll need to have:

• 2nd Line Credit Risk Manager (or equivalent level) experience in Business & Commercial lending, with a strong grasp of sound lending principles.
• Experience leading and underwriting complex lending transactions for Credit Committees, with experience of having a personal mandate.
• Experienced in a number of the following sectors: mid-market trading businesses, syndicated lending, property, healthcare, renewables, or Housing Associations.
• Ability to balance strict financial metrics (EBITDA, leverage, cash flow) with non-financial drivers (management capability, market headwinds, ESG factors) to form a robust credit opinion.
• Strong analytical skills and an ability to translate complex financial statements and non-financial risk factors into structured, articulate credit papers for committee approval.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with confidence presenting to senior stakeholders and committees.

• Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships across all levels.
• Strong knowledge of the Business & Commercial banking landscape and market developments
• Good understanding of legal and regulatory requirements within corporate credit risk
• Highly organised, with strong time management and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Chartered Banker Institute qualification (or equivalent)
• Experience engaging with Credit Approval Committees
• Previous mentoring or coaching experience
• Awareness of emerging trends in credit risk and commercial lending
• Experience in managing problem debt situations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
  
  Experience working with credit risk systems, models, and policies.

In 2025, Coventry Building Society purchased The Co-operative Bank. Bringing together our purpose-led building society with the UK’s original ethical bank was the start of an exciting journey.

Trusted by over four million people, we’re a mutually owned business free from shareholders, and with our combined experience of almost 300 years, our ethics and dedication will continue to guide us. Together, we have shared values and an ethical approach towards our members, customers and colleagues.

We’re officially recognised as a ‘Great Place to…