Forensic Underwriting Team Lead

CrossCountry Mortgage (CCM) is the nation's number one distributed retail mortgage lender with more than 9,000 employees operating over 700 branches and servicing loans across all 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Our company has been recognized ten times on the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private businesses and has received many awards for our standout culture.

A culture where you can grow! CCM has created an exceptional culture driving employee engagement, exceeding employee expectations, and directly impacting company success. At our core, our entrepreneurial spirit empowers every employee to be who they are to help us move forward together. You’ll get unwavering support from all departments and total transparency from the top down.

CCM offers eligible employees a competitive compensation plan and a robust benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, as well as a 401K. We also offer company-provided short-term disability, an employee assistance program, and a wellness program.

Position Overview:
The Forensic Underwriting Team Lead is responsible for leading a team of Forensic Underwriters and for overseeing day-to-day operations within the Forensic Underwriting team. This role focuses on ensuring that Underwriters are supported in resolving Post Closing conditions on Bond, Agency and Non-Agency loans during the purchase review process. The Forensic Underwriting Team Lead acts as a direct resource for the team, offering guidance, answering loan-level inquiries, and managing escalations to ensure the conditions and exceptions are resolved in a timely manner. While collaborating closely with the Forensic Underwriting Manager, this role is involved in addressing escalated investor rebuttals, guidance with formal written responses, and direction with complex deficiency correction. The Forensic Underwriting Team Lead ensures the Underwriters are equipped to maintain productivity, contributing to the successful processing and purchasing of loans.

Job Responsibilities:
•    Manage the day-to-day tasks of the Forensic Underwriting Team.
•    Serve as the first level escalation point for Forensic Underwriting Team to send general questions and for additional file reviews to assist with loan level decisions.
•    Review and balance the team’s loan assignments and task load.
•    Provide employee development and performance coaching in one-on-one meetings.
•    Assist with onboarding and training new hires and existing employees to be upskilled in a variety of topics as needed.
•    Monitor the team's performance metrics and report regularly to management on documentation accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
•    Suggest process improvements to increase efficiency, accuracy, and compliance within the Forensic Underwriting Team.
•    Review production and processes to identify trends that will be relayed to the Forensic Underwriting Manager.
•    Obtain and monitor department reports to ensure due dates met, and aged loans are prioritized for resolution.
•    Assist with Forensic Underwriting Team tasks and responsibilities, as necessary.
•    Proactively monitor investor posted turn times and follow up as necessary to ensure files are reviewed within their published turn times.
•    Review and obtain clarification from investors when needed to determine what is acceptable to cure applicable defects.
•    Monitor a pipeline to ensure all loans assigned to Forensic Underwriting Team are actively being worked.
•    Provide updates on the status of assigned loans with investors to the Forensic Underwriting Manager. 
•    Ensure Forensic Underwriting Team meets set monthly goals.
•    Review all rebuttal denials and work with the Forensic Underwriting Manager for additional resolution options.

Qualifications and Skills:
•    High School Diploma or equivalent.
•    2+ years of experience in a Team Lead or senior role.
•    Experience in addressing investor conditions and exceptions.
•    Experience working in Encompass, preferred. 
•    Knowledge of regulatory rules and regulations.
•    Understanding of Agency, Non-Agency, Bond, and Non-QM guidelines.
•    Excellent communication skills.
•    Excellent problem-solving skills to determine solutions and identify alternative resolutions within acceptable guidelines.
•    Skilled at prioritizing completing multiple tasks within a given period.
•    Skilled at independently making decisions.
•    Excellent customer service skills with internal employees and external vendors.
•    Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the job and the general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job. However, this job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.