Real Estate Underwriter - Olean, NY

At Community Financial System, Inc. (CFSI), we are dedicated to providing our customers with friendly, personalized, high-quality financial services and products. Our retail division, Community Bank, N.A., operates more than 200 customer facilities across Upstate New York, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Vermont and Western Massachusetts. Beyond retail banking, we also offer commercial banking, wealth management, investment management, insurance and risk management, and benefit plan administration.

Just as our employees are committed to helping our customers manage their finances, we’re committed to our employees. After all, they make it happen for our customers every day.

To ensure our people can enjoy long and successful careers here at CFSI, we offer competitive compensation, great benefits, and professional development and advancement opportunities. As an equal-opportunity workplace and affirmative-action employer, we celebrate and support a diverse workplace for the benefit of all: our employees, customers and communities.

The Real Estate Underwriter is responsible for evaluating, approving, or declining residential mortgage and home equity loan applications through comprehensive financial risk assessment and adherence to established lending guidelines.  This role ensures sound lending decisions while mitigating risk to the Company, government agencies, and secondary market investors.  The Underwriter must maintain current knowledge of all applicable regulatory requirements, including TILA-RESPA, ATR/QM, and HMDA.

• Analyze application packages and supporting documentation (financial statements, credit reports, employment history, etc.) to assess borrower eligibility across all product types including USDA, secondary market loans, PMI, construction loans, Homebuyer Dream Program, and VA
• Exercise lending authority to make credit decisions within delegated approval limits
• Document underwriting decision and prepare clear, concise loan summaries
• Responsible to review and evaluate residential appraisals to ensure collateral meets program and investor requirements
• Review title reports for accuracy and completeness
• Provide guidance to Mortgage Coordinators regarding required actions on incomplete or complex loan applications 
• Prepare approved loan for progression to closing
• Communicate decisions and conditions effectively to loan officers and relevant stakeholders
• Actively participate in the development and documentation of workflow processes as well as contribute to the process improvement and operational efficiency initiatives
• Must maintain and stay informed of policies, procedures, and regulatory updates and changes impacting the real estate lending function
• Perform other related duties as assigned
• Maintain proficient knowledge of, and demonstrate ongoing compliance with all laws and regulations applicable to this position, ensure ongoing adherence to policies, procedures, and internal controls, and meet all training requirements in a timely manner

Additional Expectations

• Maintain a high level of professionalism and confidentiality
• Support and contribute to a collaborative team environment

Ancillary Duties:

• As requested by manager or necessary to obtain necessary business goals and objectives

Education/Training/Requirements:

• Associate degree required; may consider equivalent experience in mortgage processing, legal real estate closings, or related field
• Minimum five (5) years of experience highly preferred
• All applicants must be 18 years of age or older

Skills:

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate income, assets, and creditworthiness
• Proficient in reading, writing, grammar, and mathematical calculations
• Effective problem solving and research capabilities
• Strong written and verbal communications skills
• Ability to work efficiently under pressure and meet deadlines
• Maintain a high level of professionalism and confidentiality 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word and Excel)
• Proven ability to uphold high standards of accountability, respect, transparency, and a strong work ethic
• Must consistently demonstrate the Company’s core values; Integrity, Excellence, Teamwork, and Humility

Hours: 40 hours/week

Compensation: Commensurate with experience plus potential for annual merit increase. In addition to your competitive salary, you will be rewarded benefits including: 11 paid holidays, paid vacation, Medical, Vision & Dental insurance, 401K with generous match, Pension, Tuition Reimbursement, Banking discounts and the list goes on!

Physical Requirements:

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 may be required to stand, walk or sit. Use hands and fingers, handle or feel, reach with hands or arms, and speak and hear. The employee may occasionally be required to lift and or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and the ability to focus.

The Company is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

The Company will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with a disability. If you have a physical or mental impairment and would like to request an accommodation with respect to the application process, please contact the Human Resources Department.