Deal Desk Manager

Job Summary

The Deal Desk Manager serves as a strategic resource for evaluating complex loan scenarios, exception requests, and guideline interpretations to support sound lending decisions. This role partners closely with Sales, Account Management, Underwriting, and Credit leadership to analyze risk, identify viable lending solutions, and provide clear guidance on unique or escalated transactions. The ideal candidate combines strong mortgage underwriting expertise with critical thinking, sound judgment, and the ability to balance customer needs with investor, compliance, and credit risk requirements.

Job Duties

• Review and analyze complex loan scenarios todetermineeligibility, structure, and potential paths to approval. 
• Evaluate requests for underwriting exceptions and guideline variances, assessing overall risk and business impact. 
• Serve as a subject matter expert on company, agency, investor, and regulatory guidelines. 
• Partner with Sales, Account Management, Underwriting, and Operations teams to provide guidance on challenging loan transactions.
• Research and interpret underwriting guidelines to support decision-making and promote consistency across the organization. 
• Identifycompensating factors and alternative structuring opportunities that support prudent lending decisions. 
• Escalate high-risk or precedent-setting scenarios to senior credit leadership and provide well-supported recommendations. 
• Communicate complex guideline interpretations and risk assessments clearly and effectively to internal stakeholders. 
• Monitor exception trends and recommend process improvements, policy enhancements, or training opportunities.
• Participate in quality control initiatives to ensure consistency and adherence to company credit standards. 
• Maintain current knowledge of agency, investor, regulatory, and market guideline changes affecting loan eligibility and risk assessment.
• Assistwith special projects, product implementation efforts, and guideline rollouts as assigned.

Competencies

• Attention to Detail –Looks for ways to improve and promote quality of work anddemonstratesaccuracy and thoroughness.
• Building & Fostering Relationships-Cultivates strong networks internally and externally,leveragingrelationships to exchange knowledge, solve problems, and advance organizationalobjectives.

• Critical Thinking –Thinks critically and creatively to challenge assumptions, explore alternatives, and propose improvements to processes,servicesor outcomes.
• Customer Service –Understands andmaintainsclient needs and relationships, internal and external, as the primary driver of work goals and activities.
• Proactive –Demonstrates forward thinking by planning ahead,seeking outimprovements, and acting decisively to move work forward.

Work Environment

Remote: This role is fully remote and performed from the employee’s home or another approved off-site location. The company provides essential equipment such as computer, headset and webcam. A reliable internet connection and a quiet, professional workspace are expected. Occasional travel to one of the office locations will be required based upon the discretion of the Company.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required;Bachelor'sdegree or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.
• 5+ years of mortgage underwriting experience withdemonstratedexpertisein agency, government, non-QM, and investor guidelines. 
• 2+ years of experience evaluating complex loan scenarios, exception requests, or escalated credit-risk decisions.
• Proven ability to interpret and apply complex guidelines while exercising sound judgment in ambiguous situations. 
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills with the ability to balance credit risk and businessobjectives. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to explain complex decisions to diverse audiences. 
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, ora relatedfield.
• DE, SAR, LAPP/SAR, or other advanced mortgage underwriting certifications. 
• Previousexperience in a Deal Desk, Credit Policy, Credit Risk, Underwriting Support, or guideline exception review function. 

• Experience working with Correspondent and Wholesale mortgage channels. 
• Prior leadership, mentoring, or team management experience. 
• Demonstrated experience partnering with Sales, Underwriting, and Operations teams to resolve complex lending challenges. 
• Knowledge of investor relations, product development, and mortgage credit policy implementation. 
• Experience analyzing exception trends and recommending process improvements, policy enhancements, or training initiatives. 
• Strong presentation and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence decisions across multiple departments.

Physical Demands

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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate via oral and written communication, such as phone calls, emails, and ticketing systems. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, use hands and fingers and reach with hands and arms. This role may require long periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. The employee may occasionally be asked to pick up and/or move up to 15 pounds.

Duties Disclosure

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time, with or without notice. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.