Senior Mortgage Underwriter
Company: Gold Lion Mortgages (Powered by MCC Elevo Mortgages / DLCG)
Location: Calgary, Alberta (Hybrid / On-Site)
Position Type: Full-time, Permanent
Reports To: Surinderpal Singh, Mortgage Broker / Principal
Compensation: Base Salary + Monthly Revenue-Share Bonus
Trial Period: 90 Days
Read this first: This job is not for everyone. We move fast, hold high standards, and care deeply about results over effort. If you love taking a messy file, structuring a path to "approved," and want to work where your impact is recognized and rewarded, keep reading.
About Gold Lion Mortgages
Gold Lion Mortgages is a Calgary-based mortgage office built for the borrowers traditional banks struggle to serve: self-employed business owners, corporate entities and HoldCos, real estate investors, first-time buyers, and newcomers to Canada.
Powered by MCC Elevo Mortgages (a member of DLCG), we have access to over 60 lenders - ranging from major banks and monolines to B lenders and private capital. Because the vast majority of our business comes from client referrals and repeat relationships, every file that crosses your desk represents someone’s trust on the line. We operate as a agile, high-performing team, and we are adding a Senior Mortgage Underwriter to own the credit side of our deals.
Position Overview
You will own the credit lifecycle of every file from initial document intake straight through to funding, freeing our brokers to focus on client advice and business growth.
You will analyze income, credit, down payment, and collateral to match each deal with the right lender and product, packaging files so they get approved on the first submission. Expect a steady volume of complex files, including self-employed income, corporate/HoldCo structures, rental portfolios, bank-statement programs, and alternative lending scenarios.
Key Responsibilities
1. Client Intake & Document Auditing
Conduct or review initial client intake details to verify financial profiles, clarify lending needs, and set expectations.
Request, track, and audit complete document packages (T1 Generals, NOAs, corporate financial statements, pay stubs, bank statements, gift letters, purchase contracts, and property schedules).
Trace down payment sources meticulously (90-day history, large deposits, gifts, RRSP/FHSA withdrawals).
2. File Underwriting, Analysis & Deal Structuring
Deliver on our client promise: a fully underwritten pre-approval within 24 business hours of receiving a complete document package.
Calculate qualifying income across complex scenarios: self-employed (add-backs, corporate tax returns, financial statements), rental income (add-backs, offsets, T776), commission, support, and bank-statement programs.
Run GDS/TDS ratios at stress-test rates while navigating individual lender ceilings, proxies, and exception guidelines.
Analyze credit bureau reports to understand the narrative behind the score, identify risks, and establish mitigants.
Match files across A, B, and private channels, defining clear paths for alternative deals to eventually migrate back to prime lending.
3. Packaging & Lender Submission
Package submissions through Canadian origination systems (e.g., Finmo, Velocity, Filogix Expert) with clear, persuasive notes highlighting deal strengths, risks, and mitigants.
Manage buydown requests, appraisal/valuation strategies, and lender exception approvals.
Work directly with lender underwriters and Business Development Managers (BDMs) to negotiate terms and push files through efficiently.
4. Condition Clearing & Pipeline Management
Clear all lender conditions within 24 to 48 hours of receipt.
Review commitment letters line-by-line to ensure terms align with client expectations.
Maintain complete data integrity and real-time status updates in our CRM (e.g., BluMortgage / Zoho) so clients, realtors, and lawyers remain fully informed.
Drive files smoothly through approval, broker-complete, and final funding.
5. Compliance, Quality & Process Building
Complete mandatory FINTRAC/AML identity verifications, KYC checks, and deal red-flag audits.
Turn recurring workflows into checklists, templates, and short training guides to build operational scale.
Serve as the second set of eyes on hard files, offering constructive feedback and viable alternative structures when a deal is at risk.
Mentor junior team members on document analysis and file prep as the brokerage expands.
What Success Looks Like
We track performance through clear, objective metrics:
Speed: 100% of pre-approvals turned around within 24 business hours of complete document packages.
Accuracy: 90%+ of files fully documented on initial lender submission.
Execution: Under 10% file fall-through rate post-pre-approval.
Closing: 100% of conditions cleared before the scheduled closing date.
Quality: Zero compliance errors on internal audits.
Client Experience: Positive client feedback where you are personally recognized in Google reviews.
Qualifications & Requirements
Experience & Knowledge
2–3+ years of direct Canadian residential mortgage underwriting experience within a lender, monoline, or mortgage brokerage environment.
High proficiency in self-employed income analysis (T1 Generals, corporate tax returns, NOAs, financial statements, and stated-income programs).
Strong working knowledge of OSFI B-20 rules, insured vs. uninsured guidelines, and mortgage default insurance protocols (CMHC, Sagen, Canada Guaranty).
Hands-on experience structuring deals across A, B, and private lending channels.
Thorough understanding of RECA guidelines, FINTRAC/AML regulations, and Alberta real estate closing processes.
Technical Skills & Systems
Experience using Canadian origination software (Finmo, Velocity, or Filogix Expert).
Familiarity with mortgage CRMs (e.g., BluMortgage, Zoho, Salesforce) and cloud collaboration tools (Google Workspace).
Ability to handle 10–15+ active, live files simultaneously without dropping details.
Personal Attributes & Soft Skills
Communication: Exceptional phone presence; ability to explain complex conditions clearly and de-escalate stressed clients.
Decisiveness: Fast, practical decision-making. High commitment to numerical accuracy balanced with momentum.
Languages (Nice to Have): Fluency in Punjabi or Hindi alongside fluent English.
Licensing (Nice to Have): Active RECA Mortgage Associate License (or willingness to obtain).
How We Work
Outcomes Over Effort: We measure results - files approved, conditions cleared, deals funded.
Speed is Contagious: We respond fast, decide fast, and correct course fast.
No Surprises: Full transparency across clients, realtors, and lenders on file progress.
Direct Feedback: Honest, respectful communication with no office politics or drama.
Ownership Mindset: Bring solutions alongside problems. Your input matters here.
Universal Respect: Everyone in the value chain - assistants, lawyers, underwriters - receives the same high standard of respect.
What You Get
Base Salary + Monthly Revenue Share: Your income grows directly alongside the growth of our deal volume.
A Seat at the Table: Direct involvement in strategic decisions, workflow design, and policy updates.
Leadership Trajectory: Clear growth path toward leading an underwriting team for live files and renewals.
Training & Resources: Professional development support through industry courses and DLCG network resources.
Work-Life Support: Flexibility to handle personal priorities when life happens.
Please Do Not Apply If:
You dislike having your work measured against clear performance standards.
You need step-by-step supervision to complete daily tasks.
You prioritize "being right" over finding a way to get a deal responsibly funded.
Inaccuracies or sloppy figures do not bother you.
How to Apply
Send your resume directly to Surinder@goldlionmortgages.com.
Hiring Process:
Resume Review
Short Introductory Video Call
Skill Test (Underwriting a real, anonymized file)
In-Person Interview & Reference Checks