London Mortgage Advisor Jobs
Mortgage advisors in London work to get their clients the best possible deal on a property loan, whether this be in the residential or commercial sector.
In most cases, a mortgage advisor serves as the main point of contact between a lender and a borrower and plays a pivotal role in the most significant financial deal most people will make in their lifetimes.
Professional and Academic Requirements
While mortgage advisors come from a range of academic and professional backgrounds, they are all required to hold an official accreditation in the field.
More specifically, mortgage advisors need to obtain a qualification accredited by the Financial Services Skills Council (FSSC), such as a CII certificate in mortgage advice. Alternatively, candidates can take the CeMAP (Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice) qualification, for which they need to pass modules on UK financial regulation and mortgage products, and be assessed on the quality of their advice.
Additionally, a good academic track record may be required by some employers, with candidates expected to have at least a good batch of GCSEs, including maths, to their name.
Personal Attributes
Aside from excellent numeracy skills, mortgage advisors are required to have a strong eye for detail, high levels of accuracy and also solid literacy skills.
Additionally, given the nature of the role, it also pays to be a good people person, with the ability to negotiate hard with lenders or provide jargon-free advice to clients often key.
Furthermore, anyone going for mortgage advisor jobs in London should be able to demonstrate a good knowledge of the mortgage and financial service industry in general.
Potential Rewards
Mortgage advisor jobs can be well paid, particularly those positions with some of the larger financial services organisations in the City or Canary Wharf.
On top of a solid salary, advisors can also expect to be paid a commission by lenders such as big banks for any products they sell.
As such, a good advisor, particularly one who deals with complex and expensive products, can enjoy an excellent salary.
Other potential rewards include the intellectual satisfaction of the job, with the day-to-day demands of the mortgage advisory industry calling for excellent maths skills and in-depth research in order to get clients the best possible deal.
Possible Drawbacks
Working in financial services jobs in London can be stressful, with mortgage advisors required to stick to closely-monitored regulation and often meet demanding targets.
Additionally, the work is predominantly desk-based, making it far from ideal for those with itchy feet or a love of the great outdoors, while many of those meetings that do take place outside of the office may do so at unsociable hours to suit clients' needs.
Biggest Employers
There are dozens of companies offering mortgage advice jobs in London, most of which will be on the lookout for fresh talent at one point or another.
While the smaller companies tend to specialise in house purchases, larger firms in the City or Canary Wharf can offer the chance to advise on multi-million pound commercial property deals.
Aside from working for a company, it's also possible to work as a freelance mortgage advisor in London, though it's usually necessary to build up significant levels of experience and a good contacts list before making such a move.
