Residential Mortgage Appraisal Review Manager

Sunflower Bank NA•Scottsdale, AZ

3h•Onsite

About The Position

Sunflower Bank, N.A. is seeking a full-time Residential Mortgage Appraisal Review Manager. This position assists the Chief Appraiser and is responsible for leading and participating in all aspects of the mortgage appraisal review function. The role also serves as a backup for C&I appraisal review and environmental due diligence. This is a working leader position, overseeing the Appraisal Review Team, Appraisal Desk operations, and Appraiser Panel Management program, while also conducting residential appraisal reviews. The goal is to ensure timely, compliant, and high-quality appraisal review services that support the Mortgage Division's objectives for loan production, operational efficiency, borrower experience, and on-time closings. The manager collaborates with various departments and external partners to maintain a high-performing appraisal review program. This position supervises the Mortgage Appraisal Desk Lead, Mortgage Appraisal Desk Specialist, and two Mortgage Appraisal Specialists/Reviewers. The ideal candidate is a licensed residential appraiser with strong leadership, deep knowledge of appraisal regulations and valuation methodologies, and the ability to balance risk management with production-focused service delivery. This hands-on role combines appraisal expertise, staff management, vendor oversight, and operational partnership, serving as the Mortgage Division's primary valuation leader.

Requirements

Active State Certified Residential Appraiser or State Certified General Appraiser license.
Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Real Estate, Economics, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Minimum 5 years of residential appraisal experience.
Minimum 3 years of appraisal review experience.
Minimum 2 years of leadership or supervisory experience.
Strong working knowledge of USPAP, FNMA and FHLMC appraisal requirements, FHA, VA, and USDA appraisal guidelines, Interagency Appraisal and Evaluation Guidelines, Mortgage lending operations and underwriting processes.
Experience managing appraisal vendors and appraiser panels.
Ability to perform complex appraisal reviews and valuation analysis.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Strong residential valuation and appraisal review expertise.
Working knowledge of mortgage production, processing, underwriting, and closing operations.
Ability to balance risk management objectives with production and service expectations.
Strong leadership, coaching, and team-building skills.
Excellent analytical and decision-making abilities.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Strong vendor management and relationship management skills.
Effective conflict resolution and negotiation skills.
Advanced problem-solving capabilities.
Commitment to delivering exceptional internal and external customer experiences.

Nice To Haves

Certified General Appraiser designation.
Experience within a bank, credit union, or mortgage lender environment.
Experience leading appraisal review teams and appraisal desk operations.
Professional valuation designations or advanced appraisal certifications.
Experience with appraisal management technology platforms and valuation review tools.
Experience with commercial real estate appraisal and environmental due diligence.

Responsibilities

Lead, develop, coach, and manage the Appraisal Desk Lead, Appraisal Desk Specialist, and Appraisal Specialists/Reviewers.
Establish performance standards, service-level expectations, and quality metrics for the appraisal review team.
Conduct performance evaluations, employee development planning, and ongoing coaching.
Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, service excellence, and continuous improvement.
Serve as a subject matter expert for appraisal-related issues across the Mortgage Division.
Participate in staffing, succession planning, and team development initiatives.
Perform complex residential appraisal reviews for compliance, quality, credibility, and adherence to industry standards.
Review appraisals for conformity with USPAP requirements, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines, FHA, VA, and USDA requirements, Federal Interagency Appraisal and Evaluation Guidelines, and Internal credit and valuation policies.
Assist with resolving valuation disputes, reconsiderations of value, and escalated appraisal concerns.
Monitor appraisal review workflows to ensure timely completion and support on-time loan closings.
Identify trends, risks, and opportunities for process improvement within appraisal operations.
Provide guidance on complex valuation scenarios and exception requests.
Oversee daily operations of the Appraisal Desk.
Ensure appraisal orders are managed efficiently from assignment through final review.
Monitor pipeline volumes, turnaround times, service levels, and workload balancing.
Partner with origination and operations teams to proactively resolve appraisal-related bottlenecks.
Drive process enhancements that improve speed, quality, and borrower experience.
Support effective communication among lenders, processors, underwriters, operations staff, and appraisal vendors.
Oversee the institution's approved appraiser panel and vendor management processes.
Review and approve applications from prospective appraisers seeking inclusion on the approved panel.
Conduct due diligence reviews including licensing verification, qualifications assessment, insurance review, and performance analysis.
Monitor appraiser performance metrics, including turnaround times, report quality, revision rates, geographic competency, regulatory compliance, and customer service responsiveness.
Maintain scorecards and performance reporting for approved panel members.
Administer corrective action programs when performance or compliance concerns are identified.
Recommend probation, suspension, removal, or reinstatement of appraisers when appropriate.
Ensure appraiser independence requirements are maintained at all times.
Collaborate closely with Mortgage Origination leadership to balance valuation risk management with production objectives.
Partner with Mortgage Operations leadership to improve loan cycle times and appraisal-related efficiencies.
Support organizational goals related to loan production growth, operational excellence, borrower satisfaction, on-time loan closings, and regulatory compliance.
Participate in cross-functional projects involving appraisal technology, workflow enhancements, and process automation.
Provide appraisal-related training and guidance to production and operations teams.
Maintain appraisal review practices that meet regulatory and investor requirements.
Monitor regulatory, agency, and industry developments affecting valuation and appraisal practices.
Assist with internal audits, regulatory examinations, and quality control reviews.
Develop and maintain appraisal-related policies, procedures, and controls.
Ensure adherence to appraisal independence standards and organizational risk management objectives.