Commercial Lending Operations Manager

Valley First Credit Union•Modesto, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting directly to the Chief Lending Officer, the Commercial Lending Operations Manager owns the full back-office commercial lending function - from underwriting through post-closing service and loan servicing. Underwriting is currently outsourced, with a strategic plan to transition in-house; this role will lead to that effort while managing all day-to-day operations in the interim. This is a senior operational role responsible for overseeing the end-to-end processing of commercial loan transactions, including conventional business loans and government-insured or government-guaranteed programs such as SBA 7(a) and SBA 504 loans. This individual serves as the primary quality control point between loan approval and closing, ensuring that all loan documentation is accurate, complete, and fully consistent with the terms and conditions set forth in the credit memo or credit presentation as approved by the Business Loan Committee. This role directly supervises a team of Commercial Loan Processors and is accountable for the team's performance, workflow management, and adherence to regulatory and institutional standards. The ideal candidate combines deep technical knowledge of commercial loan underwriting and documentation with strong operational leadership capabilities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
Minimum 5-7 years of commercial loan processing and/or underwriting experience, with a strong preference for candidates who have handled both conventional and SBA-guaranteed loan programs.
Prior supervisory or team leadership experience is strongly preferred.
Proven and successful track record of achieving results, goals, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
In-depth understanding of commercial loan underwriting standards, credit analysis, and loan structuring for both conventional and government-guaranteed programs.
Working knowledge of SBA Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) governing 7(a) and 504 loan programs, including eligibility, documentation, and guarantee requirements.
Ability to read, interpret, and critically review legal loan documents (notes, mortgages, security agreements, guarantees, SBA authorizations) for consistency with approved credit terms.
Solid understanding of UCC filings, collateral perfection, title insurance, real property lien instruments, and entity documentation requirements.
Proficiency in financial statement analysis, cash flow analysis, and credit package review.
Knowledge of applicable federal and state banking regulations and lending compliance requirements.
Exceptional attention to detail - ability to identify discrepancies across complex, multi-document loan packages with precision and consistency.
Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple loan files and deadlines simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
Leadership and team development capabilities, including the ability to delegate effectively, set clear expectations, and develop staff.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to clearly communicate documentation requirements to borrowers, attorneys, and internal stakeholders.
High degree of professional judgment and discretion when handling sensitive financial and legal information.
Collaborative and solutions-oriented mindset, with a proactive approach to problem-solving and process improvement.
Technical aptitude to understand complex programs and applications.
Displays courtesy, tact, and diplomacy during personal contact with others inside and/or outside of the organization for purposes of giving or obtaining information, building relationships, or soliciting cooperation.
Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.
Detail-oriented, organized, accurate and ability to adapt to change.
Excellent decision making and time management skills.
Well-developed analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to trouble-shoot problems and research capabilities of current or proposed products.
Exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.
The incumbent is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; typing; viewing a computer screen and reading.
Climb/descend stairs in an emergency situation.
Operate routine office equipment including personal computers, copy machines, mobile and landline phones, calculator and others as needed.
Maintain working on a computer for six to eight hours daily, on average.
Work extended hours if required or requested by management.
Regular, reliable and timely attendance.
Must be able to routinely perform work indoors in climate-controlled shared work area with minimal noise.
Perform job functions independently, or with limited supervision, and work effectively either on own or as part of a team.
Read and carry out various written instructions and follow oral instructions.
Speak clearly and deliver information in a logical and understandable sequence.
Effectively handle multiple, simultaneous, and changing priorities.
Exercise highest level of discretion on both internal and external confidential matters.

Responsibilities

Manage and oversee the full commercial loan processing cycle from post-approval through closing and funding, ensuring timely and accurate execution at every stage.
Review and validate all loan documentation against the approved credit memo or credit presentation to confirm consistency with terms, conditions, collateral requirements, covenants, and approvals granted by the Business Loan Committee.
Coordinate with loan originators, underwriters, attorneys, title companies, and borrowers to resolve documentation deficiencies and clear closing conditions.
Monitor loan pipeline reports and provide regular status updates to lending management; identify bottlenecks and implement process improvements to optimize throughput.
Maintain and enforce quality control standards for all loan files, ensuring completeness and accuracy prior to booking and disbursement.
Oversee UCC filings, lien searches, title reviews, appraisal orders, hazard insurance verification, and other third-party requirements.
Apply working knowledge of conventional commercial loan underwriting standards as well as SBA Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for 7(a) and 504 loan programs.
Assist in structuring loan packages for government-guaranteed programs to ensure compliance with SBA eligibility requirements and documentation standards.
Collaborate with underwriters and loan originators to resolve credit-related questions and conditions arising during the processing and closing stages.
Review financial statements, tax returns, credit packages, and collateral documentation to verify alignment with underwriting conclusions.
Review executed and draft legal loan documents - including promissory notes, loan agreements, security agreements, deeds of trust/mortgages, guarantees, and SBA authorization documents - for accuracy and consistency with approved credit terms.
Identify and escalate discrepancies between legal documents and the approved credit presentation before execution and disbursement.
Work closely with legal counsel and closing attorneys/agencies to ensure all loan documentation meets regulatory, legal, and institutional requirements.
Maintain familiarity with UCC, real estate lien instruments, and entity/organizational documentation standards for borrowers and guarantors.
Directly supervise a team of Commercial Loan Processors; assign workloads, set priorities, and ensure deadlines are met.
Train, mentor, and develop team members on loan processing procedures, documentation standards, SBA requirements, and compliance protocols.
Conduct performance reviews and provide ongoing coaching to support professional growth and consistent quality of output.
Foster a culture of accountability, precision, and continuous improvement within the processing team.
Serve as an escalation point for complex processing issues, documentation exceptions, and urgent closing timelines.
Ensure all loan processing activities comply with applicable federal and state banking regulations, Bank Secrecy Act/AML requirements, and internal credit policies.
Maintain audit-ready loan files and support internal and external examination processes.
Identify and report process gaps or recurring compliance issues to senior management; recommend corrective actions.
As needed, contact or meet with members directly to support post-closing and post-funding needs - including collecting outstanding documentation, satisfying loan conditions, or addressing servicing-related follow-up items.
Register with the National Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS).
Other duties as assigned by Lending leadership.