Commercial Real Estate Senior Underwriter

U.S. Bank • Atlanta, GA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Underwriter is responsible for underwriting and managing a portfolio of complex commercial real estate relationships, including publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), Real Estate Operating Companies (REOCs), and real estate private equity funds. This role performs comprehensive financial analysis, prepares credit recommendations, monitors portfolio performance, and partners closely with Relationship Managers, Portfolio Managers, and Credit Risk Management to support sound credit decisions. The Senior Underwriter manages transactions from initial underwriting through final credit approval, including new loan requests, renewals, modifications, extensions, annual reviews, and ongoing portfolio monitoring activities. The position requires strong analytical skills, sound credit judgment, and the ability to evaluate sophisticated borrowers operating across various commercial real estate sectors nationwide.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree, or equivalent work experience
• Three or more years of experience in a finance/analytical related role

Nice To Haves

• Experience underwriting commercial real estate transactions involving REITs, REOCs, real estate funds, or institutional real estate investors.
• Strong knowledge of commercial credit analysis, financial statement analysis, and risk assessment methodologies.
• Experience managing complex borrower relationships and large credit exposures.
• Ability to independently analyze credit requests and develop underwriting recommendations.
• Strong written communication and credit memorandum writing skills.
• Effective verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Experience interacting with business line partners, portfolio managers, and credit approvers.
• Ability to analyze large volumes of financial and portfolio data accurately and efficiently.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including financial modeling and analysis.
• Experience utilizing nCino or similar commercial lending and credit workflow systems.
• Strong understanding of financial spreading tools and portfolio management systems.

Responsibilities

• Analyze borrower and guarantor financial statements to assess creditworthiness, repayment capacity, and overall credit risk.
• Prepare comprehensive written credit analyses and recommendations for new loan requests, renewals, modifications, and extensions.
• Complete risk rating assessments and recommend appropriate transaction structures and credit mitigants.
• Underwrite complex commercial real estate transactions, including large balance and syndicated credit facilities.
• Present underwriting conclusions and recommendations to business line and credit approval partners.
• Manage an assigned portfolio of commercial real estate relationships.
• Oversee quarterly trend analyses, annual reviews, covenant compliance testing, and portfolio monitoring activities.
• Monitor portfolio performance and identify emerging credit trends or risk concerns.
• Ensure timely receipt and analysis of borrower financial reporting requirements.
• Maintain compliance with credit policies, underwriting standards, and regulatory expectations.
• Perform detailed financial statement spreading and analysis.
• Evaluate borrower operating performance, capital structures, liquidity, cash flow, leverage, and debt service capacity.
• Utilize financial models to assess credit quality and support underwriting recommendations.
• Analyze industry, market, and borrower-specific trends impacting credit performance.
• Maintain accurate financial and covenant tracking databases.
• Partner with Relationship Managers and Portfolio Managers to support existing client relationships and business development efforts.
• Collaborate with Credit Risk Management throughout the underwriting and approval process.
• Participate in client meetings and internal discussions regarding transaction structure, borrower performance, and credit strategy.
• Provide insights and recommendations regarding portfolio and industry trends.
• Input and analyze borrower financial statements.
• Prepare underwriting models and financial analyses in Excel.
• Complete quarterly monitoring reports, trend analyses, and annual reviews.
• Conduct covenant compliance testing and portfolio monitoring.
• Prepare and present credit approval packages.
• Support borrowers requesting new financing, loan renewals, modifications, and extensions.
• Manage transactions through the full underwriting and approval lifecycle from initial analysis through final approval.

Benefits

• Healthcare (medical, dental, vision)
• Basic term and optional term life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability
• Pregnancy disability and parental leave
• 401(k) and employer-funded retirement plan
• Paid vacation (from two to five weeks depending on salary grade and tenure)
• Up to 11 paid holiday opportunities
• Adoption assistance
• Sick and Safe Leave accruals of one hour for every 30 worked, up to 80 hours per calendar year unless otherwise provided by law

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior