CRE Underwriter

Old National Bank•Madison, WI

About The Position

The Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Underwriter is responsible for the ongoing monitoring, administration, and credit quality of an assigned portfolio of commercial relationships. The role coordinates portfolio management activities, oversees review workflows, monitoring requirements, and risk management efforts, and reviews analyst recommendations. The Underwriter approves designated credit actions within delegated authority, including asset quality ratings (AQR), and partners with Relationship Managers and other stakeholders to identify emerging risks, ensure compliance with bank policy, and support prudent portfolio growth.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or a related field.
At least 5 years of commercial credit, underwriting, portfolio management, or lending experience.
Strong financial statement analysis and credit risk evaluation skills.
Working knowledge of commercial lending structures, documentation, and regulatory expectations.
Ability to make sound risk-based decisions and exercise independent credit judgment.
Strong organizational, communication, and relationship management skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

Review and evaluate analyst-prepared financial analyses, annual reviews, covenant compliance assessments, and credit recommendations.
Exercise independent credit judgment when approving risk ratings, annual reviews, portfolio management actions, and other credit decisions within authority limits.
Escalate higher-risk transactions, policy exceptions, and complex credit matters as appropriate.
Identify developing credit concerns and recommend corrective actions, risk mitigation strategies, or escalation when warranted.
Maintain a thorough understanding of borrowers' financial performance, industry conditions, and evolving risk profiles.
Monitor assigned relationships to identify emerging credit risks and changes in borrower performance.
Monitor financial reporting requirements, covenant compliance, borrowing base reporting, collateral performance, and other ongoing credit obligations.
Manage exceptions, past-due reviews, documentation deficiencies, and other portfolio management requirements.
Monitor portfolio trends and risk migration to ensure appropriate risk identification and reporting.
Prepare Special Asset Reports (SARs) quarterly and monitor payment delinquency within the portfolio.
Serve as the primary point of contact between analyst resources and internal stakeholders.
Assign, prioritize, and oversee analyst workflow to ensure timely completion of portfolio management activities.
Review analyst work product for accuracy, completeness, consistency, and adherence to bank standards.
Provide coaching and guidance on financial analysis, credit risk assessment, and portfolio management expectations.
Facilitate communication among analysts, Relationship Managers, and Credit Officers to ensure alignment and timely issue resolution.
Partner with Relationship Managers to support client retention, growth initiatives, and ongoing relationship management.
Provide guidance regarding credit policy, risk management practices, and portfolio administration requirements.
Collaborate with Credit Administration, Loan Operations, and other internal partners to support efficient portfolio management and issue resolution.
Serve as a trusted resource on assigned relationships and portfolio-related matters.
Ensure portfolio activities comply with bank policies, regulatory requirements, and established credit standards.
Support internal audits, loan reviews, and regulatory examinations.
Prepare and review portfolio reporting, risk assessments, and other management information as required.
Contribute to process improvements that enhance portfolio quality, risk management effectiveness, and operational efficiency.