Credit Products Officer III - National Franchise Banking

Columbia Bank•Phoenix, AZ

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Credit Products Officer (CPO) is responsible for underwriting, structuring, and managing credit relationships within the restaurant and franchise portfolio. This role involves managing new and renewal credit requests and mitigating credit risk for a large and complex portfolio of commercial relationships. Typical transactions include multi-unit franchisor, independently branded, and franchisee operators (sponsor-backed and owner-operator) utilizing working capital / development lines of credit, cash flow term loans, equipment financing, and commercial real estate loans (owner-occupied) supporting franchise operations. The role performs advanced financial, industry, and sponsor/management analysis; designs and recommends credit structures and covenants; prepares decision-ready credit memoranda; reviews and negotiates legal documentation; assigns/defends risk ratings; executes ongoing monitoring (annual reviews, covenant compliance, early warning indicators, criticized/problem credit support) in partnership with Client Solutions Managers (CSMs) and Relationship Managers; and trains/mentors junior Credit Products Officers. The role also involves analyzing business, industry, and financial data to identify key risks, making recommendations on loan structure and terms, and evaluating enterprise-level and unit-level performance drivers. Additionally, it includes performing franchise-specific diligence, assessing franchisor/brand strength, unit economics, and contractual obligations. The CPO partners with Client Solutions Managers and Relationship Managers to offer insights into customer financial needs and relationship expansion opportunities. The role may oversee the work of junior Credit Product Officers, manage multiple client opportunities, and provide real-time coaching. Demonstrates compliance with all bank regulations and follows all Bank policies and procedures, including those related to Bank Secrecy Act, Regulation CC, Regulation E, and Bank Security. May be asked to coach, mentor, or train others and teach coursework as a subject matter expert. Actively learns, demonstrates, and fosters the Columbia corporate culture and embraces the vision to become “Business Bank of Choice”. May perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, Finance, Accounting, or equivalent work experience (Required)
More than 10: Commercial underwriting/credit analysis experience or relevant lending experience.
Strong preference for franchise finance and/or specialty lending experience; franchise underwriting and portfolio management.
Experience analyzing multi-unit operators, projection modeling, management capability, and unit-level performance. (Required)
Expert analytical and problem-solving skills.
Expert knowledge of credit policies, procedures, practices and documentation.
Expert credit and credit quality skills including accounting, financial statement spreading, and cash flow analysis experience; ability to train and present to small and large audiences.
Demonstrated time management skills, reflecting the ability to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously while delivering work product on time.
Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal and presentation skills.
Ability to communicate effectively with small and large audiences; often includes actively participating in presentations to customers at a high level (i.e. CFO, CEO, and other Executive levels).
Ability to interact effectively and professionally with executive levels. Interactions may include controversial situations, customer negotiations, or influencing and persuading.
Proven ability to forge relationships with the client’s finance and accounting staff to create effective, consistent communication and client retention.
Proven ability to work effectively with individuals and groups to manage internal and external customer relationships.
Proficiency with personal computers and related software packages such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other business machines.

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree In Business Administration, Finance, or Accounting (Preferred)

Responsibilities

Analyze business, industry, financial data and other supporting credit information concerning an applicant’s credit request; identifies key business and financial risks that may impact the repayment prospects by the borrower; derives conclusions supporting the credit recommendation based on documented facts and/or sound judgement.
Makes recommendations on loan structure & terms and refers these issues to the next appropriate level of authority.
May include evaluation of enterprise-level and unit-level performance drivers (store sales trends, margins, labor and food cost sensitivity, operating leverage, and multi-unit execution risk).
Additionally, may include evaluation of franchise and lease agreements for key risk factors.
Prepare timely, concise and accurate credit recommendations, and deliver tailored financing solutions with limited supervision or revision.
Includes: (1) quantitative components within the underwriting narrative documenting the credit analysis; (2) accurate use of risk rating scoring models (aka Dual Risk Rating), both quantitative and qualitative rating elements, to ensure customers and loans are properly risk-rated; (3) accurate identification and mitigation of all exceptions to Bank tracked policies exceptions (TPE), tracked guidelines exceptions (TGE), procedures and compliance regulations; and (4) accurate loan coding consistent with nature of the borrowing relationship and terms of the credit(s).
Perform franchise-specific diligence, including assessment of franchisor/brand strength, unit economics, and contractual obligations that affect cash flow.
Performs review and negotiation of loan agreements, guaranty structures, collateral packages, and covenants.
Works directly with outside counsel to ensure documentation aligns with underwriting intent, policy, and regulatory expectations.
Monitor borrower financial performance in line with commercial and/or real estate loan documents; spreads financial statement and/or ensures required financial statements are spread in accordance with Bank Guidelines and resulting covenant calculations are accurate, complete and adhere to approval conditions and loan documentation.
Ensures borrower notifications are sent and approvals are obtained to resolve any violations in a timely manner.
Partners with Client Solutions Managers and Relationship Managers to offer insights into customer financial needs, including relationship expansion opportunities identified using Line of Business-approved relationship expansion tools (i.e. ancillary products).
May also offer recommendations related to a loan structure’s effectiveness to mitigate risks, appropriate to prevailing competitive market environment and Bank risk tolerances.
Partners with Relationship Managers in customer and prospect in-person meetings and calls as appropriate and develops client relationships to act as a secondary point of contact for the client.
Responsible for participating in the development and retention of customer relationships as well as fully managing complex customer relationships from a credit perspective.
May oversee the work of junior Credit Product Officers, manage multiple client opportunities simultaneously, including the timely review of credit reports to ensure a high level of report quality prior to submission for approval.
Provides real time coaching on structure, risk identification, and documentation.
Mentor/coach/train and/or direct the work of others.
Demonstrates compliance with all bank regulations for assigned job function and applies to designated job responsibilities – knowledge may be gained through coursework and on-the-job training.
Keeps up to date on regulation changes.
Follows all Bank policies and procedures, compliance regulations, and completes all required annual or job-specific training.
Maintain a working knowledge of Bank's written policies and procedures regarding Bank Secrecy Act, Regulation CC, Regulation E, Bank Security and other regulations as applicable to this job description.
May be asked to coach, mentor, or train others and teach coursework as subject matter expert.
Actively learns, demonstrates, and fosters the Columbia corporate culture in all actions and words.
Takes personal initiative and is a positive example for others to emulate.
Embraces our vision to become “Business Bank of Choice”.
May perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

comprehensive healthcare coverage (medical, dental, and vision plans)
a 401(k)-retirement savings plan with employer match for qualifying associate contributions
an employee assistance program
life insurance
disability insurance
tuition assistance
mental health resources
identity theft protection
legal support
auto and home insurance
pet insurance
access to an online discount marketplace
paid vacation, sick days, volunteer days, and holidays