Director, Commercial Portfolio Manager

Bank of Montreal•Phoenix, AZ

6d•Onsite

About The Position

BMO is looking for a Team Lead who is a seasoned commercial banking professional with deep expertise in credit underwriting, portfolio management, and structuring complex lending solutions for middle-market clients. Proven leader with the ability to balance risk and growth by delivering disciplined credit decisions, negotiating optimized loan structures, and partnering with Relationship Managers to drive client retention and revenue expansion. Lead team of Portfolio Managers ranging in experience providing oversight, mentorship and coaching. Manage the markets portfolio and ensure compliance with all KPIs. Analyze credit information and financial performance to support lending decisions across a portfolio of middle-market clients ($100MM–$2B+), including new originations, renewals, and amendments Structure and negotiate loan terms, aligning client needs with bank risk appetite, credit policies, and regulatory standards Assess repayment capacity through detailed financial modeling (cash flow, leverage, liquidity) and recommend appropriate structures, pricing, and collateral Exercise delegated credit authority to approve new, renewal, and extension transactions while ensuring compliance with internal policies and procedures Prepare and present credit recommendations, synthesizing financial, industry, and risk insights into clear, actionable approvals Proactively monitor portfolio performance, identifying early warning signals, deteriorating trends, and covenant compliance issues; implement corrective actions as needed Evaluate industry dynamics and macro trends to identify emerging risks and opportunities within the portfolio Optimize portfolio returns by assessing capital allocation and client profitability relative to ROE targets Lead development of credit proposals and client presentations to support new business acquisition and deepen existing relationships Partner closely with Relationship Managers to drive business development, identify cross-sell opportunities, and increase share of wallet Build and maintain strong client and internal stakeholder relationships, serving as a key point of contact for credit-related matters Coordinate deal execution, including documentation and closing, with legal, operations, and clients to ensure timely and accurate completion Leverage internal data systems and analytics tools to support decision-making and enhance portfolio insights Operate independently on complex credits and non-routine situations, applying sound judgment and risk-based thinking aligned with the bank’s risk management framework Contribute to strategic initiatives that enhance service quality, portfolio growth, and operational efficiency

Requirements

12+ years of relevant experience in credit or lending instruments or financial operations in a corporate or banking environment.
Bachelor’s degree required; Business Administration, Finance and Accounting preferred.
Any other related discipline or commensurate work experience considered.
Deep knowledge and technical proficiency gained through extensive education and business experience.
Ability to effectively train, mentor and coach others.

Responsibilities

Analyze credit information and financial performance to support lending decisions across a portfolio of middle-market clients ($100MM–$2B+), including new originations, renewals, and amendments
Structure and negotiate loan terms, aligning client needs with bank risk appetite, credit policies, and regulatory standards
Assess repayment capacity through detailed financial modeling (cash flow, leverage, liquidity) and recommend appropriate structures, pricing, and collateral
Exercise delegated credit authority to approve new, renewal, and extension transactions while ensuring compliance with internal policies and procedures
Prepare and present credit recommendations, synthesizing financial, industry, and risk insights into clear, actionable approvals
Proactively monitor portfolio performance, identifying early warning signals, deteriorating trends, and covenant compliance issues; implement corrective actions as needed
Evaluate industry dynamics and macro trends to identify emerging risks and opportunities within the portfolio
Optimize portfolio returns by assessing capital allocation and client profitability relative to ROE targets
Lead development of credit proposals and client presentations to support new business acquisition and deepen existing relationships
Partner closely with Relationship Managers to drive business development, identify cross-sell opportunities, and increase share of wallet
Build and maintain strong client and internal stakeholder relationships, serving as a key point of contact for credit-related matters
Coordinate deal execution, including documentation and closing, with legal, operations, and clients to ensure timely and accurate completion
Leverage internal data systems and analytics tools to support decision-making and enhance portfolio insights
Operate independently on complex credits and non-routine situations, applying sound judgment and risk-based thinking aligned with the bank’s risk management framework
Contribute to strategic initiatives that enhance service quality, portfolio growth, and operational efficiency
Lead team of Portfolio Managers ranging in experience providing oversight, mentorship and coaching.
Manage the markets portfolio and ensure compliance with all KPIs.