Director of C & I Appraisals

Sunflower Bank, N.A.•Plano, TX

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of C&I (Commercial & Industrial) Appraisals is responsible for the administration and governance of the SBNA Appraisal Policy and Procedures for commercial real estate collateral valuations. Reporting directly to the Chief Appraiser, this role ensures that appraisal activities are conducted in compliance with regulatory requirements, internal risk standards, and industry best practices. The Director of C&I Appraisals assists the Chief Appraiser with strategic oversight of third-party appraisal vendors, internal review processes, quality control review, and valuation risk management, ensuring independence, quality, and consistency across the Bank’s commercial lending portfolio. This position plays a critical role in safeguarding the Bank’s credit and collateral quality through sound valuation governance, ensuring that collateral risk is appropriately measured, monitored, and managed in alignment with the Bank’s strategic objectives and regulatory expectations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, Accounting, or related field required desired.
Minimum 10+ years of experience in commercial appraisal, valuation review, or credit risk management within a financial institution.
Demonstrated leadership experience managing appraisal functions or valuation teams.
Strong knowledge of C&I collateral valuation methodologies, complex commercial real estate and residential real estate.
In-depth understanding of regulatory requirements governing bank appraisal programs.
Strong reporting capabilities using Excell preferred.
Deep knowledge of appraisal regulatory framework and risk governance practices.
Strong analytical, critical thinking, and risk assessment skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level reporting.
High level of integrity and ability to maintain independence and objectivity.
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic, risk-focused environment.
Solutions-driven business acumen.

Nice To Haves

Experience with appraisal platforms such as RIMS, C360 or YouConnect preferred.
MAI, from the Appraisal Institute, or other relevant valuation credential strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Appraisal Policy & Governance: Assist the Chief Appraiser with the implementation, maintenance, and ongoing enhancement of the Bank’s appraisal policies and procedures related to commercial real estate collateral. Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory guidance (e.g., Interagency Appraisal and Evaluation Guidelines, USPAP, FIRREA, Dodd-Frank, Appraiser Independence Requirements, Fair Housing, Fair Lending) and internal credit risk standards. Collaborate with and provide strategic support to the Chief Appraiser in strengthening appraisal policies and procedures in response to regulatory developments, audit insights, and emerging valuation risks. Develop and maintain necessary procedural documentation, job aids, and internal controls supporting policy adherence. Assist the Chief Appraiser with facilitation of internal training sessions for lenders and Credit personnel.
Valuation Oversight & Quality Control: Oversee the ordering, engagement, and review process for appraisals and evaluations related to commercial and residential real estate collateral and business valuations and associated reviews. Ensure appraisal independence consistent with regulatory expectations. Establish and maintain a robust quality control framework to assess credibility, reasonableness, and regulatory compliance of valuation products and vendors. Monitor and report on valuation trends, exceptions, and risk indicators to the Chief Appraiser and Credit Risk leadership.
Vendor Management: Assist with the formation and management of the approved appraiser and valuation vendor panel. Conduct due diligence, onboarding, performance monitoring, and periodic re-qualification of third-party vendors. Negotiate engagement terms and maintain service-level expectations. Ensure vendors meet competency, licensing, and insurance requirements. Facilitate the resolution of issues with deficient vendors and provide solutions to facilitate loan transactions.
Risk Management & Reporting Identify and escalate valuation-related risks to senior leadership. Develop reporting dashboards and metrics related to turnaround times, exceptions, review findings, and portfolio exposure. Support internal audit, regulatory examinations, and external audit requests related to real estate. Provide subject matter expertise in criticized/classified asset reviews and complex commercial real estate transactions.
Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with Commercial Lending, Special Assets, Credit Administration, and Risk Management to ensure appropriate collateral valuation support. Provide guidance on collateral structuring and valuation requirements for new and complex transactions. Deliver training to lending and credit teams regarding appraisal policy requirements and best practices.
Team Leadership Lead, mentor, and develop appraisal review staff as applicable. Establish performance standards, training programs, and succession planning initiatives. Foster a culture of compliance, accountability, and continuous improvement