Director (VP) Portfolio Mgmt- Sponsor Finance

Ally Bank•Chicago, IL

20h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Portfolio Management manages an assigned portfolio of sponsor-backed middle-market leveraged loans and contributes significantly to underwriting, structuring, executing, and syndicating new transactions. The role provides comprehensive oversight of assigned credits, including financial performance and trends, covenant compliance, reporting requirements, risk ratings, and emerging risks. It interfaces with Ally CF executive management, Ally Risk, referral sources, sponsor groups, bank syndicate members, management teams, and Ally CF support functions such as legal, loan administration, and operations. The Director also provides day-to-day guidance and supports the training, development, and mentoring of Analyst and Associate team members. The role is based in Ally's New York City or Chicago office and is expected to be in the office four days per week, with one remote day. The ideal candidate has strong credit skills, sound commercial judgment, and the ability to maintain detailed oversight of loan portfolio activity.

Requirements

At least 9 years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
High school diploma or GED equivalent.
At least 7 years of relevant leveraged finance, underwriting, or portfolio management experience.
Demonstrated experience managing middle-market leveraged loan portfolios.
Experience managing borrower amendments, waivers, restructurings, and refinancing activities.
Experience in banking, commercial lending, private credit, underwriting, financial analysis, credit analysis, auditing, or collateral management.
Experience managing borrower and sponsor relationships.
Advanced understanding of leveraged lending structures, cash-flow underwriting, enterprise valuation methodologies, debt-capacity analysis, covenant structures, sponsor equity dynamics, and leveraged buyout transaction modeling.
Demonstrated experience underwriting and/or managing private equity sponsor-backed middle-market companies.
Experience presenting credit recommendations, portfolio reviews, and risk assessments to senior management and credit approval committees.
Excellent verbal and written communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
Highly analytical and detail-oriented, with strong problem-solving capabilities.
Ability to work independently and demonstrate strong time-management skills.
Well-developed presentation and relationship-building skills.
High level of accountability and ability to prioritize tasks effectively.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, including financial forecasting and modeling.

Nice To Haves

Completion of a formal credit training program.

Responsibilities

Manage an assigned portfolio of commercial loans and proactively identify emerging risks.
Complete credit reviews, risk-rating assessments, and ongoing portfolio monitoring; present portfolio updates and risk assessments to senior management and credit committees.
Manage portfolio administration, including financial-performance monitoring, covenant compliance, exception reporting, facility renewals and amendments, and coordination and management of the bank group.
Monitor sponsor activity, industry dynamics, and macroeconomic developments affecting portfolio companies; identify emerging risks and develop mitigation strategies.
Review and negotiate credit documentation in consultation with legal counsel.
Develop and maintain relationships with private equity sponsors, management teams, investment bankers, and lending partners to support portfolio oversight and identify business opportunities.
Analyze borrower operating performance, liquidity, leverage trends, covenant compliance, and cash flow generation.
Evaluate amendment, waiver, acquisition, add-on investment, and refinancing requests.
Lead portfolio management for criticized and challenged credits, including risk-mitigation strategies, amendment and restructuring negotiations, liquidity monitoring, and coordination with internal workout and risk teams.
Participate in underwriting new transactions, including business due diligence, financial analysis, leverage and cash-flow assessment, enterprise valuation, sponsor evaluation, and transaction structuring.
Evaluate transaction risks and recommend appropriate covenant, collateral, pricing, and structural protections.
Prepare and present underwriting recommendations to credit committees and senior management.
Support syndication and lender presentation activities.
Assist with training and mentoring Analyst and Associate team members.

Benefits

Market-competitive base pay and performance-based annual incentives.
Paid time off starting at 20 days, 11 paid holidays, and 8 hours of annual volunteer time off.
401(k) retirement savings plan with matching and company contributions.
Student loan pay-down and 529 education savings assistance programs.
Tuition reimbursement.
Employee stock purchase plan.
Financial learning center and financial coach access.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
Employee, spouse, and child life insurance.
Short- and long-term disability insurance.
Health Savings Account with employer contributions and Healthcare Flexible Spending Account.
Critical illness, accident, and hospital indemnity insurance.
Total well-being program.
Adoption, surrogacy, and fertility assistance.
Paid parental and caregiver leave.
Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account, backup child and adult/elder care days, and childcare discounts.
Employee Assistance Program.
Subsidized and discounted Weight Watchers program and other employee discount programs.
Depending on the role, travel allowances, relocation assistance, signing bonus, and/or equity may be available.