Farm Credit Analyst

FIRST BANK & TRUST•Colorado Springs, CO

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Farm Credit Analyst is a vital role within our Agriculture Department, responsible for conducting complex credit evaluations of agricultural loans. You will focus on assessing the financial health of large-scale farming operations and agribusinesses. This position requires a professional who can blend technical financial expertise with a deep understanding of the unique variables of the agricultural industry to ensure the safety and soundness of our loan portfolio.

Requirements

Understanding of commodity markets, livestock cycles, and crop production factors impacting borrower profitability.
Deep knowledge of the "Five C’s of Credit" as applied to specialized agricultural lending.
Ability to build and interpret complex spreadsheets for trend analysis and identify financial patterns within disparate data sets.
Capacity to draft clear, persuasive credit memorandums and discuss complex financial issues with stakeholders and producers.
Ability to evaluate management quality and operational efficiency during farm site visits.
Familiarity with GAAP, tax accounting (farm-related schedules), and federal/state banking regulations.
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Agricultural Business, Accounting, a related field, or equivalent experience.
4–6 years of professional experience in credit analysis, specifically within the agricultural or commercial lending sectors.
Demonstrated expertise using credit analysis software, financial spread tools, and core banking systems.

Nice To Haves

Completion of formal commercial credit training or specialized agricultural lending certifications is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Analyze financial statements, tax returns, and cash flow projections for complex agricultural operations to determine repayment capacity and debt-to-equity ratios.
Quantify risks unique to agriculture, including market volatility, weather impacts, and commodity price fluctuations, ensuring alignment with credit policies.
Maintain an active monitoring system for the existing loan portfolio, performing regular reviews to ensure early detection of deteriorating credit quality.
Verify the value and legal standing of agricultural collateral (land, livestock, equipment, and crops) and review appraisals to ensure a secured position.
Partner with loan officers to gather documentation and present formal credit memorandums to the Credit Committee for high-limit or complex requests.
Provide technical assistance and peer reviews for junior credit analysts, assisting in the development of departmental workflows and software implementation.
Ensure all credit files meet internal auditing standards and federal banking regulations while staying current on Farm Credit System trends.