Loan Review Manager - Iselin, NJ

Provident Bank • Iselin, NJ

4d • $177,000 - $203,000

About The Position

The Loan Review Manager oversees, administers, and continuously enhances Provident Bank’s independent Loan Review Program, providing objective second-line oversight of credit quality, risk-rating accuracy, underwriting practices, documentation standards, portfolio trends, and compliance with Bank policies and regulatory expectations. The position operates independently from loan origination, underwriting, and approval functions and conducts risk-based assessments of the loan portfolio and credit administration processes. It provides effective challenge, identifies emerging credit risks and control weaknesses, and delivers executive-level reporting and actionable recommendations.

The manager oversees the program through an internal, outsourced, or hybrid review model and may conduct loan reviews and portfolio assessments directly when needed. The role manages third-party review providers, validates findings and corrective actions, tracks remediation, and supports reporting to Senior Management, the Board of Directors, and the Audit Committee. There are no direct reports initially, though direct reports may be added as the function develops.

Work is performed in a normal office environment, with usually moderate noise levels and hazards typical of an office setting. The position is incentive eligible based on company, business, and/or individual goals and performance.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Risk Management, or a related field; relevant directly related experience may be considered as a substitute where appropriate.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in commercial credit, loan review, credit risk review, credit administration, underwriting, portfolio management, internal audit, bank regulatory supervision, or a closely related financial-services discipline.
• Experience evaluating risk ratings, criticized or classified assets, policy exceptions, underwriting standards, documentation quality, and portfolio trends.
• Advanced knowledge of commercial credit fundamentals, credit administration, underwriting, portfolio management, loan grading or risk-rating systems, collateral analysis, covenant monitoring, and criticized or classified asset practices.
• Strong understanding of independent credit risk review principles, regulatory expectations for effective credit risk review systems, and second-line risk oversight.
• Ability to analyze financial statements, tax returns, cash flow, debt service coverage, guarantor support, collateral valuations, repayment sources, borrower industry conditions, and transaction structure.
• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, professional skepticism, communication, interpersonal, organizational, and project-management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and portfolio or reporting tools.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and maintain sound documentation standards.

Nice To Haves

• An advanced degree or equivalent specialized banking, credit, or risk-management training.
• Direct experience conducting or managing independent loan review, credit review, or credit risk oversight activities.
• Experience managing third-party loan review providers, outsourced engagements, or hybrid review models.
• Experience preparing reports for senior management, executive committees, Board or Audit Committee audiences, regulators, or auditors.
• Prior management, team leadership, or workstream leadership experience.
• Experience with CRE, C&I, construction, multifamily, owner-occupied real estate, consumer/residential, and/or specialized lending portfolios, depending on the Bank’s portfolio composition.
• Familiarity with loan-review software, data analytics, or dashboarding tools.
• Preferred certifications or training may include RMA Credit Risk Certification (CRC), Certified Risk Professional (CRP), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), CPA, formal commercial lending or credit training, or another relevant credit or risk-management certification.

Responsibilities

• Perform and oversee independent reviews of commercial and consumer credit exposures, emphasizing higher-risk, complex, criticized, watch-list, and concentration segments.
• Conduct loan reviews and portfolio assessments in support of the approved Loan Review Plan.
• Evaluate credit quality, underwriting, risk-rating accuracy, policy compliance, documentation, and credit administration practices.
• Provide effective challenge, identify emerging risks, and recommend corrective actions to strengthen portfolio quality and risk management.
• Develop, maintain, and execute a risk-based Loan Review Program, including annual planning, portfolio risk assessment, review scope, sampling, schedules, quality standards, documentation, and reporting protocols.
• Oversee third-party loan review providers and validate that their work meets Bank expectations, approved scope, policy requirements, and applicable regulatory guidance.
• Prepare concise, board-ready reporting on portfolio quality, risk-rating trends, credit themes, underwriting or documentation weaknesses, exception patterns, risk migration, emerging risks, and corrective actions.
• Use portfolio data, management information, and review results to provide an independent view of credit risk and contribute relevant input to allowance and credit-loss governance without owning those processes.
• Engage with Lending, Credit Administration, Credit Risk, Finance, Internal Audit, Compliance, and Executive Management as an independent second-line presence across the credit lifecycle.
• Participate in relevant committees and portfolio discussions as an independent, non-approval risk voice.
• Support regulatory, external audit, internal audit, and Board or Audit Committee inquiries concerning Loan Review governance, methodology, findings, and issue follow-up.
• Identify, document, communicate, and track Loan Review findings and themes through appropriate governance channels.
• Discuss findings with business partners and management, monitor remediation, and validate closure when appropriate.
• Recommend enhancements to methodologies, reporting, policies, staffing, technology, data, and the operating model as the Bank’s portfolio, complexity, and regulatory expectations evolve.
• Provide functional oversight of outsourced Loan Review providers and other external resources supporting the program.
• Guide and coordinate internal stakeholders involved in review activities, portfolio analysis, reporting, and remediation.
• Assist in developing the Bank’s long-term Loan Review operating model, including potential internal staffing, hybrid review structures, and program enhancements.

Benefits

• Incentive eligibility based on company, business, and/or individual goal achievement and performance.
• Paid Time Off (PTO).
• Paid holidays.
• Medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA).
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Disability insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Basic life insurance.
• Company-sponsored tuition disbursement and loan repayment programs.
• Voluntary supplemental life insurance, accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and legal plans.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager