Middle Market Underwriter, Sr

Columbia Bank•Santa Barbara, CA

23h•$88,000 - $165,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Middle Market Underwriter underwrites new and renewal Middle Market credit requests, including working capital and asset-based lines of credit, commercial real estate loans (owner-occupied and investor), and equipment financing. Requests are often from moderate-to-complex enterprises with revenues greater than $5 million. The role works with Client Solutions Managers (CSMs) and Relationship Managers to present findings, business rationale, and risk mitigations to obtain credit approval and meet customer needs. The underwriter analyzes business, industry, financial, and other supporting credit information; identifies risks that could affect repayment; and supports credit recommendations with documented facts and sound judgment. The role prepares timely, concise, accurate recommendations with limited supervision, including quantitative analysis, risk-rating model use, exception identification and mitigation, and accurate loan coding. The position monitors borrower financial performance against loan documents, spreads financial statements, and ensures covenant calculations are accurate and consistent with approval conditions and loan documentation. In partnership with CSMs, the underwriter helps resolve violations in a timely manner and may contribute insights on customer financial needs, relationship expansion opportunities, and loan structures. The role may participate in customer and prospect calls, shadow-manage a portfolio for development, oversee and quality-check other underwriters’ work, and coach or train colleagues. The position requires compliance with applicable bank regulations, policies, procedures, and training requirements, including maintaining working knowledge of Bank Secrecy Act, Regulation CC, Regulation E, and Bank Security requirements. The role also includes modeling Columbia Bank’s corporate culture, taking initiative, and supporting the bank’s vision to become the “Business Bank of Choice.” Other duties may be assigned. Occasional travel is required. The position is fully onsite at the posted Santa Barbara, California location.

Requirements

7–10 years of commercial underwriting or credit analysis experience, or relevant lending experience.
Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills.
Advanced credit and credit quality skills, including accounting, financial statement spreading, and cash flow analysis.
Demonstrated time-management skills and ability to manage multiple tasks while delivering work on time.
Ability to work effectively with individuals and groups across the company to manage internal and external customer relationships.
Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
Advanced knowledge of credit policies, procedures, practices, and documentation.
Ability to train and present to small and large audiences, or interest in learning to do so.

Responsibilities

Underwrite new and renewal Middle Market credit requests, including working capital lines of credit, asset-based lines of credit, commercial real estate loans, and equipment financing.
Analyze business, industry, financial, and other supporting credit information; identify repayment risks and support recommendations with documented facts and sound judgment.
Prepare timely, concise, and accurate credit recommendations with limited supervision or revision, including quantitative analysis, risk ratings, exceptions, and loan coding.
Use quantitative and qualitative elements of Dual Risk Rating models to ensure customers and loans are properly risk-rated.
Identify and mitigate exceptions to Bank tracked policies, tracked guidelines, procedures, and compliance regulations.
Monitor borrower financial performance in accordance with commercial and real estate loan documents.
Spread financial statements or ensure they are spread according to Bank Guidelines, and ensure covenant calculations are accurate and consistent with approvals and loan documentation.
Collaborate with CSMs to send borrower notifications and obtain approvals to resolve violations in a timely manner.
Partner with CSMs and Relationship Managers to identify customer financial needs and relationship expansion opportunities, and provide input on loan structures and risk mitigations.
Participate in customer and prospect calls as appropriate.
May shadow-manage a portfolio with a CSM as part of training and development, subject to Underwriting Manager and Market Director approval.
May oversee commercial underwriters or credit analysts, review their credit reports, document findings using a standardized QC Checklist, and provide guidance and training.
Comply with bank regulations, policies, procedures, and required annual or job-specific training, and keep current on regulatory changes.
Maintain working knowledge of applicable bank policies and regulations, including the Bank Secrecy Act, Regulation CC, Regulation E, and Bank Security.
May coach, mentor, or train others and teach coursework as a subject matter expert.
Demonstrate and foster Columbia’s corporate culture, take personal initiative, and support the bank’s vision to become the “Business Bank of Choice.”
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision plans
401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match for qualifying associate contributions
Employee assistance program
Life insurance
Disability insurance
Tuition assistance
Mental health resources
Identity theft protection
Legal support
Auto and home insurance
Pet insurance
Online discount marketplace
Paid vacation
Paid sick days
Paid volunteer days
Paid holidays
Performance-based incentive compensation may be available