Senior Associate

First Merchants Corporation•Chicago, IL

11h

About The Position

As part of this role, you will prepare and provide analytics to support the commercial sales team, interface with clients to gather credit and financial information, pre-screen and analyze pertinent financial data and Commercial Decision Summary underwriting data, and prepare Opportunity Memos. You will also assist with the completion of annual reviews and loan covenant/trigger testing, ensuring clients are in compliance with all covenants. Additionally, you will conduct client meetings with the Relationship Manager to develop client relationships, support portfolio management, assist with loss prevention, identify risk, and work delinquent loans up to 30 days. You will extend credit within assigned limits, support Relationship Managers with Treasury/cash management needs and solutions, and monitor loan maturity dates within the portfolio, recommending renewal strategies. The role involves utilizing bank reporting tools to ensure progress is documented and tracked, preparing various scheduled management reports, and monitoring portfolio performance to ensure accuracy of credit ratings and identifying client performance. You will partner with the commercial sales team, support prospecting strategies, be cognizant of developing geographic and industry trends, and communicate findings. You will also assist relationship managers to price transactions fairly with market data and against benchmarks, assist with projects, and develop new or refine existing efficiencies and processes. Furthermore, you will prepare and present Annual Credit Reviews to committees, actively participate in client interaction in support of Relationship Manager or Treasury Officer efforts, and review and understand credit agreements and all supporting documentation related to the relationship. The Senior Associate may also be responsible for specializations in Investment Real Estate Banking, including direct accountability for loss prevention, determining necessary action on all loans, resolving marginal and delinquent loans, extending credit within assigned limits, interviewing applicants, obtaining information, assessing credit risk, reviewing, validating and/or approving letters of credit, cross-selling opportunities, and coordinating all construction loan draws with clients and directing the submission process with internal construction loan administration desk. Support RMs in preparation of quarterly PLU’s.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
Experience as an Associate with First Merchants or a minimum of two (2) years of credit analyst, financial analyst, or commercial banking experience.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics, accounting or related field.
Industry specialization – commercial and industrial, investment real estate, agriculture, dental, veterinarian, corporate or commercial client exposure.
Financial statement review, decision and/or financial modeling experience.
One (1) or more years of experience as an Associate with First Merchants.
Prior banking experience.
Ability to sell and cross-sell bank products and services.

Responsibilities

Prepare and provide analytics in support to the commercial sales team.
Interface with client, gather credit and financial information.
Pre-screen and analyze pertinent financial data and Commercial Decision Summary underwriting data.
Prepare Opportunity Memos.
Assist with completion of annual review and loan covenant/trigger testing.
Ensure clients are in compliance with all covenants (financial and otherwise).
Conduct client meetings with Relationship Manager to develop client relationships.
Support portfolio management, assist with loss prevention, identify risk and work delinquent loans up to 30 days.
Extend credit within assigned limits.
Support Relationship Managers with Treasury/cash management needs and solutions.
Monitor loan maturity dates within the portfolio and recommend renewal strategy with the Relationship Manager.
Utilize bank reporting tools to ensure progress is documented and tracked, and prepare various scheduled management reports.
Monitor portfolio performance ensuring accuracy of credit ratings and identifying client performance, as need by region.
Partner with the commercial sales team and support prospecting strategies.
Be cognizant of developing geographic and industry trends, and communicate findings.
Assist relationship managers to price transaction fairly with market data and against benchmarks.
Assist with projects and developing new or refining existing efficiencies and processes as required.
Prepare and present Annual Credit Reviews to committees.
Actively Participate in client interaction in support of Relationship Manager or Treasury Officer efforts.
Review and understand credit agreements and all supporting documentation related to the relationship.
Direct accountability for loss prevention; determine necessary action to be taken on all loans, includes resolving marginal and delinquent loans.
Interview applicants and obtain information concerning their business needs, abilities and earnings, and assess credit risk.
Review, validate and/or approve letters of credit.
Cross sell opportunities.
Coordinate all construction loan draws with clients and direct submission process with internal construction loan administration desk.
Support RMs in preparation of quarterly PLU’s.