Senior Closing Officer/Lead Closing Officer - Commercial Real Estate and Syndications

KeyBank•Brooklyn, OH

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Closing Officer supports a national team of Real Estate Loan Closing Officers responsible for closing the most complex and high-risk commercial real estate loans for the Institutional Capital Group (ICG), including the Institutional Real Estate (IRE) and Healthcare (HC) lines of business within KeyBank Real Estate Capital (KBREC). This role provides senior-level subject-matter expertise throughout the entire loan lifecycle, from approval through closing and into post-closing servicing activities. The Senior Closing Officer partners closely with ICG business partners, clients, attorneys, title and insurance providers, financial institutions, and internal stakeholders to ensure all pre-closing due diligence requirements are satisfied and that loan documentation accurately reflects approved credit terms. Responsibilities include reviewing third-party reports and insurance certificates, preparing funding notices for syndicated lending partners, producing client closing statements, and supporting negotiation of loan documents. In addition, the Senior Closing Officer provides guidance, oversight, and issue resolution support to Closing Officers and Lead Closing Officers, ensuring workflows are executed accurately, timely, and in compliance with internal policies, federal regulations, and bank standards. The role manages assigned post-closing requirements and subsequent loan modifications, ensuring accurate servicing execution, data integrity, and effective handoffs from closing to servicing. The Senior Closing Officer plays a key role in risk management and compliance by ensuring adherence to established KBREC policies, regulatory requirements, and bank standards. The role leads and influences continuous improvement initiatives by identifying and supporting enhancements to processes, tools, and controls that improve efficiency, reduce operational risk, and support a consistent, high-quality client experience across the lending lifecycle. The Lead Closing Officer provides advance closing expertise and execution support for the same national team, serving as a subject-matter expert and escalation point, supporting high-complexity transactions and ensuring consistent, high-quality execution. This role also oversees post-closing requirements and subsequent loan modifications, ensuring seamless handoffs, data integrity, and effective risk management, and contributes to process improvement efforts.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent work experience
5+ years of related experience, including at least 2 years in a Lead Closing Officer role, preferably in banking or financial services
Strong knowledge and experience in Institutional commercial real estate senior secured and interim loan financing including committed loan structures, REITs, title/liens, contracts, leases, AIA documents, project budgets, insurance, commercial loan documents and other legal documentation, and compliance with governmental legal requirements
Strong knowledge and experience of multi-bank loan participations/syndications and secondary market standards
Strong understanding of commercial lending concepts
Expert proficiency in commercial loan documentation and closing
Strong knowledge with commercial loan accounting systems, including LIQ
Excellent solution-oriented and problem-solving skills
Excellent decision-making skills and judgment
Ability to work at a high level of independence without on-site direct supervision
Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication
Expert planning and organizational abilities; high attention to detail
Expert proficiency in managing multiple tasks in a high-volume environment
Expert aptitude for analysis, systems and mathematics
Deliver excellent, distinctive personalized service to external and internal clients
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and OneNote

Nice To Haves

Paralegal training, law degree and/or LPO license (preferred)
Familiarity with Healthcare products

Responsibilities

Manage end-to-end pre- and post-closing activities for complex loan structures, including Healthcare, Institutional Real Estate, and other commercial loan types.
Provide senior subject-matter expertise throughout the closing process, including review of credit approvals, term sheets, closing checklists, and all items required to close.
Proactively and effectively drive the closing process by coordinating timelines, monitoring progress of conditions, and ensuring all pre-closing and post-closing requirements are satisfied prior to funding and after close.
Accumulate, analyze, and review loan documentation for conformity with credit approval, term sheets, internal policy, and regulatory requirements; assist in negotiating client-requested changes with counsel and line-of-business partners.
Engage and coordinate external parties including legal counsel, title agents, insurance agents, construction consultants, syndication banks, and other third-party vendors necessary to complete transactions.
Review and analyze third-party reports and collateral documentation, including insurance certificates, flood zone determinations, title, survey and zoning documentation, appraisals, environmental and property condition reports, ensuring compliance with governmental regulations and bank standards.
Coordinate funding, booking, and settlement of transactions, including preparation of funding notices, closing statements, fee collection, wire callbacks, approvals, and delivery of required booking documentation.
Manage documentation exceptions using enterprise systems such as LoanIQ and other production and compliance platforms.
Maintain expert-level system knowledge and data integrity, ensuring accurate deal status updates, timely document uploads, and complete digital closing files.
Identify, resolve, and escalate risks, exceptions, and issues impacting client service, compliance, or operational execution; clearly communicate issues and resolutions to management and line-of-business partners.
Ensure adherence to all compliance and fiduciary requirements, including internal policies, governmental and bank regulations, OFAC, Patriot Act, Beneficial Ownership, and documentation, legal, flood and insurance standards.
Provide authorization to close and partner closely with Servicing Officers, line-of-business partners, and internal teams to ensure coordinated, timely closing, funding, booking, and handoff to servicing.
Support post-closing activities and subsequent loan modifications, ensuring accuracy, timely completion, and continued risk management.
Serve as a senior resource and mentor to team members, providing onsite training, guidance, quality verification, and acting as backup to management as needed.
Lead or participate in projects and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, accuracy, risk controls, and client experience, including in-person collaboration and sessions.
Participate in and lead client meetings, pipeline discussions, and syndication bank meetings, delivering high-quality, personalized service to internal and external clients.
Complete all required training within established timeframes and maintain ongoing professional and regulatory readiness.
Performs other duties as assigned; duties, responsibilities and/or activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.
Complies with all KeyBank policies and procedures, including without limitation, acting with a high level of professionalism at all times, conducting business ethically, avoiding conflicts of interest, and acting in the best interests of Key’s clients and Key.