Senior Commercial Credit Officer

Self-Help•Oakland, CA

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About The Position

WHO We Are: Self-Help started in 1980 with a focus on economic inequality especially in communities that have faced systemic barriers in building wealth. At the core of what Self-Help does is a drive to create and protect ownership and economic opportunity. In other words, we’re committed to economic justice! Economic Justice means that all communities have the basic infrastructure they need to thrive, from high quality schools to grocery stores selling fresh foods resources that support opportunity at a neighborhood level regardless of demographics, income, or wealth. Since our founding, we’ve constantly sought to find new ways to pursue greater economic justice: from providing fair and affordable loans, to working with partners to demand that lawmakers change unjust policies. We are seeking a Senior Credit Officer to join our team! The Senior Credit Officer provides support to Self-Help’s national Commercial Lending Team to originate commercial loans in the sectors and geographies in which the team lends. The position collaboratively advises due diligence teams, by providing expertise in underwriting, transaction structuring, and complex credit/financial analysis, to make recommendations that are consistent with Self-Help’s policy and mission. Due diligence team members include loan officers, business development officers or sector leaders, construction specialists, risk analysts, legal, and closing specialists. The Senior Credit Officer is also responsible for providing hands-on training to less-experienced Credit Officers and supporting the training of less-experienced Loan Officers by originating and closing commercial loans, completing loan disbursements and construction monitoring, as well as ongoing support of portfolio borrowers. In addition, the Senior Credit Officer is responsible for the direct supervision of several Credit Officers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s OR equivalent related experience; Graduate degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, City Planning, Public Policy or Law, or a related field preferred.
7 years of related experience in commercial lending, finance or community development OR equivalent related experience.
Experience managing staff or team or equivalent experience.
Strong commitment to our mission – creating economic opportunity for all.
Preference for working in organizations that place priority on teamwork and collaboration
Strong analytical skills including:
Strong quantitative/credit analysis skills to provide critical assessment of credit underwriting criteria including financial ratio analysis, repayment ability, loan structuring, management assessment, and collateral risk evaluation, etc. to make sound recommendations.
Ability to learn quickly and analyze new industries, consider industry drivers and competitive threats, and develop new contacts to provide in-depth industry knowledge
Ability to write and edit clear and concise credit memos, including translating financial and numerical data into narrative form
Ability to focus on details and key credit drivers within the larger context of the credit request.
Strong interpersonal and project management skills including:
Ability to manage, train, coach, and develop commercial lending staff with varying degrees of experience
Ability to work effectively in teams and to create partnerships with other Self-Help teams
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with loan applicants, borrowers, and team members, including setting appropriate expectations and showing strong interpersonal skills
Ability to organize competing priorities and help loan teams set priorities.
Strong attention to detail
Proficiency with MS Word and Excel
Ability and willingness to travel and work overtime as needed.

Nice To Haves

Graduate degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, City Planning, Public Policy or Law, or a related field preferred.
Preference for working in organizations that place priority on teamwork and collaboration

Responsibilities

Underwriting Advise and work with loan officers to analyze and structure loans that will advance self-help’s mission and conform to our credit standards.
Provide critical, objective review of loan officer’s credit memorandum and detailed analysis of financial information, viability of repayment sources, appropriate loan structures, industry background, management capacity, and collateral.
Oversee that proposed loans meet self-help’s regulation, policy, and procedures and are consistent with cl practices and serve as the authority on and resource to teammates for the origination of loans that meet cl’s standards and general credit prudence
Approve credit applications, transactions, exceptions, and other extensions of credit within credit approval authority or prepare loan officers for presentation of credit proposals to self-help’s credit committee per regulation, policy, and procedure.
Participate as a voter in credit committee.
Project Management / Pre and Post Closing Manage, advise and participate in loan closings in coordination with due diligence team, guiding key processes forward and ensuring documentation collection and compliance with closing conditions.
Review critical reports and structuring remedies in response (e.g., property condition assessments, appraisals, contracts, etc.)
Review and approve monthly construction disbursement as applicable.
Partner with loan officers collaborating with the portfolio management team on risk assessment of troubled loans, including loan modifications.
People Management and Leadership Directly supervise and manage other credit officers.
Regularly serve as lead co on teams with less experienced cos or los in order to provide hands-on training.
Work with direct reports to set individual goals, track team progress against goals, and provide on-going feedback and coaching.
Promote professional growth of direct reports through planned development activities and experiences.
Ensures that professional development and coaching is a priority to all team members.
Work to create and maintain a collaborative, healthy, and productive work environment.
Develop teamwork by building consensus and drawing upon the ideas and suggestions of others and fostering a work environment reflecting mutual respect and trust.
Manage the hiring, coaching and assessment of staff performance, providing direct and frequent feedback to staff members, as needed.
Other Assume a leadership role on assigned strategic projects, if appropriate.
Actively contribute to strategy development for various sectors in conjunction with business development officers, as needed.
Stay informed about industry trends, market conditions, and regulatory changes affecting commercial credit
Perform other duties as may be deemed necessary.