Senior Credit Officer – Commercial & Industrial

First National Bank of Omaha•Omaha, NE

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Credit Officer (SCO) – Commercial & Industrial is a senior credit risk leadership role responsible for managing the overall credit risk of FNBO's Commercial & Industrial lending portfolio. Reporting to the Chief Commercial Credit Officer, this individual owns the C&I credit guidelines, leads the credit risk assessment process for C&I loans originating within the assigned business line, and is accountable for all credit actions associated with the C&I portfolio. The SCO partners closely with C&I line leadership, credit policy, and executive committees to review and challenge all aspects of commercial loan decisions, including qualitative and quantitative credit analysis, deal structure, terms and conditions, and portfolio-level risk management. This role carries lending authority to approve loans up to an aggregate exposure of $25MM and is responsible for reviewing and guiding the submission of C&I loan approvals to the FNNI Loan Committee. The SCO serves as a voting member of the FNNI Loan Committee and attends the Banking Credit Committee and the Special Assets Committee.

Requirements

15+ years of commercial credit risk management or financial services experience required, with demonstrated expertise across a broad range of C&I industries and borrower types.
Proven track record of owning and managing credit guidelines and underwriting standards within a commercial lending platform.
Deep knowledge of C&I financial analysis, including financial statement spreading, cash flow modeling, leverage and coverage assessment, borrowing base structures, working capital dynamics, and stress testing.
Knowledge of commercial loan P&L dynamics and the interaction of business operations, product configuration, and the macroeconomic environment.
Demonstrated experience leading change, with a track record of identifying and implementing improvements to credit operations and portfolio performance.
Demonstrated success working across business lines to drive sound credit and business decisions.
Working knowledge of applicable laws and regulations governing commercial lending in a financial institution.
Bachelor's Degree required; Master's Degree preferred in Finance, Business, or Economics.
Unrestricted work authorization and not requiring future sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Technology Services: Experience underwriting and approving loans to technology services companies, including familiarity with recurring revenue models, software-as-a-service (SaaS) structures, intellectual property considerations, and sector-specific growth and margin dynamics.
ESOP Transactions: Knowledge of Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) lending structures, including leveraged ESOP transactions, seller note dynamics, repurchase obligation risk, and the unique governance and financial reporting considerations of ESOP-owned companies.
Ambulatory Surgery Centers: Familiarity with healthcare lending to ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), including reimbursement risk, payor mix analysis, physician partnership structures, regulatory considerations, and the operational drivers of ASC financial performance.
Strategic Visioning: Defines and articulates the future state of the C&I credit function through an understanding of internal and external challenges, identifying unique opportunities to create portfolio value.
Creativity & Innovation: Generates or facilitates new ideas, methods, or solutions to complex credit, portfolio, and guideline challenges.
Assertiveness & Courage: Takes decisive action in the face of ambiguity or challenge, maintaining sound credit judgment under pressure.
Change Leadership: Initiates and facilitates organizational changes and business transformation within the C&I credit function.
Decision Making: Evaluates alternatives with rigor and selects courses of action that reduce risk and create optimal outcomes for FNBO and its customers.
People Development: Invests in the growth of direct reports and the broader C&I credit team, building organizational capability and a strong succession pipeline.

Responsibilities

Own and manage the credit risk of the C&I portfolio, ensuring ongoing portfolio quality through proactive monitoring, early identification of emerging risks, and timely escalation of credit concerns.
Lead all credit actions associated with the C&I portfolio, including renewals, modifications, downgrades, watch list management, and charge-off recommendations.
Monitor C&I portfolio quality and concentration levels; report on relevant trends to FNBO Credit Leadership and other stakeholders, proposing changes to credit policy, concentration limits, and risk rating processes as internal or external conditions evolve.
Represent credit risk management at executive and credit committee meetings, including the FNNI Loan Committee, Banking Credit Committee, and Special Assets Committee.
Own and maintain FNBO's C&I credit guidelines, ensuring they remain current, competitive, and reflective of evolving market conditions, regulatory requirements, and portfolio performance.
Partner with credit policy and analytics teams to continuously evolve underwriting guidelines, collateral management requirements, and risk rating frameworks specific to commercial and industrial lending.
Establish and communicate credit standards across a broad range of C&I industries and borrower types, including working capital facilities, term loans, borrowing base structures, and leveraged transactions.
Drive consistency in credit underwriting practices across the C&I business line through guideline governance, training, and ongoing credit officer development.
Review and approve all C&I loan memos with aggregate exposure up to $25MM, challenging all aspects of loan decisions including qualitative and quantitative credit analysis, deal structure, and terms and conditions.
Guide and oversee the submission of C&I loan approvals to the FNNI Loan Committee, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and alignment with credit policy.
Participate in due diligence for new and existing C&I customers.
Work with C&I line leadership to ensure all negotiated terms and conditions adhere to bank policy and guidelines.
Monitor all exceptions, modifications, and changes in terms for loans in the C&I portfolio.
Directly manage the Credit Officer of Commercial & Industrial, providing coaching, performance feedback, and ongoing professional development.
Partner with Credit Leadership and the C&I business line to identify and develop potential successors within the organization, maintaining an active succession and development plan.
Lead change initiatives within the C&I credit function, identifying and implementing opportunities to improve credit processes, underwriting quality, and portfolio performance.
Support business growth, sales, and credit activities in the C&I business line.
Deliver on Credit and FNBO strategic initiatives.