Senior Lead Credit Risk & Approval Officer

Wells Fargo•New York, NY

2d•$215,000 - $355,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Wells Fargo is seeking a Senior Lead Credit Risk & Approval Officer in their Commercial Real Estate space to join their Risk team covering Multifamily Capital. A successful candidate will leverage their experience and knowledge of risk management, business functions, products, and services to provide independent, holistic credit leadership and oversight of the business. This role will provide business loss forecasting as well as reporting for both quarterly business review and relationship concentration. They will monitor and review loan underwriting and portfolio management performance, analyze new business prospects, and support strategic initiatives of the relevant business lines. The role may regularly assist in presenting to senior management on the credit risk position of the business. The Credit Officer will provide credit oversight for a business unit financing multifamily, senior housing, affordable housing, manufactured housing, student housing, and co-op properties through balance sheet, FNMA, FHLMC (Freddie Mac), and FHA agency products. This individual balances commercial judgment with disciplined risk management to protect portfolio quality while supporting business growth across the covered geographies. Scope of Coverage includes screening, underwriting, portfolio management, CRE reporting, policy, relationship management with delegated-authority partners, staff management, credit process administration, and ad hoc projects. This role will report directly to Credit Risk & Approval Director.

Requirements

7+ years of Credit Risk & Approval experience or equivalent demonstrated through one or a combination of the following: work experience, training, military experience, education

Nice To Haves

Extensive commercial real estate lending experience highly desired
Existing knowledge of GSE multifamily lending products (FNMA, FMAC and FHA).
Existing knowledge of affordable housing and associated tax credits (Low Income Housing Tax Credit Investments).
Prior real estate loan workout experience.
Proven knowledge of the commercial real estate capital markets industry as well as related products and services.
Deep understanding of Wells Fargo’s Commercial Real Estate (CRE) lending philosophy and credit culture.
Confirmed ability to be a thought leader in a large matrix organization.
Consistent success in making sound business, credit decisions and ability to ensure team member alignment with business strategies and risk appetite.
Demonstrated success making deals and building relationships.
Proven success developing, growing, and grooming future Wells Fargo business leaders.
Proven ability to work independently and across various LOB in challenging work environments and time frames.
Existing knowledge of / experience in the local markets and or business units a plus.

Responsibilities

Serve as a key participant in monitoring and reviewing loans, underwriting, and portfolio management performance for Credit Risk & Approval.
Provide in-depth evaluation of structuring, pricing, and documentation across complex, large-scale, and longer-term transactions.
Maintain credit quality and portfolio health through timely, well-reasoned credit decisions, recommendations, and approvals.
Identify and recommend opportunities to approve loans, and partner on structuring, pricing, and documentation for larger transactions.
Bring appropriate internal and external team members into the deal approval process as needed.
Identify and manage portfolio trends, risks, and concentrations.
Ensure timely, accurate portfolio monitoring and reporting, risk-rating and grading changes/certifications, problem loan management, and non-accrual/loss identification and forecasting.
Support business units in preparing for and achieving satisfactory examination outcomes from audits and other regulatory or internal reviewers.
Lead complex, cross-functional initiatives with broad organizational impact.
Reinforce Wells Fargo's credit culture and strengthen team member engagement across the business platform.
Train and develop team members to build a strong, diverse leadership pipeline at all levels.
Manage staff and administer credit processes for the business unit, including screening, underwriting, portfolio management, and CRE reporting.
Provide a commercial perspective that balances market realities with appropriate risk management.
Play an active role in customer relationships by attending customer meetings.
Build market expertise by engaging with the local real estate community and relevant industry organizations.
Collaborate with peers, colleagues, and managers to resolve issues and achieve shared goals; interact regularly with internal and external stakeholders.
Analyze complex, multi-faceted business, operational, and technical challenges independently.
Exercise independent judgment on structuring, pricing, and risk decisions while developing deep functional knowledge of policies, procedures, and compliance requirements.
Receive direction from leadership on strategic priorities while operating with a high degree of autonomy day-to-day.