Senior Loan Operations Specialist

TRUSTBANK • Olney, IL

6h • $58,000 - $80,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Loan Operations Specialist serves as a senior-level lending operations resource responsible for supporting commercial, consumer, agricultural, and residential lending activities. This position performs advanced loan processing, documentation preparation, collateral management, quality control, and regulatory compliance activities. The Senior Loan Operations Specialist serves as a subject matter expert within the lending operations space and works closely with Loan Officers, Credit Administration, Loan Operations, Compliance, and Senior Management to ensure lending transactions are processed accurately, timely, and in accordance with bank policy and regulatory requirements. In addition to performing complex loan documentation and processing functions, this position assists the Loan Operations Officer with workflow coordination, employee training, process improvement initiatives, procedure development, system implementations, audit preparation, and special projects. The individual is expected to provide leadership and operational support across the loan operations department and serve as a backup resource for critical loan operations functions.

Requirements

• Advanced understanding of commercial, agricultural, real estate, and consumer lending.
• Strong understanding of loan documentation and collateral requirements.
• Superior ability to interpret legal documents, contracts, regulations, and policies.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
• Excellent organizational and time-management abilities.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to identify process improvements and operational efficiencies.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to train, mentor, and support team members.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications including Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, PowerPoint, and other business productivity tools.
• Ability to utilize loan origination (prefer experience with LaserPro), imaging, document preparation, workflow management, and core processing systems.
• Ability to effectively utilize artificial intelligence (AI) and automation tools approved by the Bank to improve efficiency, enhance accuracy, support research, assist with document review, and streamline administrative tasks while maintaining appropriate confidentiality, security, and legal & regulatory compliance standards, including Microsoft CoPilot and any other emerging tools.
• Ability to evaluate information generated by AI tools using professional judgment and appropriate verification procedures to ensure accuracy, compliance, and adherence to Bank policies & laws.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with reporting tools, document management systems, and electronic loan file systems is preferred.
• Strong understanding of electronic records management, digital collaboration platforms, and technology-enabled workflow processes.

Responsibilities

• Prepare complex commercial, consumer, agricultural, and real estate loan documents supporting loan requests approved by loan committee and the board as needed.
• Verify loan terms against approved loan presentations and ensure all covenants, conditions precedent, collateral requirements, and loan structure requirements are accurately documented.
• Review loan files for completeness and accuracy prior to closing.
• Identify documentation deficiencies and resolve issues with lenders, attorneys, title companies, and third-party vendors.
• Coordinate on complex loan modifications, renewals, extensions, assumptions, and participation loans.
• Review executed loan documents to ensure proper completion and enforceability.
• Maintain a strong understanding of commercial, agricultural, residential, and consumer lending products.
• Assist with loan onboarding, maintenance, and coordinate servicing functions to loan accounting.
• Support collateral tracking and perfection activities, including vehicle titles, equipment liens, real estate collateral, and UCC filings.
• Review loan maintenance requests for accuracy and policy compliance.
• Assist in preparing collateral release documentation and paid loan file reviews.
• Support loan imaging, document retention, and electronic file management processes.
• Ensure adherence to the Bank’s Loan Policy and all applicable federal and state regulations.
• Maintain advanced knowledge of Truth in Lending, RESPA, TRID, HMDA, Flood regulations, Fair Lending, ECOA, Fair Housing, Fair Credit Reporting Act, and other applicable lending regulations.
• Assist with documentation requests and questions deriving from internal audits, regulatory examinations, and external loan reviews, as needed.
• Monitor loan documentation standards and recommend corrective actions when necessary.
• Maintain advanced knowledge of business entities including LLCs, corporations, partnerships, non-profits, trusts, and governmental entities.
• Review organizational documents to determine legal authority and signing capacity.
• Review title commitments, title policies, lien searches, and collateral perfection requirements, including mortgage filing sequence and UCC filing.
• Assist with vendor management activities.
• Analyze lien priority issues and assist in resolving collateral documentation concerns and/or questions.
• Serve as a lending operations subject matter expert and resource for department staff.
• Assist with onboarding, training, and cross-training of loan operations personnel.
• Provide guidance and support to the loan operations team members.
• Assist with workload balancing and coverage during staff absences or periods of increased volume.
• Participate in developing and updating department procedures and job aids.
• Recommend process improvements that enhance efficiency, accuracy, customer service, and risk management.
• Before execution, review loan documentation received from attorneys or processed by loan operations personnel to ensure accuracy and verify all prior to close items have been met.
• Participate in core system upgrades, lending system implementations, conversions, testing, and process enhancements.
• Assist management with special projects, process reviews, remediation activities, and strategic initiatives.
• Maintain departmental reports and assist in identifying trends, operational risks, or opportunities for improvement.
• Keep current on industry best practices and regulatory changes impacting loan operations.
• Handle inquiries from customers and internal team members with professionalism and responsiveness.
• Support loan officers throughout the loan origination and servicing process.
• Compose letters, reports, procedures, and internal correspondence as requested.
• Exercise sound judgment when handling confidential customer and bank information.
• Recognize suspicious activity and escalate concerns appropriately.
• Assist with departmental reporting and administrative functions.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Benefits

• Annual discretionary bonus
• Competitive benefits package

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior