Special Assets Credit Manager

Columbia Bank • Fair Lawn, NJ

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Special Assets Credit Manager analyzes, administers, and monitors complex criticized and classified commercial loan relationships. The role evaluates borrower and guarantor financial performance, collateral support, repayment capacity, risk ratings, and emerging credit concerns, and provides analytical support and recommendations regarding credit and resolution strategies. Working closely with the Director of Special Assets, the position serves as a key analytical resource for oversight and administration of these relationships. It collaborates across Commercial Lending, Credit Administration, Loan Operations, Legal, Appraisal, and other departments to support effective credit administration and informed decision-making.

The position administers credit-risk analysis and portfolio surveillance, performs comprehensive financial and credit analyses, and prepares quarterly Credit Review Memoranda. It monitors collateral-related risks, coordinates recurring documentation and information requirements, maintains reporting systems and data quality, and develops dashboards, risk assessments, and management information. The role also supports audits, loan reviews, and regulatory examinations; maintains knowledge of relevant regulations and commercial credit practices; uses banking systems and analytical tools; and participates in departmental projects and professional development.

This role is eligible for a hybrid schedule of three days in the office and two days working from home, based on business needs. The arrangement may change without notice.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, Risk Management, or a related field.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in commercial credit, underwriting, portfolio management, credit risk, credit review, special assets, or a related commercial banking discipline.
• Strong commercial credit underwriting and financial analysis skills, including financial statements, cash flow, collateral, covenant compliance, repayment capacity, and risk-rating assessment.
• Experience with criticized or classified asset administration, risk-rating methodologies, and identification and escalation of material credit risks.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing and presenting credit analyses and management reports to senior management, committees, auditors, and regulators.
• Experience working across commercial lending, credit administration, loan operations, appraisal, legal, risk management, and other internal or external stakeholders.
• Ability to collaborate across organizational functions while maintaining accountability and exercising sound professional judgment.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and commercial banking systems, with experience developing reporting tools, dashboards, and analytical solutions.
• Strong understanding of data integrity and ability to reconcile information across banking systems, financial statements, loan documentation, and other source records.
• Demonstrated aptitude for learning and applying new systems, methodologies, analytical tools, and technologies.
• Strong organizational and project-management capabilities, including ownership of recurring and ad hoc deliverables, competing priorities, and deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Excel, Word, and Teams.
• Comfort using multiple systems and digital tools in a fast-paced banking environment.
• Strong computer skills, including virtual collaboration, document management, and reporting tools.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Risk Management, or a related discipline.
• Formal commercial credit training or equivalent demonstrated underwriting experience.
• Professional certification or advanced training in commercial credit, enterprise risk management, financial analysis, portfolio management, or a related discipline.
• Exposure to or willingness to learn emerging workplace technologies.

Responsibilities

• Analyze, administer, and conduct portfolio surveillance of complex criticized and classified commercial loan relationships.
• Evaluate borrower and guarantor financial performance, cash flow, debt service coverage, leverage, liquidity, contingent liabilities, collateral coverage, secondary repayment sources, and repayment capacity.
• Identify changes in credit quality, emerging risks, and matters requiring management attention; provide analysis and recommendations regarding credit and resolution strategies.
• Prepare quarterly Credit Review Memoranda supporting portfolio management, risk-rating justification, loss mitigation, and internal and regulatory review requirements.
• Monitor collateral valuation, insurance, lien position, lien perfection, and other matters affecting collateral coverage and the Bank’s secured position.
• Coordinate administrative and information requirements with Commercial Lending, Credit Administration, Loan Operations, Legal, Appraisal, and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate recurring requirements such as appraisals, financial reporting, insurance, covenant documentation, litigation milestones, and other deliverables.
• Maintain accurate data and reporting systems and support improvements to data quality, analytics, and operational efficiency.
• Develop and deliver reporting, dashboards, risk assessments, and management information for departmental oversight, senior management, committees, auditors, and regulators.
• Support audits, loan reviews, and regulatory examinations by coordinating information, validating supporting documentation, and responding to inquiries within assigned responsibilities.
• Represent the Special Assets Department in meetings, presentations, examinations, and discussions relating to assigned responsibilities and departmental initiatives, as requested by management.
• Maintain current knowledge of banking regulations, interagency guidance, commercial lending practices, problem-loan and loss-mitigation strategies, risk-rating principles, and relevant industry trends.
• Maintain proficiency with the Bank’s commercial banking, credit administration, financial analysis, reporting, and data-management systems.
• Use technology to organize and analyze data, identify credit trends and exceptions, develop management reporting, and improve departmental processes.
• Apply data integrity and governance principles to support reliable portfolio surveillance, reporting, audit, and regulatory review.
• Evaluate and appropriately use emerging analytical and productivity technologies, including artificial intelligence tools where authorized by Bank policy.
• Participate in professional development, knowledge sharing, and collaborative departmental activities.
• Perform other job-related duties and participate in departmental projects and initiatives as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage (contributory).
• Bonus programs.
• Employee Stock Option Program (ESOP).
• Life insurance, long-term disability, and accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
• Paid Time Off, including personal and vacation time.
• Paid sick time.
• Bank holidays.
• 401(k) program participation.
• Wellness resources, education and student loan programs, and financial protection.

What This Job Offers

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