VP Underwriter

West Coast Community Bank • Santa Cruz, CA

9d • $110,000 - $140,000 • Onsite

About The Position

This role is located on-site at one of our locations. The Vice President Commercial Loan Underwriter plays a critical role on the Bank’s Credit Administration team. This individual will work directly with the Credit Administration Officers, the Senior & Executive Management teams and the lending production staff, to manage the risk analysis and decision-making process for the Banks most complex commercial loan transactions. This role requires deep expertise in credit risk assessment, financial analysis, and lending practices, ensuring that credit facilities and the Banks overall credit portfolio are underwritten in a manner that minimizes risk exposure in adherence with both Bank policies and regulatory guidance. The VP Commercial Loan Underwriter can also expect to aide in tasks and special assignments associated management of the credit administration function of the Bank, improving on processes and procedures and training junior level team members.

Requirements

• Required Education: BA Business Administration with a preferred concentration in Finance, Accounting or Economics.
• Preferred Prior Experience: 6+ years related experience in commercial banking.
• Participation in a formal bank training program highly desired.
• Requisite Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to effectively convey information across the bank and also with executive management, regulators and vendors.
• Critical thinking and independent judgment in credit and lending decisions.
• Advanced analytical skills and ability to create meaningful credit reports using Excel.
• Thorough knowledge of credit products and typical lending software.
• Ability to enter information into financial software and bank systems with a very high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong understanding of accounting and finance topics and familiarity with financial statements and tax returns.
• Proficient in the use of personal computers and software programs, such as MS Excel, MS Word and Adobe Acrobat, as well as other programs specific to the banking industry.
• Ability to work effectively at a fast pace with competing interests and due dates, while maintaining accuracy timely turnaround time on credit requests.
• Proficient in bank software and core systems.
• Familiarity with typical loan documents such as borrowing base certificates, real estate appraisals, covenant compliance certificates, etc.
• Ability to complete tasks with minimal supervision and independently solve complex issues.

Responsibilities

• Evaluates and examines credit requests in order to assess creditworthiness, risk classification, loan structure, and collateral analysis. The VP Commercial Loan Underwriter will focus on the largest most complex financing requests.
• Preparing credit approval requests and submitting them for approval by executives and loan committees.
• Attending training courses, enhancing knowledge of credit and lending topics, and performing industry and/or geographic analysis.
• Working closely with commercial lenders to ensure accurate and up-to-date credit files. This may include accompanying lenders on site visits and client calls.
• Contacting clients to request financial information and other documents related to loan requests.
• Discussing perceived credit weaknesses or potential credit problems with the Underwriting Manager or other lending managers.
• Reviewing credit requests for conformance to regulatory guidelines and Bank policies.
• Assessing collateral and other sources of repayment as well as borrower credit history and management ability.
• Guiding and mentoring Credit Analyst I, Credit Analyst II, and Senior Credit Analyst team members, and documenting procedures; setting standards and best practices among the Credit Analyst group.
• Attending loan committee meetings and participating in discussions for loan approval.
• Engaging in and leading special projects pertaining to Credit Administration.
• Assisting the Underwriting Manager with tasks that relate to improving the Bank’s credit analysis and portfolio management functions.
• Works closely with Underwriting manager to aide in management of the analyst team to include help with oversight of the established process & procedures, in addition to assisting with active pipeline management and review of other team members work prior to being presented for approval.
• Performing general clerical duties including filing, copying, data entry and scanning.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Vacation, sick leave, paid holidays.
• Paid volunteer time.
• Employer paid life insurance, long term and short term disability.
• 401(k) with employer matching.
• Ongoing training, professional development and career advancement opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees