Commercial Credit Officer

Overview

Job Summary:

This position is within our commercial credit group and is responsible for underwriting and structuring new/existing commercial loan applications presented to the bank. You will analyze the financial health, stability, and credit history of commercial businesses to determine their eligibility for loans and credit lines. In addition, you will ensure compliance with all Bank policies and government regulations while providing excellent customer service.

The Commercial Credit Officer collaborates with Commercial Credit Analysts, Relationship Managers, Loan Processors, and respective management to gather necessary information and negotiate terms of credit agreements. Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and a solid understanding of financial analysis techniques are essential in this role to effectively mitigate credit ricks and support C&F Bank’s lending objectives.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

Underwriting and Risk Management (70%)

• Provide teams with guidance and expert opinion to determine appropriate risk assessment for commercial loan requests including the appropriate level of analysis of borrower's business, management, financial condition, and operations.
• Participate in the upfront sizing of credit requests, evaluate financial statements, identify the key strengths and weaknesses of a borrower, along with the loan structure.
• Apply experience and judgment to evaluate the level of risk within a request and structure the loan terms to meet the borrower’s needs while adhering to C&F’s risk and credit policies.
• Work with the Credit Analyst in the analysis of commercial loan requests.
• Discuss and collaborate with the Relationship Manager on credit structuring and risk rating. Work together with deal team to ensure deadlines for commercial loan requests are met.
• Approve loan requests for commercial relationships that fall within individual loan authority and work closely with the Senior Management team for those approvals that exceed individual loan authority.
• Oversee ongoing portfolio management of the bank’s commercial loan portfolio to include, but not limited to, proactively identifying credit issues, and following through for remediation, timely and accurate risk rating of clients based on internal and external data and ensuring correct documentation at time of review.
• Mentor credit teammates on the evaluation of credit risk factors, loan decisions, and other credit topics. Assist with credit training and development of others.
• Determine the appropriate channel for preparation of loan documents, recommending outside counsel, as needed. Review and negotiate loan documents to ensure compliance with loan policy and all approval terms.
• Assist in the administration of the credit, including approval of post-closing items, etc.
• Oversee the commercial construction draw process to mitigate construction risk and ensure compliance with C&F policy.
• Maintain current operating knowledge of all job-relevant legal and regulatory requirements through the successful completion of compliance and regulatory training and attendance at all mandatory regulatory compliance and credit training activities.

Customer Calls and Property Inspections (15%)

• The Credit Officer/Underwriter, where appropriate, will often join the Relationship Manager on customer calls and property inspections and will use the opportunity to develop an opinion of the customer’s character, integrity, capability, experience and financial strength and the feasibility of the proposed credit request through pre-call planning and preparation.

Special Projects/Other (15%)

• While the Credit Officer/Underwriter is primarily focused on credit risk management, it is critical for the Credit Officer to assist RMs in developing mutually acceptable solutions to win business and raise the lending profile of the bank in the marketplace.
• Depending on workload and resource availability, the Credit Officer/Underwriter may need to serve as backup to the Credit Analyst, Relationship Manager or other team members as required to insure an outstanding level of service internally and externally.

Qualifications

Knowledge: See table below for minimum years of related banking experience, preferably in a credit or underwriting role within a construction lending or commercial banking environment. Related experience with associated lending software programs strongly preferred.   

Commercial Credit Officer I

Commercial Credit Officer II

Senior Commercial Credit Officer

3 – 7 years

8 - 10 years

11 or more years

Must be able to demonstrate knowledge of loan structuring, covenants, and closing conditions as well as a proficiency in term sheet preparation and collateral perfection. Must possess a clear and demonstrable knowledge of C&I, Commercial Real Estate, and Acquisition, Development, and Construction (AD&C) lending. Strong financial accounting knowledge/background is required.

Skills: Demonstrated analytical skills; demonstrated proficiency in the use of standard and specialized computer hardware and software packages such as Microsoft Office; demonstrated strong oral and written communication skills. Strong attention to detail as well as organizational skills is required. Analytical/technical skills, such as financial accounting, modeling, or loan structuring.  Excellent communication, interpersonal, including demonstrated rapport-building, and PC skills are required; a level of proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word/PowerPoint and especially Excel) is necessary. 

Abilities: Must be able to work independently with frequent interruptions; able to communicate effectively with people at all levels; use typical office equipment; able to comprehend concepts and put them into practical application. Understanding of financial accounting, loan structuring, and loan documentation as well as excellent credit analysis and financial/cash flow modeling skills.; effectively communicate information clearly through all media channels; interact effectively with clients and Bank employees at all levels; handle several tasks simultaneously and to work under time limits; must be able to effectively present findings to varied audiences.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Economics is required; MBA preferred

Travel required 5 - 10% of the time to our Operations Center located in Toano, VA.

Physical demands:  

Employee may experience the following physical demands for extended periods of time: view computer monitors, keyboarding, sitting, motion of fingers/hands/wrists, and standing/walking

 Work Environment:  Work is performed in an operational office environment.

Note:

This job description contains the essential functions, duties, and responsibilities of the position in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. C&F Bank reserves the right to make future revisions to this job description and the inherent responsibilities of the position based on the needs of the organization.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement -- C&F is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons and reaffirms in policy and practice that it shall not discriminate against applicants or employees because of race, color, religion, gender, age (over 40), disability, genetic information, veteran status (disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, active duty wartime or campaign badge veterans, Armed Forces service medal veterans, and Vietnam era veterans), national origin, or any other consideration protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This applies to all areas of employment, including promotion, transfer, layoff, termination, compensation, benefits, recruitment advertising, recruitment, and selection for training.