Chief Credit Officer

Hire-Agency; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 190,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential Bank, based in Salt Lake City, seeks a seasoned Chief Credit Officer to lead its credit philosophy, underwriting standards, and risk practices across commercial lending, equipment finance, SBA, and fintech partnerships.

You will work closely with the CEO, President, CLO, and Board to protect asset quality, drive disciplined credit decisions, and shape long-term growth while maintaining strong governance and regulatory readiness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Economics or related field; MBA preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in commercial banking or specialty finance.
• Experience leading commercial credit administration; prior Chief Credit Officer or senior credit executive preferred.
• Deep knowledge of C&I lending, commercial real estate, equipment finance, SBA lending, and related risk management.

Responsibilities

• Lead credit philosophy, underwriting standards, and credit culture; report to CEO and Board.
• Oversee underwriting, approval, documentation, and monitoring for commercial credit across multiple lines.
• Set and refine credit policies; establish parameters for responsible growth and asset protection.
• Monitor portfolio risk, concentrations, and allowance for loan losses; ensure exam readiness.

Skills

Executive leadership

Credit judgment

Strategic vision

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Business

MBA preferred

Job description

Chief Credit Officer - Salt Lake City, UT

Salt Lake City, Utah

Compensation:

$190,000-$250,000 base + 25% bonus

About The Company

Our client is a privately held commercial bank known for its relationship-first culture and a lending platform that reaches clients nationwide. The bank offers commercial banking, equipment finance and leasing, SBA lending, treasury management, and strategic partnerships with fintech companies.

The organization has grown on a foundation of disciplined credit, responsive service, and steady, deliberate expansion. It is now looking for a seasoned Chief Credit Officer to help lead its next chapter.

The Role

Reporting to the CEO and serving on the Executive Committee, the Chief Credit Officer owns the bank's credit philosophy, underwriting standards, credit culture, and portfolio risk practices. You will work side by side with the CEO, President, Chief Lending Officer, and Board of Directors.

Your charge is to protect asset quality, keep the bank exam-ready, and drive consistent, well-reasoned credit decisions across commercial lending, equipment finance and leasing, SBA, and fintech business lines. The right leader pairs sharp commercial credit judgment with the entrepreneurial mindset a growing specialty lender needs.

What You'll Do

Executive Leadership

• Serve on the Executive Leadership Team and help shape the bank's long-term growth strategy
• Define and evolve the organization's credit philosophy and strategic direction
• Present portfolio performance, credit trends, risk assessments, and recommendations to the Board
• Model a culture of accountability, sound judgment, transparency, and strong client service
• Act as a trusted advisor to lending, operations, finance, compliance, and executive leadership

Credit Administration

• Build, implement, and refine credit policies, procedures, and underwriting standards
• Set credit parameters that protect the bank while enabling responsible growth
• Oversee underwriting, approval, documentation, and monitoring for commercial credit
• Review and approve large and complex commercial relationships
• Drive consistency across commercial lending, equipment finance and leasing, SBA, and specialty lending
• Lead loan grading, risk rating, credit review, and portfolio management processes
• Track concentrations, industry and geographic exposure, collateral quality, and emerging trends
• Make sure equipment loan and lease underwriting accounts for collateral valuation, useful life, residual values, liquidation, and concentration risk

Portfolio Risk Management

• Monitor portfolio performance and asset quality trends
• Spot emerging risks early and build strategies to limit credit losses
• Oversee management of criticized and classified assets
• Set clear risk mitigation strategies and escalation paths
• Ensure sound allowance and loan loss reserve methodologies
• Lead concentration monitoring, stress testing, portfolio segmentation, and risk reporting
• Work proactively with lending leadership on developing concerns
• Balance portfolio growth with long-term credit quality and risk-adjusted returns

Regulatory, Governance, and Compliance

• Keep the credit function compliant with banking regulations and supervisory expectations
• Lead or support relationships with state and federal regulators
• Maintain strong governance, documentation, controls, and audit readiness
• Oversee internal and external credit reviews
• Address examination findings and carry out corrective actions
• Hold credit files, approvals, reporting, and policy adherence to a high standard

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead a team of 5 direct reports and recruit, develop, and mentor strong credit professionals
• Build succession plans and deepen the credit bench
• Set clear expectations, accountability, and performance standards
• Foster collaboration across credit, lending, operations, compliance, finance, and risk
• Encourage timely, thoughtful decisions without losing risk discipline
• Build a credit organization that can scale with the business
• Chair key committees, including Loan, Asset and Liability (ALCO), and Risk

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Accounting, Economics, or a related field (MBA preferred)
• 15+ years of progressive experience in commercial banking or specialty finance
• A track record leading commercial credit administration
• Prior experience as a Chief Credit Officer, Deputy CCO, Chief Risk Officer, or other senior credit executive (preferred)
• Experience managing complex commercial loan and lease portfolios
• Deep knowledge of:
• Commercial and industrial (C&I) lending
• Commercial real estate
• Equipment finance and leasing
• SBA lending
• Loan and lease portfolio management
• Credit policy and underwriting standards
• Enterprise risk management
• Loan grading and risk rating systems
• Banking regulations, exams, and regulatory expectations
• Comfort presenting to executive teams and Boards of Directors
• Proven ability to fuel growth while protecting asset quality and credit discipline

You'll Thrive Here If You Have

• Exceptional commercial credit judgment
• Strategic vision paired with practical, timely decision-making
• Strong executive presence and communication skills
• High integrity and professional credibility
• A collaborative, approachable leadership style
• The ability to earn trust with regulators, lenders, executives, and Board members
• Energy for a growing organization where your decisions are visible
• The balance to stay responsive to clients while holding the line on risk

Bonus Points

Experience In Any Of These Areas Will Stand Out

• National commercial lending platforms
• Equipment finance and leasing
• Vendor finance or indirect equipment programs
• Specialty commercial lending
• SBA lending
• Embedded banking or fintech partnerships
• Multi-state lending operations
• High-growth financial institutions
• Privately owned or entrepreneurial financial organizations
• Technology-driven credit and underwriting platforms

Why This Role

This is not a traditional oversight seat. As Chief Credit Officer, you will have real influence over credit philosophy, portfolio strategy, equipment finance growth, risk management, talent development, and the bank's overall direction. You will join an entrepreneurial institution that blends relationship-driven service with the sophistication of a national commercial lending and equipment finance platform.