Commercial/Ag Underwriter

LakeRidge; Town of Middleton (WI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Lake Ridge Bank is seeking an underwriting professional to assess credit risk and manage loan portfolios. You will partner with Relationship Managers to analyze financials, discuss client strategies, and support new business opportunities.

The role requires due diligence, loan presentation preparation, and adherence to banking regulations. Key responsibilities include renewals management, collaboration with Credit Risk, and ensuring covenant compliance.

Qualifications

• Associates degree in Finance, Accounting, Business or related field or 3 years lending experience.
• Strong ability to analyze financial statements (tax returns, P&L, balance sheets).
• Excellent verbal and written communication with customers and staff.
• Solid math skills and precise numerical work.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and maintain confidentiality.
• Read, write, and speak English clearly and professionally.

Responsibilities

• Partner with BRMs to identify credit risk and portfolio quality.
• Act as liaison between Commercial Production, Credit Risk, and staff.
• Communicate proactively with BRMs on financial updates and covenant compliance.
• Manage renewals for credits assigned to BRMs, 60 days prior to renewal.
• Interpret credit bureau, UCC filings, and public records for analysis.
• Prepare loan credit presentations and participate in loan approvals.
• Prepare commitment letters and review documentation.
• Coordinate with appraisal orders and environmental due diligence.
• Hold regular meetings to discuss renewal status and pipeline.

Skills

Credit analysis

Financial analysis

Risk assessment

Communication

Attention to detail

English proficiency

Education

Associates degree in Finance or related

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Credit risk systems

Job description

Description

Join our dynamic underwriting team, where you’ll partner with Business Banking Relationship Managers to assess credit risk, support client strategies, and drive new business opportunities. If you thrive in financial analysis and risk assessment, this role offers the opportunity to manage loan portfolios, conduct due diligence, and play a key role in credit decision-making. Be part of a collaborative team that values proactive communication, strong analytical skills, and a commitment to maintaining high-quality loan portfolios while ensuring compliance with banking regulations.

Underwriting and Portfolio Management

• Partner with multiple Business Banking Relationship Managers (BRM) to identify credit risk and quality of the portfolio, discuss client strategy and business opportunities.
• Act as a liaison between the Commercial Production staff, Credit Risk Department and other internal staff members as necessary.
• Regular and proactive communication with Business Banking Relationship Manager to ensure updated finan-cials, covenant compliance, knowledge of client’s business and assist in identifying new business cross-sell oppor-tunities.
• Proactively manage and facilitate the renewal of all credits under assigned BRM(s) at least 60 days prior to re-newal.
• Interpret and evaluate credit bureau reports, UCC filings and public record information.
• Prepare loan credit presentations and participate in the loan approval process.
• Prepare commitment letters or review as needed.
• Prepare Loan File for documentation team via post approval due diligence.
• Work with third party individuals as needed such as evaluation/appraisal orders and environmental due dili-gence.
• Regular meetings with BRM, Administrative Assistants and Loan Production to discuss priorities and status of renewal and new business pipeline.

Financial and Credit Analysis

• Provide accurate financial analysis, due diligence and risk assessment of new and existing borrowers; recom-mend loan structure and discuss loan policy.
• Responsible for credit risk and quality of the loan portfolio.
• Responsible for identifying trends in client activities which may be predictive of deteriorating credit quality. Recommend further action to BRM and Credit Risk officer as necessary.
• Work with BRM with collection of financials needed for proper analysis of new and renewed loan requests.

Adhere to all Bank Security/Compliance Regulations

• Complete all annual bank security and compliance training.
• Adhere to Bank Security/compliance and policy guidelines for commercial production and/or loan area
• Maintain confidentiality of customer information at all times.
• Stay current on all compliance regulations

Other Responsibilities

• Maintain neat and accurate commercial files
• Perform other duties as assigned or requested

Requirements

• Associates degree in Finance, Accounting, Business and/or similar field of education and/or three (3) years previous work experience in a lending environment
• Solid understanding of financial statements including but not limited to tax returns, profit & loss statements, in-come statements, balance sheets, and other business financials
• Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills (verbal & written) in order to communicate and relate effectively with customers and associates
• Good accounting/math skills with the ability to work precisely with numbers and financial calculations
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to work efficiently & accurately
• Demonstrated ability in exercising independent judgment
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize and remain calm while working in a fast paced/deadline driven environment
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, proficient typing/keyboarding skills and the ability and will-ingness to learn new programs and software
• Ability to maintain confidential customer information
• Ability to read, write, understand and speak English clearly
• Ability to represent the organization in a professional, positive manner

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance
• Previous experience in credit analysis or commercial underwriting within a financial institution
• Previous work experience in accounting and / or working with business financial statements
• Previous experience working in a lending environment, preferably in a financial institution setting

Lake Ridge Bank values a diverse workforce and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

Consistent with Lake Ridge Bank's commitment to employ and advance qualified individuals with disabilities, Lake Ridge Bank provides reasonable accommodation to apply for or perform a job. Some examples of reasonable accommodation include alternate methods to apply, providing documents in an alternate format, altering work procedures, specialized equipment or use of an interpreter. If an individual needs reasonable accommodations to apply or perform a job here at Lake Ridge Bank, please contact Human Resources at [phone] or email us.