Commercial Underwriter

Valid8 Financial, Inc.; Fort Lauderdale (FL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Valid8 Financial, Inc. is seeking a Commercial Underwriter in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This role involves evaluating and structuring Small Balance Commercial Real Estate loan requests, requiring hands-on underwriting experience in SBCRE loans. The ideal candidate should possess strong analytical skills and be prepared to operate independently in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

The position demands a proven track record in financial analysis, collateral evaluation, and collaboration with various teams to support an efficient loan process.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 to 5 years of direct Small Balance Commercial Real Estate underwriting experience required.
• Strong ability to interpret complex financial statements and layered credit profiles.
• Solid understanding of commercial property types and borrower structures.

Responsibilities

• Analyze borrower and guarantor financials for small balance commercial transactions.
• Evaluate real estate collateral and structure loan terms.
• Prepare well-documented credit memoranda reflecting risk analysis.

Skills

Underwriting Small Balance Commercial Real Estate loans

Interpreting complex financial statements

Credit analysis

Attention to detail

Collaborating with cross-functional teams

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance or related field

Tools

Loan Origination Systems (LOS)

Job description

Summary

The Commercial Underwriter is responsible for evaluating, structuring, and decisioning Small Balance Commercial Real Estate (SBCRE) loan requests with a high degree of precision, consistency, and sound credit judgment. This role requires hands‑on experience underwriting small balance commercial loans, as the complexity and nuance of this market demand a deep understanding of borrower profiles, property types, cash‑flow analysis, and SBCRE‑specific risk drivers.

The Underwriter performs comprehensive credit analysis of borrowers and guarantors, conducts detailed collateral and market reviews, and applies informed judgment within established credit guidelines. Reporting directly to the Head of Credit, this role plays a critical part in maintaining credit quality while supporting the company’s production and growth objectives.

The ideal candidate is analytical, detail‑oriented, and capable of operating independently in a fast‑paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Analyze borrower and guarantor financials, including tax returns, income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and projections, with a focus on small balance commercial transactions.
• Assess borrower and guarantor creditworthiness using credit reports, third‑party data, and relevant industry benchmarks.
• Evaluate real estate collateral by reviewing appraisals, environmental reports, market studies, rent rolls, operating statements, and title documentation to identify and mitigate risk.
• Structure and recommend loan terms and conditions, including pricing, leverage, and covenants, that appropriately balance risk and business objectives.
• Exercise sound judgment in nuanced or gray‑area credit decisions common in SBC lending, clearly articulating rationale and mitigating factors.
• Prepare clear, well‑documented underwriting narratives and credit memoranda that accurately reflect risk analysis, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and timely records in the loan origination system (LOS) and CRM.
• Ensure underwriting decisions comply with internal credit policies, regulatory requirements, and fair lending standards.
• Collaborate with sales, operations, closing, and third‑party vendors to obtain required information and support an efficient end‑to‑end loan process.
• Contribute toward quarterly production goals and participate in periodic pipeline, production, and credit review meetings.
• Participate in weekly one‑on‑one meetings and broader underwriting and production initiatives.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by management.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Demonstrated experience underwriting Small Balance Commercial Real Estate loans; investor residential or DSCR experience is a plus but not a substitute.
• Strong ability to interpret complex financial statements and layered credit profiles typical of SBC transactions.
• Solid understanding of commercial property types, borrower structures, guarantor analysis, and cash‑flow‑based underwriting.
• High attention to detail with strong analytical, organizational, and critical‑thinking skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross‑functional teams.
• Comfort operating in a growth‑oriented, entrepreneurial environment with evolving processes and priorities.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Real Estate, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• An equivalent combination of education and directly relevant underwriting experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Experience

• Minimum of 3 to 5 years of direct Small Balance Commercial Real Estate underwriting experience required.
• Proven experience independently underwriting, structuring, and decisioning SBC loans across common property types, including multifamily, mixed‑use, retail, office, industrial, and special‑purpose assets.
• Experience working within defined credit guidelines while applying sound judgment to nuanced or non‑standard transactions.
• Prior experience in a private lender, non‑bank lender, or bank commercial credit environment strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with loan origination systems (LOS), third‑party reports, and credit memo preparation required.

Disclaimer

Gradient Mortgage Capital is an equal‑opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs. This job description is not a contract of employment and does not list all duties of the position. Employment is at‑will, and job responsibilities, compensation, and benefits may change at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.