Credit Analyst II

First County Bank; Stamford (CT); On-site; USD 67,000 - 105,884; Full time

Job summary

First County Bank in Stamford, CT is seeking a Credit Analyst to collaborate with Loan Officers on credit risk administration. The role involves performing credit analyses and underwriting for commercial loans, maintaining credit files, and mentoring junior staff.

Qualifications include a bachelor's degree in business, finance, accounting, or economics, with 2-5 years of relevant experience. Salary is commensurate with experience, ranging from $67,000 – $105,884.

Qualifications

• 2-5 years of experience in commercial credit analysis and commercial construction loans.
• Knowledge of credit and collateral documentation and analysis techniques.
• Strong oral and written communication skills are necessary.

Responsibilities

• Perform credit analyses and underwriting for commercial loans.
• Maintain financial statements and loan compliance.
• Collaborate with Loan Officers on credit transactions.

Skills

Commercial credit analysis

Financial statement analysis

Communication skills

Loan underwriting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting, or economics

Tools

Abrigo loan origination software

Job description

At First County Bank, You + We =Team. YOU – Bring your talent, hunger to learn and desire to grow. WE – Will provide you with the training and experience you need to become a Trusted Advisor to your clients. TEAM – As part of the FCB team, you will share in the satisfaction of working for a respected 170‑year‑old institution with deep community roots and a tradition of giving back. First County Bank - It's where you belong!

We are currently looking for a Credit Analyst to join our Credit Administration team! This individual will collaborate with Business Banking Loan Officers, Portfolio Managers and Credit Administration team members on all aspects of credit risk administration, providing credit analyses and underwriting functions for commercial loans, as well as maintaining credit files, analyzing financial statements, communicating with loan software vendors, preparing quarterly reports and mentoring junior staff, as appropriate. Work hours: 8:30am – 4:30pm, Monday through Friday.

Primary Responsibilities

• Perform credit analyses and underwriting for evaluation, risk rating, and approval of commercial real estate ("CRE"), commercial & industrial ("C&I"), and commercial construction loans.
• Maintain and analyze financial statements and loan covenant compliance according to loan documentation requirements.
• Communicate with loan origination/underwriting software vendor regarding system functionality and/or product enhancements, as needed.
• Assist in the preparation of quarterly reports for the Board of Directors, as necessary.
• Collaborate with Loan Officers to originate and underwrite credit transactions with minimal Credit Manager or Chief Credit Officer supervision; assist with initial assessment of the proposed transaction and, if warranted, proceed to gather due diligence requirements (e.g., borrower financial statements, credit reports, company & industry information and other data as appropriate) to complete full underwriting.
• Solicit additional information as required, collaborating with Loan Officer, borrower, credit agencies, suppliers, and third‑party vendors (appraisers, environmental firms, etc.), to complete underwriting in alignment with Bank policies.
• May attend due diligence meetings/site visits or other client‑facing activities as needed for underwriting and client relations.
• Complete commercial credit analysis, including investigating business and personal credit history, industry background, and other relevant aspects of borrower's credit profile.
• Prepare detailed financial analysis to evaluate historical financial performance and trends, projections, ratios, cash flow, ability to service current and proposed debt, and global cash flows for use in loan presentations or credit reviews, highlighting strengths, weaknesses, risks, and mitigants using financial information and company and industry analysis.
• Evaluate collateral and determine appropriate advance rates/LTV and determines debt coverage for commercial real estate, accounts receivable, inventory, fixed assets, and marketable securities, as appropriate.
• Recommend loan structures and appropriate loan covenants that are commensurate with the risk of the transaction while adhering to Bank policy and demonstrate awareness of competitive market conditions.
• Prepare credit memos for approval within designated approval limits, including the Bank’s board of directors & ensures credit approval is obtained in alignment with Bank policy & procedure; May attend credit approval meetings, as needed.
• Maintain a portfolio of loans for annual review and covenant assessment, driving the loan renewal process on maturing loans in collaboration with the loan officer and portfolio manager, including acquiring updated financial information and underwriting the renewal; awareness of cross selling or relationship expansion opportunities is a plus.
• Raise concerns about deteriorating credits to senior/executive management in a timely fashion and may provide recommendations for remediation, as appropriate.
• Use credit administration system to track the request and timely receipt of information from borrowers/guarantors including tax returns, financial statements, rent rolls, leases and income and expenses on properties.
• Mentor junior staff regarding underwriting techniques, writing style, credit administration, and other strategies, as appropriate.
• Assess and approve operating credit exposure (i.e. ACH/RDC limits), as needed.
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of loan and collateral documentation including loan and security agreements, with emphasis on loan covenants, events of default, and bank rights and remedies.
• Provide back‑up to Letter‑of‑Credit administration and documentation, as needed.
• Resolve open issues identified in loan reviews, audits, and/or regulatory examinations; collecting and forwarding information to Credit Manager or other senior/executive management and/or auditor/regulator to achieve resolution.
• Maintain and update knowledge of current developments in banking through review of current events, news, and participation in continuing education programs.
• Prepare reports on behalf of the department and other related duties as required.

Requirements / Qualifications

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting, economics or related field or equivalent experience, plus two to five years of experience in commercial credit analysis and commercial construction loans, collections & workout and relevant experience in loan/credit administration.
• Experience with commercial appraisals and reviews is required.
• Formal credit training, including knowledge of accounting principles and practices, credit terminology, loan & collateral documentation, and credit/financial analysis techniques including global cash flow assessment is required.
• Knowledge of banking products and services, with concentration in financial and credit analysis, credit and collections procedures, loan workout and underwriting.
• Working knowledge of bankruptcy laws, appraisal and appraisal review techniques, financial ratio analysis, and accounting and regulatory standards and guidance.
• Strong oral and written communication skills and interpersonal skills are necessary.
• Ability to prioritize and multitask is critical, as is the ability to identify and elevate credit issues in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Computer skills are required, including experience with Abrigo loan origination and credit administration modules.
• Ability to evaluate, structure, and underwrite moderate‑to‑complex C&I and CRE transactions in a timely fashion strongly desired.

Salary commensurate with experience.

Wage range: $67,000 – $105,884