Director of Credit

JCW Group; Connecticut; On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

JCW Group in Connecticut seeks a Senior Director of Credit Underwriting to lead the underwriting function for commercial loan types including CRE, C&I, SBA and specialty finance. You will steer policy application and risk controls while partnering with Risk Management and lending teams.

This role requires a decade of credit experience, 7+ years of leadership, and strong financial analysis skills, with FDIC guidance knowledge.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of commercial credit experience at a bank.
• Formal credit training through a bank program or relevant education.
• Minimum 7 years of direct team leadership experience.
• Advanced proficiency in financial statement analysis and cash flow assessment.
• Strong working knowledge of FDIC guidance and commercial lending regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the credit underwriting department, managing workflow, turnaround times, and service levels across commercial loan types (CRE, C&I, SBA, specialty finance).
• Manage and develop a team of 7 underwriters, including hiring, training, and performance management.
• Serve as a deal structuring resource — identify and approve loan policy exceptions, ensure concentration limits and regulatory compliance, and support complex transaction analysis.
• Establish, implement, and monitor internal controls to minimize credit risk in collaboration with Risk Management and lending teams.
• Drive adoption of credit decision technology and analytics tools to improve efficiency and risk accuracy.
• Prepare and present materials for the Directors Loan Committee and Board-level reporting.
• Participate in audits, regulatory examinations, and loan reviews as needed.

Skills

Credit underwriting

Team leadership

Financial analysis

Regulatory knowledge

Loan policy governance

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance or related field

Job description

A commercial bank with over $3 billion in assets is seeking a senior Director of Credit Underwriting to lead and oversee the credit underwriting function, ensuring consistent application of loan policy while supporting business growth objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the credit underwriting department, managing workflow, turnaround times, and service level expectations across all commercial loan types (CRE, C&I, SBA, and specialty finance)
• Manage and develop a team of 7 underwriters, including hiring, training, and performance management
• Serve as a deal structuring resource — identify and approve loan policy exceptions, ensure concentration limit and regulatory compliance, and support complex transaction analysis
• Establish, implement, and monitor internal controls to minimize credit risk in collaboration with Risk Management and lending teams
• Drive adoption of credit decision technology and analytics tools to improve efficiency and risk accuracy
• Prepare and present materials for the Directors Loan Committee and Board-level reporting
• Participate in audits, regulatory examinations, and loan reviews as needed

Requirements

• 10+ years of commercial credit experience at a bank
• Formal credit training through a bank program or relevant education
• Minimum 7 years of direct team leadership experience
• Advanced proficiency in financial statement analysis, cash flow analysis, and global cash flow assessment
• Strong working knowledge of FDIC guidance and commercial lending regulations