Director Underwriter Portfolio Manager - Middle Market Banking

First Citizens Bank; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

First Citizens Bank is seeking a senior-level professional for a hybrid Middle Market Banking role in California. You will manage underwriting and portfolio activities for privately held and public clients, coordinating with borrowers, banks, and intermediaries to structure and close transactions.

The role emphasizes leadership, credit analysis expertise, and strong communication skills within a relationship-driven cultural environment. Competitive compensation and benefits are provided.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree with 8+ years in Credit analysis or underwriting.
• High School Diploma with 12+ years in Credit analysis or Risk Management.

Responsibilities

• Run and coordinate the underwriting process from initial client discussions to closing, including deal vetting and term sheet issuance.
• Interface with Borrowers, Agent Banks, and Third Party Intermediaries; participate in credit approval meetings.
• Lead underwriting and portfolio management team; oversee staff performance, training, and evaluation.
• Monitor post-closing modifications, extensions, and portfolio risk, ensuring alignment with bank balance sheet and macroeconomic conditions.

Skills

Management or Supervisory

Detail Oriented

Commercial Credit

Verbal & Written Communication

Credit analysis

Education

Bachelor's Degree

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

This is a hybrid role, with the expectation that work time will regularly take place inside a company office.

At First Citizens Bank, we're committed to helping our clients achieve their ambitions, and we bring that same commitment to our associates. For more than 125 years, our relationship-based culture has created opportunities to build lasting connections, grow professionally and make a meaningful impact for our clients, communities and one another.

First Citizens Middle Market Banking brings a relationship and advisory driven approach to delivering tailored banking solutions that support growth, strategic objectives and long-term success to privately held, family-owned and publicly traded companies across a variety of industries.

Overview

This is a hybrid role, with the expectation that work time will regularly take place inside a company office.

At First Citizens Bank, we're committed to helping our clients achieve their ambitions, and we bring that same commitment to our associates. For more than 125 years, our relationship-based culture has created opportunities to build lasting connections, grow professionally and make a meaningful impact for our clients, communities and one another.

First Citizens Middle Market Banking brings a relationship and advisory driven approach to delivering tailored banking solutions that support growth, strategic objectives and long-term success to privately held, family-owned and publicly traded companies across a variety of industries.

Responsibilities & Qualifications

Duties & Responsibilities:

Strong middle market finance experience with both privately-held and public companies, through understanding of credit analysis, financial modeling, structuring, guarantor analysis, deal terms and the ability to communicate credit recommendations with senior management. Deep credit product knowledge ranging from senior secured lending with recourse to owner-occupied real estate, and enterprise value financings.

New Business Underwriting:

• Run/coordinate the underwriting process from initial client discussions to closing, including deal vetting, structuring, term sheet issuance, overseeing the preparation of a quality Credit Approval Memo, loan documentation negotiation, approval and closing.
• Interface with Borrowers, Agent Banks, and Third Party Intermediaries.
• Actively participate in credit approval request meetings with Credit Partners

Ongoing Portfolio Management:

• Following closing, oversee any post-closing loan modifications, extensions, and ongoing portfolio monitoring including ensuring risk rating accuracy.
• Monitors changes in the economy and macroeconomic environment and advises executive management on potential opportunities to enhance shareholder return.
• Advises on strategies to ensure risks are properly identified and portfolio composition is aligned with overall Bank balance sheet and appropriate for various economic environments.

Managerial Functions:

• Leads an underwriting and portfolio management team and manages the performance, training, and evaluation of assigned staff.
• Establishes and monitors team expectations to achieve company and department goals. Makes appropriate changes to team policies, procedures, and efficiencies in order to meet objectives.
• Possesses a player-coach mentality and knows how to balance team/individuals empowerment versus direct involvement.

Position Specific Skills:

• Completion of a formal credit training program preferred
• Management or Supervisory
• Detail Oriented
• Commercial Credit
• Communications both verbal and written

Qualifications:
Minimum Required Education and Experience: Bachelor's Degree and 8 years' experience OR High School Diploma or GED/Equivalent and 12 years' experience in Credit analysis, underwriting or Risk Management

Preferred:

Education: Master's Degree or Bachelor's degree Business, Finance, Economics

Management or Supervisory experience

Middle Market, Corporate Banking, Leveraged Lending

#LI-NK1

Additional Information

If hired in California, the base pay for this position is generally between $150,000.00 and $210,000.00. Actual starting base pay will be determined based on skills, experience, location, and other non-discriminatory factors permitted by law. For some roles, total compensation may also include variable incentives, bonuses, benefits, and/or other awards as outlined in the offer of employment.

Benefits are an integral part of total rewards and First Citizens Bank is committed to providing a competitive, thoughtfully designed and quality benefits program to meet the needs of our associates. More information can be found at https://jobs.firstcitizens.com/benefits.