Junior Portfolio Manager

Columbia Bank; Fair Lawn (NJ); Hybrid; USD 73,000 - 99,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia Bank is seeking a Jr Commercial Loan Portfolio Manager to oversee a portfolio of small business banking loans within the Business Banking Department. You will monitor renewals, extensions, and modifications, coordinating with underwriting and lenders to ensure timely and accurate documentation.

The role emphasizes relationship management with customers, covenant monitoring, and support across Credit, Lending and Risk teams with emphasis on regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Management, or related field.
• 2 years of related Commercial Banking and/or Loan Servicing experience.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Considerable attention to detail.
• Organizational skills.
• Ability to develop constructive and cooperative relationships.
• MS Office applications including Excel and Word.

Responsibilities

• Management of a small business banking loan portfolio.
• Portfolio maintenance with renewals, rate mods and documentation collection.
• Review monthly maturity reports and prepare extension memos.
• Prepare Pre-Cams for renewals and modifications and submit to underwriting.
• Provide support to Lenders to place a loan into underwriting.
• Interact with customers to maintain and enhance relationships.
• Coordinate among Credit, Lending, Risk and Loan Servicing during loan lifecycle.

Skills

Verbal & written communication

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Accounting/Management

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Covenant tracking systems

Job description

Fair Lawn, NJ, US

Salary Range: $73,306.00 To $98,958.00 Annually

Columbia Bank is a full-service consumer and commercial bank serving individuals, businesses, and communities across New Jersey, Staten Island, and Brooklyn. Through our banking, title, insurance, and wealth management businesses, we provide a broad range of financial solutions tailored to our customers’ needs. We are also committed to strengthening the communities we serve through employee volunteerism, community partnerships, and the Columbia Bank Foundation.

Why this Role Matters

The Jr Commercial Loan Portfolio Manager is responsible for all aspects of managing a portfolio of commercial loans. The incumbent interacts with customers to maintain and enhance business relationships. The individual works with the Business Banking Department in regard to all aspects of loan origination, portfolio management and follow up, including information compilation and review, submission of loans to the Credit Department, covenant monitoring, renewals, extensions, interest rate modifications, file documentation, exception resolution, delinquencies etc. Credit Training and underwriting skills are not required under this role.

What You'll Deliver/Areas of Impact

• Management of a small business banking loan portfolio.
• Works with a team of Commercial Lenders regarding Commercial portfolio maintenance activities including maturity monitoring, renewals, interest rate modifications and documentation collection.
• Reviews monthly maturity reports, requests updated financial information, and prepares extension memos, as required.
• Prepares Pre-Cams for all renewals and modifications and submits to underwriting.
• Provides support to Lenders to ensure that all information needed to place a loan into underwriting is received.
• Interacts with customers to maintain and enhance business relationships.
• Acts as a liaison between the Credit, Lending, Risk and Loan Servicing Departments as well as customers during the collection, underwriting, approval, and servicing stages of the loan submission, as needed.

Monitoring and Recommendations

• Reviews and manages compensating balance requirements.
• Along with commercial lenders, provides recommendations as to loan restructuring, implementing legal collection action, or referral of the loan to the Special Assets Department.

Other Responsibilities

• Maintains a current knowledge of OCC Regulations, local and national economic, financial political and legislative trends. Determines the possible impact on commercial lending activities.
• Performs other job-related duties as may be assigned.

What You'll Need to Succeed

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Management, or related field.
• 2 years of related Commercial Banking and/or Loan Servicing experience.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, both internally and externally.
• Considerable attention to detail.
• Organizational skills.
• Ability to develop constructive and cooperative relationships.
• Skilled in Microsoft Office applications including Excel and Word.
• Working knowledge of covenant tracking systems.

Technology Qualifications

Experience preparing audit supporting documents.

Experience with general ledger reconciliations in compliance with FDCIA and Sarbanes-Oxley.

Experience supporting or responding to internal and external audit requests.
Understanding of US GAAP, banking regulations, and accounting principles.

Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

Experience working with core banking systems and general ledger platforms.

How We Take Care of You

Build a stronger future for yourself, your family and the communities we serve. At Columbia Bank, meaningful work comes together with a collaborative and rewarding culture, opportunities to learn and grow, and a total rewards package designed to support your health, financial security and overall wellbeing. Benefits include healthcare choice, retirement savings with company support, employee ownership, wellness resources, education and student loan programs, paid time off and financial protection. Join a company where your contribution is valued, your growth is supported and your career can make a meaningful impact.

The hours that you will dedicate to work

This position currently follows a hybrid schedule of 3 in-office days and 2 remote days per week. Effective January 4, 2027, the schedule will transition to 4 in-office days and 1 remote day per week. Hybrid work arrangements are subject to business needs and may change.

Columbia Bank and its affiliates is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including individuals with disabilities and veterans.