Senior Associate / VP, Underwriting & Portfolio Management

CRE Finance Council; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Performance bonus

Benefits package

Professional development

Job summary

CRE Finance Council seeks an Underwriter & Portfolio Manager to manage the closing and underwriting of real estate development loans from term sheet through funding, across multifamily, industrial, hospitality, and other CRE assets.

You will coordinate diligence, documentation, and closing logistics, support credit analysis, and serve as the central contact for borrowers, counsel, title, and third-party providers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Real Estate, Economics, Accounting, or related field.
• 3–7 years of experience in commercial real estate loan closing, credit analysis, or related roles; private credit experience a plus.
• Exposure to bridge, construction, or development loans preferred; familiarity with CRE software a plus.

Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end loan closing process for real estate loans ($3MM–$30MM) across multiple asset classes.
• Maintain and drive the closing checklist with diligence reports, docs, and signatures through funding.
• Coordinate daily with borrowers, sponsors, counsel, title companies, and internal teams to hit closing dates.
• Review third-party reports and documents for checklist compliance; flag exceptions for senior underwriter review.
• Support underwriting with cash flow models, rent roll analysis, and market data gathering.
• Draft sections of credit memos and investment committee materials and maintain deal files.
• Prepare closing statements, funding memos, and wire instructions; verify documents align with terms.
• Assist with post-closing booking, asset management handoff, and servicing prep.
• Support portfolio monitoring tasks including covenant tracking and draw reviews.
• Build expertise through deal discussions, investment committee meetings, and ongoing training.

Skills

Closing process management

Credit analysis

Communication

Deal coordination

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Business/Real Estate/Economics/Accounting

Tools

Excel

Word

Loan tracking software

Job description

About the Role

We are seeking a detail-oriented Underwriter & Portfolio Manager to join our private credit platform, supporting the closing and underwriting of real estate development loans ranging from $3 million to $30 million. This role will focus on driving loans from term sheet through funding — coordinating diligence, documentation, and closing logistics —on bridge, construction, acquisition, and value-add loans across multifamily, industrial, hospitality, self-storage, and other commercial real estate asset classes.

Working alongside Head of Credit, operations and originators, you will own the closing and post-closing loan portfolio monitoring process end-to-end, assist with credit analysis and memo preparation, and serve as the central point of contact for borrowers, counsel, title, and third-party report providers. This is a high-visibility seat with a clear path into senior underwriting and portfolio management / Head of Credit role.

This is an excellent opportunity for a mid-career credit or closing professional to gain deep exposure to private real estate credit in a growing platform.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end loan closing process for real estate loans ($3MM–$30MM), including bridge, acquisition, ground-up construction, and transitional financings across multifamily, industrial, student housing, self-storage, retail, office, and hospitality.
• Maintain and drive the closing checklist: track open diligence items, third-party reports (appraisal, environmental, property condition, zoning, title/survey), entity and authority documents, insurance, and signature logistics through to funding.
• Coordinate daily with borrowers, sponsors, outside counsel, title companies, and internal legal to keep deals on the targeted closing date and escal**?** early.
• Review third-party reports, organizational documents, title commitments, surveys, and insurance certificates against checklist requirements; flag exceptions for senior underwriter and counsel review.
• Support underwriting by assisting with cash flow models (pro forma, sources & uses, debt service coverage), rent roll and lease analysis, sponsor background and financial statement review, and market data gathering.
• Draft sections of credit memos and investment committee materials under the direction of senior underwriters; maintain deal files and update internal pipeline and pricing tools.
• Prepare and circulate closing statements, funding memos, and wire instructions; verify final loan documents tie to approved terms before funding.
• Assist with post-closing booking, file handoff to asset management and servicing, and resolution of post-closing checklist items.
• Support portfolio monitoring tasks , including covenant compliance tracking, construction draw review, and annual review preparation.
• Build expertise in private real estate credit by participating in deal roundtables, investment committee meetings, and ongoing training.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Real Estate, Economics, Accounting, or related field.
• 3–7 years of experience in commercial real estate loan closing, credit analysis, paralegal/loan administration, title, or a related role; private credit or non-bank lending experience a plus.
• Exposure to bridge, construction, or development loans preferred; strong candidates from agency, CMBS, or bank CRE platforms will be considered.
• Working knowledge of loan documentation (notes, loan agreements, guaranties, mortgages/deeds of trust) and third-party diligence reports.
• Familiarity with cash flow modeling, rent rolls, and basic CRE financial analysis; willingness to deepen modeling skills on the job.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple deals at different stages simultaneously and hit closing deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; comfortable being the day-to-day point of contact for borrowers and counsel.
• Proficiency in MS Office, particularly Excel and Word; experience with loan tracking or CRE underwriting software a plus.
• Self-motivated with a high degree of integrity, attention to detail, and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred

• Prior experience at a private credit fund, debt fund, or non-bank real estate lender.
• Paralegal certificate or prior experience supporting CRE finance closings at a law firm or title company.
• Familiarity with construction loan administration and draw processes.

What We Offer

• Competitive base salary + performance bonus
• Comprehensive benefits package (health, dental, vision, 401(k), etc.)
• Professional development and mentorship opportunities