Senior Credit Approver

First Western Financial, Inc.; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 86,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan

Paid parking

Health benefits

Professional development

Job summary

First Western Trust seeks an experienced Senior Credit Approver in Denver, CO. The role oversees independent approvals of complex consumer, commercial, and residential mortgage credits, ensuring policy adherence and strong portfolio quality.

It includes mentoring credit staff and guiding risk practices across lending functions. The position requires a finance-related degree and 7–10 years of underwriting experience, with 3–5 years in delegated lending authority.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in finance, accounting, business, economics or related field.
• 7–10 years in Commercial, Consumer, and/or Mortgage underwriting/analysis.
• 3–5 years in credit approval or delegated lending authority.

Responsibilities

• Approve complex consumer, commercial, and mortgage loans within delegated authority.
• Perform one-up reviews and provide independent challenge on decisions.
• Review post-approval transactions to verify conditions and regulatory compliance.
• Mentor analysts and junior approvers and support policy development.

Skills

Credit underwriting

Mortgage lending

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Financial analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/related field

Tools

Loan origination systems

Financial spreading software

MS Office

Job description

Senior Credit Approver

Location: Denver, CO (In-Office)

Job Type: Full-Time Exempt

Salary: $86,000 - $124,600/YR *Actual offer will be based on experience, location, education, and/or skills*

Who We're Looking For

You are an experienced credit professional with deep expertise in commercial, consumer, and residential mortgage underwriting. You are comfortable evaluating complex credit structures, exercising sound judgment, and providing independent challenge while maintaining collaborative relationships across the organization. You enjoy mentoring others, promoting strong credit practices, and helping maintain a high-quality loan portfolio. Your analytical skills, risk management mindset, and ability to navigate complex lending situations make you a trusted partner and advisor.

About the Role

The Senior Credit Approver is responsible for the independent approval of complex consumer, commercial, and residential mortgage credit requests within delegated lending authority while promoting sound portfolio risk management across the organization. This role performs one-up reviews of credit decisions, evaluates complex credit structures and policy exceptions, validates risk ratings and underwriting quality, and ensures approved loans satisfy all credit conditions, regulatory requirements, and policy standards prior to closing. The Senior Credit Approver serves as a subject matter expert, provides guidance and mentorship to analysts and junior approvers, supports the consistent application of credit policy and risk practices, identifies emerging portfolio trends and risks, and partners with lending and credit leadership to maintain a strong credit culture and overall portfolio quality.

What You'll Do

• Independently approve complex consumer, commercial, and residential mortgage loan requests within assigned lending authority limits. Partner with PC associates, lenders, and Credit Administration to facilitate timely and efficient movement from approval through documentation and closing.
• Perform one-up reviews of credit decisions made by lower delegated authorities, providing independent challenge, guidance, and oversight to ensure sound underwriting and adherence to credit policy.
• Conduct post-approval, pre-closing reviews of complex transactions to verify satisfaction of approval conditions, policy requirements, and regulatory standards.
• Perform and validate dual risk rating reviews at origination, ensuring consistency in risk assessment and accuracy of portfolio risk ratings.
• Serve as a mentor and subject matter expert for Credit Analysts and Credit Approvers by supporting onboarding, training, coaching, and ongoing professional development.
• Provide recommendations for the development, enhancement, and maintenance of credit policies, underwriting standards, procedures, and risk management practices.
• Partner with lending teams, Credit Administration, and senior leadership to structure, evaluate, and resolve complex underwriting matters, policy exceptions, and high-impact credit transactions.
• Identify emerging portfolio risks, underwriting trends, and credit quality concerns, escalating issues and recommending appropriate risk mitigation strategies.
• Support portfolio management initiatives through ongoing review of credit quality, risk exposure, and compliance with established credit standards.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics or related field required.
• 7-10 years of Commercial, Consumer, and/or Mortgage Credit Underwriting and Analysis experience required.
• 3-5 years of Credit Approval or Delegated Lending Authority Experience preferred.
• 3-5 years of Training, Mentoring, or Leadership Responsibilities within Credit Functions preferred.
• Strong knowledge of commercial, consumer, and residential mortgage lending principles.
• Thorough understanding of financial statement analysis, cash flow analysis, global cash flow, collateral analysis, and credit structuring.
• Knowledge of regulatory guidance, banking compliance requirements, and risk management practices.
• Ability to coach and train less experienced analysts and lenders.
• Proficiency with loan origination systems, financial spreading software, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Formal Commercial Credit Training (e.g., RMA, Moody's, or equivalent) preferred.

What We Offer

• Competitive base salary: $86,000 - $124,600/YR, plus strong bonus potential.
• 401(k) plan with employer match.
• Paid parking and transportation benefits.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits, including:
  • Health savings accounts (HSA)
  • Flexible spending accounts (FSA)
  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Generous paid time off and bank holidays.
• Access to training and professional development programs.
• Sponsorship and support for obtaining professional certifications.
• A culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and shared success.

Who We Are

At First Western Trust, we're more than just a financial institution-we're a team of forward-thinkers committed to excellence, innovation, and impact. Our culture thrives on teamwork and mutual respect, grounded in the belief that diverse perspectives fuel creativity and help us tackle challenges in fresh, effective ways.

We celebrate each other's successes, welcome new ideas, and take personal ownership in everything we do. A genuine desire to positively impact our clients, communities, and one another drives our work. We meet challenges with a growth mindset, act with urgency and accountability, and constantly strive to raise the bar for ourselves and our clients.

Leadership at First Western means setting an example and fostering a culture of trust, transparency, and respect. Whether you're just beginning your journey or bringing years of experience, you'll find a welcoming community where your contributions are valued and your potential is boundless.

We expect our people to:

• Demand and reward excellence.
• Take action and responsibility.
• Collaborate, communicate openly, and give/receive feedback with trust.
• Go above and beyond to do what's right-always.

If that sounds like you, you'll fit right in.

Equal Opportunity Employer

First Western Trust is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace where every team member is valued and given the opportunity to thrive. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and experiences and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status. For accommodation requests, please contact [e-mail].

Region A Pay Range

Pay Range

$86,000 – $124,600 USD