Senior SBA & USDA Underwriter

First Community Bank; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

First Community Bank in Atlanta, GA seeks a Senior SBA Underwriter to independently underwrite and structure government-guaranteed loans (SBA 7(a), Express, and USDA B&I) per SOPs, policy, and sound lending practices.

The role enhances credit quality and regulatory compliance while supporting growth, collaboration with credit administration, closing, and operations, and delivering exceptional client service.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business, economics, or related field preferred.
• Minimum 7–10 years of commercial credit underwriting experience.
• Minimum 5 years of direct SBA underwriting experience.
• USDA B&I underwriting experience strongly preferred.
• Experience within a high-volume SBA lending platform preferred.
• Prior experience with PLP lending strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Independently underwrite complex SBA 7(a), SBA Express, USDA B&I, and related government guaranteed loan requests.
• Analyze borrower financial statements, tax returns, projections, global cash flow, debt service capacity, collateral coverage, liquidity, guarantor support, and repayment ability.
• Assess business risk, industry trends, management strength, succession considerations, and operational viability.
• Structure transactions in accordance with SBA SOP, USDA program requirements, bank credit policy, and safe and sound banking practices.
• Perform detailed collateral analysis including real estate, business assets, special purpose collateral, and construction lending scenarios.
• Evaluate equity injection requirements, source and seasoning of funds, and eligibility of contributed assets.
• Analyze franchise eligibility, affiliation, size standards, ownership structures, and organizational documentation.
• Review environmental, appraisal, insurance, and legal requirements associated with government guaranteed lending.
• Prepare comprehensive written credit memorandums and recommendation packages for approval authorities and loan committees.
• Present and defend loan recommendations to senior management and credit committees when necessary.

Skills

Analytical skills

Credit underwriting

Communication

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business, economics, or related field

Tools

SBA E-Tran

CAFS

Abrigo/Sageworks/Moody's

Excel/Word

Job description

Position Summary

The Senior SBA
& USDA Underwriter is responsible for the independent underwriting,
structuring, analysis, and recommendation of complex government guaranteed
commercial loan requests in accordance with SBA SOP requirements, USDA
guidelines, bank credit policy, and prudent commercial lending practices.

This position
plays a critical role in maintaining credit quality, regulatory compliance,
portfolio performance, and operational efficiency within a high-performing
Government Guaranteed Lending ("GGL") platform. The ideal candidate possesses
advanced technical expertise in SBA 7(a), SBA Express, USDA B&I, and
related government guaranteed lending programs, while also demonstrating strong
business judgment, communication skills, and the ability to operate in a
fast-paced, production-oriented environment consistent with one of the nation's
top SBA lenders.

The Senior
Underwriter serves as a key resource to lenders, credit administration,
closing, servicing, and executive management while helping drive growth,
consistency, and credit culture throughout the organization.

The ideal
candidate combines elite-level government guaranteed lending expertise with
strong business acumen, sound credit judgment, operational discipline, and a
collaborative leadership style. This individual thrives in a high-performance
lending environment focused on growth, compliance, credit quality, and
exceptional client service.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (Other duties may be assigned.)

Credit Underwriting & Analysis

• Independently underwrite complex SBA 7(a), SBA
  Express, USDA B&I, and related government guaranteed loan requests.
• Analyze borrower financial statements, tax
  returns, projections, global cash flow, debt service capacity, collateral
  coverage, liquidity, guarantor support, and repayment ability.
• Assess business risk, industry trends, management
  strength, succession considerations, and operational viability.
• Structure transactions in accordance with SBA
  SOP, USDA program requirements, bank credit policy, and safe and sound
  banking practices.
• Perform detailed collateral analysis including
  real estate, business assets, special purpose collateral, and construction
  lending scenarios.
• Evaluate equity injection requirements, source
  and seasoning of funds, and eligibility of contributed assets.
• Analyze franchise eligibility, affiliation, size
  standards, ownership structures, and organizational documentation.
• Review environmental, appraisal, insurance, and
  legal requirements associated with government guaranteed lending.
• Prepare comprehensive written credit memorandums
  and recommendation packages for approval authorities and loan committees.
• Present and defend loan recommendations to senior
  management and credit committees when necessary.

Government Guaranteed Program Compliance

• Maintain expert-level knowledge of current SBA
  SOPs, USDA regulations, policy notices, procedural updates, and program
  changes.
• Ensure all loans meet SBA and USDA eligibility,
  underwriting, documentation, and compliance requirements.
• Assist in maintaining the bank's Preferred Lender
  Program ("PLP") standards and USDA lending authority requirements.
• Identify and mitigate potential guaranty repair
  or denial risks during underwriting.
• Work closely with internal audit, quality
  control, compliance, and loan operations teams to ensure adherence to
  regulatory standards.
• Assist with responses to SBA, USDA, internal
  audit, and regulatory examination findings as needed.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as a technical resource and mentor to
  junior underwriters, analysts, lenders, and support staff.
• Promote consistency in underwriting standards and
  credit culture across the organization.
• Partner closely with business development
  officers, closers, portfolio managers, and loan operations staff to ensure
  efficient loan flow and exceptional customer experience.
• Assist in developing underwriting procedures,
  templates, workflows, and departmental best practices.
• Participate in training initiatives related to
  SBA and USDA lending programs.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in finance, Accounting,
  Business, Economics, or related field preferred.
• Minimum 7-10 years of commercial credit
  underwriting experience required.
• Minimum 5 years of direct SBA underwriting
  experience required.
• USDA B&I underwriting experience strongly
  preferred.
• Experience within a high-volume SBA lending
  platform preferred.
• Prior experience with PLP lending strongly
  preferred.

Technical Knowledge Requirements

• SBA SOP 50 10 and
  related procedural notices
• SBA 7(a), Express,
  CAPLines, and construction lending
• USDA Business &
  Industry (B&I) lending
• Commercial cash flow
  analysis and global cash flow
• CRE and business
  acquisition underwriting
• Construction lending
  analysis
• Environmental and
  appraisal requirements
• SBA eligibility and
  affiliation rules
• Collateral valuation
  methodologies
• Loan structuring and
  risk assessment
• Regulatory and
  compliance expectations

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional analytical and credit underwriting
  skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication
  abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple transactions under
  tight deadlines.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to
  detail.
• Ability to operate independently with minimal
  supervision.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving
  capabilities.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced,
  production-driven environment.
• High level of professionalism, accountability,
  and integrity.

Preferred Systems Experience

• SBA E-Tran
• CAFS
• Abrigo / Sageworks / Moody's
• Microsoft Excel and Word

Performance Expectations

• Maintain high levels of underwriting accuracy and
  compliance.
• Deliver timely credit decisions consistent with
  service-level expectations.
• Support portfolio growth while maintaining strong
  credit quality.
• Contribute to the bank's strategic growth within
  SBA and USDA lending platforms.
• Uphold the institution's credit culture and reputation as a top-tier government guaranteed lender.

FIRST COMMUNITY BANK (SC) is an EEO Employer - M/F/Protected Veteran Status