Senior Underwriter - Energy

First Citizens Bank; Santa Monica (CA); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

First Citizens Bank seeks a VP, Senior Underwriter Energy/Renewables Project Finance to lead underwriting, structure loans, and prepare credit memos for the energy portfolio. The role requires deep financial analysis, risk assessment, and collaboration with the energy lending team in a hybrid work setup.

The role also involves mentoring junior underwriters, guiding customer interactions, and pursuing cross-sales opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and 6 years of experience in Commercial Lending or Credit Analysis, Financial Statement Spreading, Preparation of Projections, and Trailing Twelve-Month Analysis, Management
• High School Diploma or GED and 10 years of experience in Commercial Lending or Credit Analysis, Financial Statement Spreading, Preparation of Projections, and Trailing Twelve-Month Analysis, Management
• Preferred Qualifications: Renewable Energy experience, project finance, and Excel/modeling skills

Responsibilities

• Underwriting - leads energy credit actions, analyzes financials and structures loans.
• Risk Management - identifies and mitigates risks within the energy portfolio.
• Analysis - compiles data to support structuring and approval of loans.
• Business Support - assists in cross-sales opportunities and client communications

Skills

Energy lending

Credit analysis

Financial modeling

Leadership

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's Degree

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Excel

Job description

Overview

This is a hybrid role with the expectation that time working will regularly take place inside and outside of a company office.

The VP, Senior Underwriter Energy/Renewables Project Finance leads underwriting efforts by servicing Energy portfolios at the highest level of ability and complexity. Supports the Energy lending team with expertise in structuring, analysis, and credit documentation for Energy credit actions. Establishes viability of repayment sources and prepares credit approval memos. Identifies, gathers, and reviews financial information to determine credit grades and appropriate loan structuring. Assesses and communicates risks to assist department risk mitigation strategies. Provides service and support for both associates and customers, assisting with customer calls and may assist in identifying cross-sales opportunities. Offers guidance on escalated or difficult underwriting matters. Leads special projects as needed to facilitate Energy lending activities and service capabilities and may act in a leadership role to less experienced underwriters in the work group.

Responsibilities & QualificationsDuties & Responsibilities:

• Underwriting - Leads the underwriting of Energy credit actions according to applicable regulations, procedures, and guidelines. Interacts directly with customers to gather information throughout the approval process and to determine the viability of repayment. Reviews financial statements, communicates with customers or prospects, and performs analysis to recommend credit grades, covenants, and appropriate loan structuring. Ensures all involved parties are updated on underwriting progress and outcome. Provides leadership in daily activities through underwriting production and credit analysis expertise.
• Risk Management - Identifies risks through reviews, analysis, and research of new and existing Energy loans. Works closely with Bank associates and partners to resolve risk issues, communicating review schedule and potential changes in the Energy portfolio. Assists in coordinating review and renewal schedules for existing credits, facilitating ongoing risk identification and management. May assist in the development of strategies to manage risk within the credit portfolio.
• Analysis - Sources, compiles, and interprets financial data to support structuring and approval of loans. Reviews industry information and comparisons, key risks and mitigants, and collaterals to form a general business overview of the borrower. Utilizes results of analysis to underwrite complex loans.
• Business Support - May assist in identifying cross-sales opportunities for new and existing relationships based on analysis activities. Identifies servicing information and prepares credit analysis documentation. Partners with associates and customers to determine needs and structuring of new requests, participating in customer and prospect calls as needed. Assists management with peer development and training.

Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree and 6 years of experience in Commercial Lending or Credit Analysis, Financial Statement Spreading, Preparation of Projections, and Trailing Twelve-Month Analysis, Management

- OR-

High School Diploma or GED and 10 years of experience in Commercial Lending or Credit Analysis, Financial Statement Spreading, Preparation of Projections, and Trailing Twelve-Month Analysis, Management

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in related field such as Finance, Economics, or Business
• Renewable Energy experience
• Experience and/or desire to train less experienced associates
• Professional business experience
• Desire to learn from management and experienced colleagues
• Project finance experience
• Distributed Generation experience to include community solar
• US renewable project finance experience
• Tax equity experience
• Commercial Finance experience
• Excel and modeling experience

Additional Information

If hired in New York City, New York or Santa Monica, California the base pay for this position is generally between $170,000.00 and $200,000.00. 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.

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