VP, Commercial Loan Underwriter

Poppy Bank; Santa Rosa (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Poppy Bank is seeking a VP, Commercial Loan Underwriter in Santa Rosa, CA, to manage underwriting of complex commercial loans. This role requires deep credit analysis, collaboration with lenders, and strict adherence to internal policies and regulatory standards.

The position emphasizes evaluating financial statements, cash flow, collateral, and market risks while coordinating with borrowers to finalize credit terms and approvals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 7+ years of Commercial Real Estate & Business Loan underwriting experience.
• Strong credit analysis and financial modeling skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Proficiency with standard office software and loan systems (Baker Hill preferred).
• Detail-oriented with ability to manage multiple loans and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Underwrite and evaluate commercial loan requests from origination through closing.
• Prepare credit memorandums and detailed credit analysis for credit authorization.
• Analyze financial statements, tax returns, projections, cash flow, and collateral.
• Assess business models, industry risks, market position and management strength.
• Review appraisal, environmental, valuation, title and third-party reports for compliance.
• Collaborate with Lenders and borrowers to discuss issues and recommendations.

Skills

Credit analysis

Financial modeling

Stress testing

Ratio analysis

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Multi-tasking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business or related field

Tools

Baker Hill

Word processing

Spreadsheets

Job description

Description

Under minimal supervision, the VP, Commercial Loan Underwriter is responsible for underwriting commercial loans. This role acts as a subject matter expert in policy, assists in credit structuring and ensures adherence to internal credit policies regulations. The incumbent will analyze commercial and personal credit information from borrowers and guarantors to determine risk involved in lending money to new and existing commercial real estate clients. Verifies and compiles application information for commercial loans by performing the following duties. Position requires teamwork and personal interaction. This position requires that the individual work in office, independently, and with minimal supervision.

Ensures compliance within all Bank policies and procedures, as well as all applicable state and federal banking regulations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Review loan application files to verify that application data is complete and meets established standards, including type and amount of loan, borrower assets and liabilities.
• Underwrite and evaluate commercial loan requests from origination through closing, including initial credit approval, conditions and post-closing oversight.
• Prepare credit memorandums and detailed credit analysis for inclusion in Bank credit authorization.
• Analyze financial statements, tax returns (both business and personal), projections, cash flow, debt service coverage, leverage, liquidity, and collateral.
• Assess business models, industry risks, market position, and management strength.
• Review and interpret appraisal, environmental, valuation, title, and third-party reports.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable, program rules, and lender/commercial documentation requirements
• Perform and document risk assessment on loan requests. Verifies accuracy of information provided.
• Work directly with Lenders and borrowers to discuss issues, ask questions and make financial and covenant recommendations as necessary.
• Review and analyze appraisal assumptions and methodologies; incorporate appraisal information into Bank credit authorization. Evaluates and verifies all collateral on all secured loans and prepares reports of findings.
• Works closely with all parties to assist in timely processing, credit approval, and closing of new loan requests.
• Minimum of 10 hours CRA volunteer hours per year. Volunteer hours are typically scheduled within business hours. This is compensable time and mileage is reimbursed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business or related field.
• Requires a minimum of 7 years of Commercial Real Estate & Business Loan underwriting experience
• Strong math skills and credit analysis capabilities – financial modeling, ratio analysis, stress testing, sensitivity analysis
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear and well thought credit memos
• Requires computer experience and proficiency with word processing, spreadsheets and database management
• Familiarity with loan originating system (preferably Baker Hill)
• Attention to detail, organizational skills, ability to manage multiple loan transactions and meet deadlines
• Ability to work scheduled full-time hours and maintain regular attendance
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment

Physical/Mental Demands & Work Environment:

The incumbent in the course of performing this position frequently spends time writing, typing, speaking, listening, operating basic business equipment, seeing (such as close, color and peripheral vision, depth perception and adjusted focus), sitting, walking, standing, reading documents or instruments, detailed work, problem solving, client contact, reasoning, math, language, presentations, verbal and written communication, analytical reasoning, stress, multiple concurrent tasks, and frequent interruptions. The incumbent for this position will occasionally lift up to 15 pounds, pull, squat, kneel and reach. The incumbent is in a non-confined office-type setting in which they are free to move about at will. The work environment is typically quiet to a moderate noise level.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Management reserves the right to change this position description at any time.

Requirements

See qualifications above.

Poppy Bank provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

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