VP, Portfolio Manager - CRE

BMO Harris Bank; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Accident and life insurance

Retirement savings plans

Job summary

BMO Financial Group is seeking a Portfolio Manager for Commercial Real Estate lending in Milwaukee. You will partner with Relationship Managers to evaluate, structure, and execute CRE loan proposals over $30 million, ensure ongoing portfolio monitoring, and coordinate yearly reviews with strong emphasis on credit quality and risk controls.

The role requires deep CRE finance knowledge, leadership of deal teams, and ability to drive cross-sell opportunities while adhering to bank policies and

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in Commercial Real Estate, Finance, Economics, or Accounting preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of proven CRE lending experience, including structuring and negotiating loan documents.
• Extensive financial services background with corporate lending experience and related policies.
• Formal credit training and prior lending authority.

Responsibilities

• Analyze investor-owned CRE properties and markets to assess repayment ability and collateral values.
• Collaborate with Relationship Managers to develop client solutions and deliver timely pitches.
• Manage a portfolio of CRE loans, including annual reviews, renewals, and modifications.
• Lead deal teams; prepare lending proposals and coordinate documentation.
• Monitor covenants and credit conditions; ensure compliance with policies and procedures.
• Maintain knowledge of Bank products and cross-sell opportunities.

Skills

Credit analysis

Deal structuring

Portfolio management

Relationship building

Negotiation

Communication skills

Leadership

Education

Undergraduate degree (Commercial Real Estate, Finance, Economics, or Accounting)

10+ years in financial services corporate lending

Tools

MS Excel

MS Office suite

Job description

Application Deadline: 10/29/2026

Address: 790 N Water Street

Job Family Group: Commercial Sales & Service

The Portfolio Manager is jointly responsible with the Relationship Manager to meet customer expectations on new Commercial Real Estate loan requests, while also protecting the Bank, and for effectively interacting with clients to enhance their relationship with the Bank. The Portfolio Manager is also responsible for overseeing ongoing monitoring of client portfolio performance, ensuring that all reviews and renewals of Commercial Real Estate loans are completed on a timely basis, and is responsible for interim monitoring of covenants and other conditions of credit. The loan size is typically greater than $30 Million. This role is a key player on deal teams, collaborating and generating solutions to current and perspective clients within Commercial Real Estate. The role is responsible for making credit decisions in accordance with sound credit-granting principles and in compliance with Bank Policy & Procedures.

A. Credit Assessment (40%)

B. Client Performance Management (30%)

C. Sales Support and Partnership (20%)

D. Management of Team and Team Workflow (10%)

A. Credit Assessment & Risk Management

• Analyze investor owned properties and markets across the nation in order to evaluate ability to repay, assess credit risk, and confirm collateral property valuations.
• Collaborate with Relationship Managers to generate ideas, identify client solutions, pursue marketing efforts, cover clients, and deliver timely solutions.
• Actively manage client solution opportunities within portfolios.
• Operate as key member of the deal team and coordinate preparation of lending proposals and pitches to prospective clients with efforts to maximize penetration and returns.
• Institute cross-selling initiatives to increase ranking with client.
• Provide deal structuring expertise.
• Negotiate transactions and loan documentation with clients.
• Manage a portfolio of Commercial Real Estate loans, including completion of annual reviews, renewals, modifications, and other interim monitoring.
• Complete site inspections of investor owned properties in assigned portfolio at origination and on an annual basis thereafter.
• Maintain awareness of all Bank products and services offered and facilitate means of receiving continuous updates.
• Ensure credit decisions and recommendations are in accordance with sound credit-granting principles and in compliance with the Bank's policies and related procedures.
• Protect the Bank's assets and maintain quality of portfolio by adhering to lending processes, policies & procedures, legal and ethical requirements and regulations, audit requirements, and established risk management guidelines. Ensure all Commercial Real Estate Business is in conformity with Bank Policies and other guidelines.
• Exercise individually held unilateral discretionary limits, as well as any held prescribed approval discretionary limits, as authorized under Lending Policy.
• Adhere to Know Your Customer Rules and Bank Policies & Procedures for the prevention of loss due to fraud, counterfeiting, money laundering, or defalcation; identify and report suspicious and other reportable transactions or patterns of activity that are suspected to be related to money laundering.

B. Client Performance Management

• Prepare/oversee preparation of concise, well-reasoned credit correspondence.
• Ensure that loan renewals, reviews and monitoring are completed in a timely fashion to avoid any administrative past dues.
• Ensure that new loan requests are completed in a timely fashion to meet customer expectations and deadlines.
• Obtain credit concurrence as client advocate.
• Responsible for monitoring covenants of clients within assigned portfolio to identify deteriorating credit conditions and compliance with loan agreement.
• Oversee documentation and ongoing monitoring of asset and client performance.
• Actively manage portfolio to maximize return and credit quality.
• Monitor high risk loans via established procedures, with transfers to Special Assets Monitoring Unit as appropriate.

C. Sales Support and Partnerships

• Maintain key ongoing contact with lending clients in conjunction with Relationship Managers.
• Work with specialists as needed to support cross-sell opportunities.
• Maintain and promote a customer service environment, to include satisfying and exceeding customer needs and expectations.
• Increase share of wallet with customer by identifying cross-sell opportunities or enhance existing services by recommending credit, deposit, cash management, etc.

D. Management of Workflow

• Effectively manage workflow by aligning tasks with departmental goals and objectives.
• Lead team to success by capturing opportunities for ongoing mentoring, coaching, and career development of analysts and associates.

Knowledge

• An undergraduate degree, with focal areas of Commercial Real Estate, Finance, Economics, or Accounting preferred.
• 7-10 years of proven experience (in-depth knowledge) in analysis, structuring, and negotiating Commercial Real Estate lending transactions for all investor owned property types, including loan documentation, loan closing, and construction draw administration.
• Minimum of 10 years in financial services industry experience in a corporate lending environment developing business.
• Commercial Credit Qualification with Limits.
• In-depth understanding of Commercial Real Estate Products, Commercial Real Estate Lending Process, Commercial Lending Directives, all supporting processes and technology.
• In-depth knowledge of the organizational lending and portfolio management policies and objectives.
• Formal credit training and prior lending authority.
• Working knowledge of the organizational lending and portfolio management policies and objectives.
• Working knowledge and ability to execute Risk Management practices and strategies.

Skills

• Highly developed (in-depth) written and oral communication skills including the ability to write clear, concise and cogent credit correspondence.
• Exceptional (in-depth) analytical skills.
• Expertise in financial computer applications and database management tools including MS Excel. Strong proficiency in other Microsoft Office products and the Internet.
• Strong interpersonal skills used within a team environment and in client interaction with emphasis on excelling in relationship building.
• Excellent abilities in business development and cross-selling success.
• Ability to advocate persuasively (in-depth level).
• Ability to work under limited supervision.

Salary

$90,000.00 - $180,000.00

Pay Type

Salaried

The above represents BMO Financial Group's pay range and type.

Salaries will vary based on factors such as location, skills, experience, education, and qualifications for the role, and may include a commission structure. Salaries for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on number of hours regularly worked. For commission roles, the salary listed above represents BMO Financial Group's expected target for the first year in this position.

BMO Financial Group's total compensation package will vary based on the pay type of the position and may include performance-based incentives, discretionary bonuses, as well as other perks and rewards. BMO also offers health insurance, tuition reimbursement, accident and life insurance, and retirement savings plans. To view more details of our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.bmo.com/global/en/Total-Rewards

About Us

At BMO we are driven by a shared Purpose: Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. It calls on us to create lasting, positive change for our customers, our communities and our people. By working together, innovating and pushing boundaries, we transform lives and businesses, and power economic growth around the world.

As a member of the BMO team you are valued, respected and heard, and you have more ways to grow and make an impact. We strive to help you make an impact from day one - for yourself and our customers. We'll support you with the tools and resources you need to reach new milestones, as you help our customers reach theirs. From in-depth training and coaching, to manager support and network-building opportunities, we'll help you gain valuable experience, and broaden your skillset.

To find out more visit us at http://jobs.bmo.com/us/en

BMO is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. We evaluate applicants without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or any other legally protected characteristics. We also consider applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.

BMO is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e‑mail to [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Note to Recruiters

BMO does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to BMO, directly or indirectly, will be considered BMO property. BMO will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. A recruiting agency must first have a valid, written and fully executed agency agreement contract for service to submit resumes.