Associate Director, Commercial Real Estate Finance (Loan Closing), Transaction Advisory Group

About the role

The Associate Director will lead the execution and closing of complex U.S. commercial real estate (CRE) financing transactions, acting as the central coordinator across business, legal/compliance, credit, and operations teams. The role requires deep expertise in loan documentation, closing mechanics, and regulatory compliance, with a strong legal orientation to support negotiation, structuring, and execution through funding. There is significant client interaction involved working on live transactions and ensuring high quality, successful deal execution.

Responsibilities

• Transaction Execution & Closing Leadership
• Lead end-to-end CRE loan closings (balance sheet, syndications, CMBS / warehouse facilities) from credit approval through funding and post-close completion
• Manage closing timelines, conditions precedent, and issue resolution to ensure timely, accurate funding
• Cook up funding mechanics, including settlement statements, sources & uses, and wire execution with Treasury
• Legal Documentation & Structuring
• Review, interpret, and negotiate loan agreements, security documents, and closing documentation in alignment with approved credit terms
• Partner closely with internal and external legal counsel to resolve documentation issues and ensure enforceability
• Ensure consistency between legal documentation, credit approvals, and booking systems
• Due Diligence & Risk Control
• Oversee all closing due diligence (title, survey, insurance, UCC, environmental, etc.) and validate completeness prior to funding
• Identify and mitigate documentation or structural risks; escalate and resolve exceptions proactively
• Ensure all transactions comply with Scotiabank policies, regulatory requirements, and underwriting standards
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Act as the central point of coordination across Credit, Origination, Syndications, Legal, Compliance, Operations, and external parties (borrowers, counsel, agents)
• Manage communications and expectations across multiple stakeholders in a fast-paced deal environment
• Post-Closing & Portfolio Handover
• Ensure completeness of closing packages, loan boarding, and transition to servicing / asset management
• Track and resolve post-closing deliverables and documentation exceptions
• Process, Governance & Leadership
• Drive best practices in closing processes, documentation standards, and controls
• Support audits, regulatory reviews, and internal governance requirements
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to process improvements across CRE platform

Requirements

• J.D. (or equivalent legal degree) strongly preferred; background in real estate finance or banking law highly valued
• ~5–10+ years of experience in CRE loan closing, structured finance execution, or CRE legal / documentation roles
• Deep knowledge of:
• Commercial real estate loan structures (construction, bridge, syndicated, CMBS)
• Loan documentation and closing mechanics
• Title, escrow, and collateral perfection requirements
• Proven ability to manage complex transactions and multiple closings concurrently
• Strong risk awareness and understanding of regulatory/compliance frameworks