Business Loan Specialist

About the role

The Business Loan Specialist serves as a trusted financial advisor to entrepreneurs and small business owners, focusing on proactive engagement with the small business community, relationship development, business advising, and successfully guiding clients from initial consultation through loan funding.

Responsibilities

• Proactively identify, recruit, and engage small business owners through outreach, networking, workshops, referrals, and strategic partnerships.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of entrepreneurs seeking access to capital and business growth resources.
• Develop trusted relationships with business owners through ongoing consultation and follow-up, resulting in long-term client engagement.
• Conduct comprehensive business needs assessments to identify financing opportunities and recommend appropriate capital solutions.
• Represent the BusinessSource Center at community events, lender forums, resource fairs, and business networking events to expand visibility and increase client engagement.
• Serve as the primary advisor to business owners throughout the entire lending lifecycle from initial assessment and financial readiness through funding, closing, and post-loan technical assistance.
• Identify and structure financing solutions utilizing conventional bank financing, SBA loan programs, CDFIs, credit unions, microloans, alternative lenders, and public financing resources based on each business's growth objectives.
• Prepare complete lender-ready loan packages, including financial analysis, cash flow projections, debt service calculations, business narratives, and supporting documentation.
• Analyze financial statements, tax returns, credit reports, business plans, and operational performance to evaluate funding readiness and recommend appropriate financing strategies.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with borrowers, lenders, financial institutions, and funding partners to ensure efficient processing, timely funding, and successful loan closings.
• Facilitate a minimum of $1 million annually in business capital infusion while maintaining high-quality client service, compliance, and measurable economic outcomes.
• Directly contribute to the BusinessSource Center's annual performance goals by generating financing opportunities that result in business growth and independently achieving at least 50% of the Center's annual job creation and retention targets.
• Monitor funded businesses through post-closing technical assistance to help clients successfully deploy capital, strengthen operations, retain existing jobs, and create new employment opportunities.
• Establish and strengthen strategic relationships with banks, SBA lenders, CDFIs, credit unions, economic development partners, and alternative financing organizations.
• Provide exceptional client service as the primary point of contact throughout the funding process.
• Identify opportunities for repeat financing, expansion capital, equipment financing, working capital, and commercial real estate lending.
• Provide one-on-one business consulting and facilitate workshops focused on financial management, business planning, capital readiness, cash flow management, credit improvement, and sustainable business growth.
• Develop customized action plans that strengthen business operations, improve financial readiness, and position entrepreneurs for successful financing opportunities.
• Educate business owners on available funding resources, lending products, financing strategies, and lender expectations to increase access to capital.
• Design and deliver educational workshops that empower entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools needed to make informed financial decisions, build lender confidence, and support long-term business success.
• Collaborate with community partners, financial institutions, and resource organizations to expand educational opportunities and connect businesses to technical assistance, capital resources, and economic development programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in commercial lending, SBA lending, CDFI lending, business banking, loan underwriting, business finance, or alternative financing.
• Demonstrated success facilitating business financing transactions with measurable outcomes, including capital infusion and business growth.
• Strong knowledge of business planning, financial analysis, cash flow projections, credit analysis, loan underwriting, and business financing programs.
• Experience advising and supporting small businesses through various stages of growth while building trusted relationships with entrepreneurs, lenders, and community partners.
• Knowledge of conventional financing, SBA loan programs, CDFIs, microloans, lines of credit, commercial real estate financing, equipment financing, and alternative capital resources.
• Proven ability to manage multiple financing opportunities, prioritize competing deadlines, and work independently while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills with a strong commitment to customer service and client success.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), CRM platforms, and cloud-based applications.
• Experience working within economic development, entrepreneurship, or small business assistance programs is highly desirable.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
• Valid California Driver's License, reliable transportation, and willingness to travel throughout the BusinessSource service area and work occasional evenings or weekends as needed.

Pay

$75,000-$88,000

Schedule

Full-time