Commercial Credit Lead - Engineering & Construction

About the role

The Commercial Credit Lead plays a vital role in assessing and managing credit risk for commercial clients at M&T Bank. This individual contributor senior, client-facing position involves analyzing financial statements, structuring credit solutions, negotiating legal documents, and obtaining credit approval while ensuring compliance with credit policies and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate the credit needs of customers by underwriting new requests and material modifications from deal screen through approval and for the life of the loan.
• Manage the ongoing credit risk of existing loan portfolios through continuous credit monitoring (CCM) activities enabling the timely identification of emerging credit risk so that appropriate actions can be taken to manage the risk, minimize losses and assign an accurate risk rating.
• Analyze financial information and related materials and complete the credit analyses for the Bank’s commercial transactions.
• Review all pertinent credit and financial information, including but not limited to financial statements, tax returns, due diligence reports, credit bureaus, appraisals, internal credit information, industry research and peer data.
• For E&C borrowers, this review specifically includes WIP schedules, backlog reports, contract profitability, AR/AP aging, bonding capacity, and surety relationships.
• Analyze financial information and related materials and complete the credit analyses for the Bank’s commercial transactions.
• Make appropriate structure recommendations based on an analysis and evaluation of scenarios including the company's case, bank's base case and a downside case.
• Identify suspicious activity and activity that may be contrary to customer's interest.
• Partner proactively with relationship managers, and be intimately involved throughout the deal process, from deal screen through approval and for the life of the loan to maintain timely and accurate risk ratings for a portfolio of commercial credits.
• Prepare cash flow, collateral schedules, covenant sensitivity calculations, financial models, and guarantor statement analysis as appropriate.
• Attend client/prospect calls with RMs to gain a thorough understanding of the client/prospect and their business to effectively analyze and underwrite the proposed transaction.
• Propose the structure of loan requests, where appropriate, to include suggestions on terms, conditions, collateral, and guarantors.
• Ensure credit policy compliance by verifying adherence of underwriting to the Commercial Credit Policy, and evaluating any risk associated with non-compliance.
• Identify, document, and monitor underwriting variances in accordance with policy.
• Present analysis or address questions during credit request discussions or committee presentations.
• Understand and adhere to the Company’s risk and regulatory standards, policies, and controls in accordance with the Company’s Risk Appetite.
• Identify risk-related issues needing escalation to management.
• Promote an environment that supports belonging and reflects the M&T Bank brand.
• Maintain M&T internal control standards, including timely implementation of internal and external audit points together with any issues raised by external regulators as applicable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or related field and 7 years’ experience in complex credit underwriting, specialty underwriting, or other complex financial analysis role.
• In lieu of degree, a combined minimum 11 years’ higher education and work experience, to include 7 years’ experience in complex credit underwriting, specialty underwriting, or other complex financial analysis role.
• Excellent analytical skills with a high level of proficiency in financial modeling and analysis of credit transactions / structures.
• Ability to calculate and interpret financial ratios, analyze data, and complete trend analysis to understand and minimize credit risks.
• Proficient with legal documentation including experience and skill in negotiating legal documentation and the ability to structure transactions independently.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Attention to detail and high level of accuracy.
• Ability to work independently and as a part of a team.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Customer focused with strong interpersonal and relationship building skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Skills

• Deep understanding of financial regulatory environment as it applies to underwriting most forms of commercial credit transactions.
• Specific understanding of E&C underwriting guidelines, underwriting variances, and related credit policy expectations.
• Experience and skill in negotiating legal documentation and the ability to structure transactions independently.
• Excellent analytical and financial modeling skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to manage and mentor junior staff.

Benefits

M&T Bank is committed to fair, competitive, and market-informed pay for our employees. The pay range for this position is $123,600.00 - $206,000.00 Annual (USD).