Commercial Loan Underwriter

Contact: Brittany Rizzo / Brittany.Rizzo@roberthalf.com

About the role

The Commercial Loan Underwriter evaluates, analyzes, and underwrites commercial loan requests that support the mission of the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). This role balances sound credit practices with the organization's commitment to expanding access to capital for underserved businesses, nonprofit organizations, and communities. The Underwriter works closely with Loan Officers, Credit Administration, and Executive Management to ensure loan recommendations align with both prudent lending standards and the CDFI's impact objectives.

The ideal candidate has commercial credit underwriting experience gained through a bank, credit union, CDFI, or other financial services organization and possesses strong analytical, financial, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Analyze commercial loan applications, including business, commercial real estate, nonprofit, and small business lending opportunities.
• Review financial statements, tax returns, cash flow projections, collateral, business plans, and supporting documentation to assess creditworthiness.
• Prepare comprehensive credit memorandums that include financial analysis, risk assessment, repayment capacity, collateral evaluation, and loan recommendations.
• Calculate and interpret key financial ratios, debt service coverage, global cash flow, leverage, liquidity, and other credit metrics.
• Assess borrower management experience, industry conditions, and market risks.
• Structure loan terms, covenants, collateral requirements, and pricing consistent with organizational lending policies.
• Present loan recommendations to management and Loan Committee.
• Ensure compliance with internal credit policies, regulatory requirements, and CDFI program guidelines.
• Work collaboratively with Loan Officers to identify strengths, weaknesses, and mitigating factors within loan requests.
• Assist with annual loan reviews, portfolio monitoring, risk rating updates, and covenant compliance.
• Support the development and refinement of underwriting policies and procedures.
• Maintain accurate documentation within the loan origination and servicing systems.
• Participate in credit discussions and portfolio management activities to help maintain a high-quality loan portfolio.
• Stay current on commercial lending trends, regulatory changes, and community development financing programs.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field; equivalent professional experience may be considered.
• 3-5+ years of commercial credit underwriting experience within a bank, credit union, CDFI, or other financial services institution.
• Strong understanding of commercial lending principles, financial statement analysis, cash flow analysis, and credit risk assessment.
• Experience underwriting commercial loans, including owner-occupied and investment commercial real estate, working capital, equipment financing, and/or small business loans.
• Ability to interpret business and personal financial statements and tax returns.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written communication skills with experience preparing professional credit memorandums.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and loan origination or credit analysis software.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working for a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), mission-driven lender, SBA lender, or community bank.

Benefits

Benefits are available to contract/temporary professionals, including medical, vision, dental, and life and disability insurance. Hired contract/temporary professionals are also eligible to enroll in our company 401(k) plan.