Commercial Underwriter Sr

About the role

Reporting to the Manager of Commercial Credit Underwriting, the Senior Commercial Underwriter is a critical individual contributor responsible for the end-to-end credit and underwriting function. This role requires complete proficiency in market, industry, and risk analysis for either Commercial Real Estate, Community Banking, or Resort Finance. As a senior member of the team, you will manage a complex high-value loan portfolio with minimal supervision, expand your expertise into secondary business lines, and serve as a technical subject matter expert. You will translate financial data into sound credit decisions that align with the Bank’s risk appetite and regulatory standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation of high-level narrative summaries and complex financial statement analyses for the bank’s most intricate or high-exposure Commercial Banking and Real Estate loan applicants.
• Formulate well-reasoned conclusions on sophisticated loan structures and appropriate covenants for large-scale applications, arriving at decisions with minimal supervision.
• Serve as the primary authority for the annual review and ongoing management of high-risk or high-value portfolios, ensuring risk ratings align with shifting market conditions without requiring routine oversight.
• Conduct deep-dive investigative research into niche industries and emerging market trends, serving as a subject matter expert for the department.
• Review and recommend actions for the most complex borrower requests in the existing portfolio, providing technical guidance to junior staff and Relationship Managers.
• Review and approve major payment and construction advance requests and assist in audit reviews of servicing companies and borrower records.
• Interact with customers, correspondents, appraisers, and real estate brokers to obtain financial, property, and marketing information as needed.
• Assist in the training and development of PDPs and underwriters, setting the standard for proper presentation of financial data and ensuring technical proficiency across the team.
• Proactively monitor and interpret changes in Federal and State regulations, ensuring that departmental procedures are updated to maintain total compliance with BSA, OFAC, and the PATRIOT Act.
• Drive the improvement of underwriting and processing standards to optimize the Bank’s investment criteria and workflow efficiency.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Business, or related field preferred.
• 7–10+ years of commercial underwriting experience.
• Extensive experience underwriting large, high-risk, or specialized credit transactions.
• Expert-level financial analysis and risk assessment capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to structure complex credit facilities and negotiate terms.
• Strong influencing skills and ability to partner effectively with senior lenders.
• Recognized subject matter expertise in credit risk management.
• Proven track record of coaching and developing credit underwriting staff.
• Deep understanding of credit policy and regulatory considerations.

Physical Requirements

• General office equipment.
• Keyboard dexterity.
• Prolonged sitting.
• Ability to travel for training or site visits.