Lending Specialist

About the role

At Valley Bank, we believe in people's growth potential. We invest in it, protect it, and focus it. For nearly 100 years, we've been the Bank that clients from every industry turn to for our expertise, strategies, and advice—building the kind of trust that can fuel every goal. As a Lending Specialist, you will play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth and efficient processing of loans, working with borrowers and lenders to facilitate the loan process. This role involves organizing loan documentation, processing, closing, and monitoring while providing quality service and diplomacy to customer relationships.

Responsibilities

• Act as the liaison and primary point of contact with internal and external customers/stakeholders from approval to deal closing, as well as being the point of contact for questions, requests, and inquiries during the life of loan monitoring/servicing.
• Manage deal flow pipeline with Relationship Managers and lead interactions with internal downstream stakeholders to ensure timely closings.
• Coordinate and review closing documentation (with counsel or internal doc prep) and information with relevant stakeholders for due diligence, application processing, insurance, operational feasibility, optimal execution mechanics, and regulatory requirements.
• Assist with the execution and process flow of the transaction, including escalation of issues and designing solutions that ensure risks are covered through adequate controls and protections.
• Order necessary documents to complete the file and prepare supplemental documents when necessary.
• Partner with relevant operations teams (closing and servicing departments) to ensure proper booking, accrual reconciliations, and daily cash positions.
• Ensure initial loan funding (if there is a draw at close) and ongoing life of loan activity (payments, draws, payoffs, etc.) are properly processed and booked with downstream stakeholders.
• Carefully review loan documents for closing to ensure accuracy; close loans when necessary.
• Communicate with Lenders any issues that arise prior to closing.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Up to 3 years of Lending Assistant or Loan Processor experience.

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills as well as verbal and written communication skills.
• Confident in ability to enforce policies, procedures, and processes when/if challenged.
• Strong PC skills using Microsoft Office applications as well as the Bank's core system and nCino software.
• Highly proficient in all areas of customer service, organizational skills, data input, time management, and handling multiple tasks simultaneously within a high-volume, strict deadline work environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of Commercial Real Estate and C&I loan documentation.