Senior Credit Officer

Basic Purpose

Directs the evaluation, structuring, and approval of complex commercial lending relationships within the bank's Second Line of Defense. Upholds asset quality and asset discipline by serving on executive loan committees, enforcing risk policy, and actively mentoring production lending staff to elevate credit analysis, risk identification, and underwriting quality across the institution.

Duties

• Credit Approval & Portfolio Oversight: Exercise delegated lending authority to evaluate, structure, and approve complex loan requests; serve as a voting member on the Executive Loan Committee for relationships exceeding individual approval limits.
• Risk Rating & CECL Integration: Ensure portfolio risk rating accuracy and alignment with Current Expected Credit Losses (CECL) methodology; collaborate with lenders and Special Assets to execute proactive workout and exit strategies for deteriorating credits.
• Policy Exception Management: Review and approve commercial loan policy exceptions, ensuring key mitigating factors are documented, tracked, and aligned with overall risk appetite parameters.
• Lender Mentorship & Capacity Building: Partner directly with commercial lenders during pre-flight and structuring stages to refine credit package quality, cash flow analysis, and deal mechanics prior to formal credit submission.
• Credit Culture & Training: Develop and lead internal training sessions on credit fundamentals, collateral valuation, and loan structuring, actively shifting the credit administration dynamic from a traditional "policing" role to strategic "partnering" with production staff without compromising credit standards.
• Regulatory Compliance & Policy Refinement: Ensure strict adherence to internal Loan Policy, Federal Reserve guidelines, and Mississippi DBCF regulations; assist the CCO in refining policies to address emerging concentration risks and market conditions.

Education & Experience

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related business discipline required. Completion of a recognized Graduate School of Banking (e.g., LSU, Barret, Stonier) is a plus.
• Experience: 12+ years of progressive commercial credit/lending experience, including 5 or more years serving in a senior credit approval role holding significant delegated lending authority at a similarly sized or larger financial institution. Proven, deep expertise in underwriting complex Commercial Real Estate (CRE) and Commercial & Industrial (C&I) transactions. Experience with Agricultural Lending and SBA (7a/504)/FSA programs preferred.
• Technical Skills: Advanced knowledge of Federal Reserve and MS/AL DBCF commercial banking regulations. CRE concentration risk management, stress testing, and CECL frameworks. Superior credit analysis, deal negotiation, and staff development capabilities. Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the demonstrated ability to deliver tough credit decisions and decline deals with tact and empathy while maintaining a constructive, developmental approach with production staff.
• Physical Requirements: Standard office environment. Must be able to remain in a stationary position for extended periods and occasionally travel within the bank's footprint for site visits or client meetings.