Vice President, Credit Underwriter - Finance

Vice President, Credit Underwriter

We are seeking a Vice President, Credit Underwriter to join the Asset-Based Finance (ABF) team in Chicago or Irving, TX, two of the bank's most important commercial lending hubs. This role is responsible for underwriting, approving, and managing credit exposure across a portfolio of asset-based and structured commercial lending relationships. The position serves as a senior individual contributor with delegated credit authority, strong partnership with Relationship Managers, and responsibility for underwriting quality, portfolio risk, and disciplined execution. It is ideal for credit professionals who have moved beyond support roles and are ready to own complex credit decisions while mentoring junior staff.

Role Overview

The VP, Credit Underwriter is accountable for evaluating and approving commercial credit requests, structuring facilities, and managing portfolio risk within the Asset-Based Finance platform. The role requires strong judgment, advanced financial analysis skills, and the ability to influence outcomes across coverage, risk, and operations teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead underwriting for new and existing asset-based lending relationships, with accountability for sound credit decisions and policy compliance
• Prepare and approve detailed credit memoranda, articulating business rationale, key risks, mitigants, and structure
• Analyze borrower performance, collateral quality, and cash-flow sustainability across complex capital structures

Financial & Risk Analysis

• Perform in-depth financial analysis, including trend, ratio, and cash-flow analysis
• Evaluate guarantors, co-borrowers, and sponsor support where applicable
• Conduct industry, market, and geographic analysis to inform underwriting decisions

Portfolio Management & Monitoring

• Oversee ongoing portfolio monitoring through monthly, quarterly, and annual reviews
• Track covenant compliance and collateral metrics and identify early warning indicators
• Proactively escalate emerging credit concerns and recommend mitigation strategies

Execution & Documentation

• Partner with internal teams and external counsel to ensure approved credit terms are accurately reflected in final documentation
• Support amendments, renewals, and modifications from underwriting through closing

Leadership & Governance

• Serve as a credit thought partner to Relationship Managers and product teams
• Provide backup support to Credit Underwriting leadership and lead initiatives or special projects as needed
• Mentor and develop junior Credit Officers and analysts
• Maintain strong compliance with internal policies and regulatory expectations, supporting audit and exam readiness

Qualifications & Experience

• 3-5 years of related experience in credit underwriting, portfolio and/or risk management with a multinational financial services organization
• Proven analytical skills including the ability to read and assess individual and company financial statements, cash flow, industry/competitive analysis and projections; including complicated business structures with foreign subsidiaries and/or parent organizations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of intermediate accounting theory and its practical application in the credit underwriting process.
• Excellent organizational skills, prioritizing capabilities, attention to detail, and the ability to complete assignments within required deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective inter-personal and written/verbal communication skills.
• Thorough problem recognition and resolution skills.
• Pro-active disposition with ability to work autonomously and within a team Proficient in various spreadsheet and word processing applications (Excel and Word), including the use of graphs and charts and financial analysis software.
• Typically deals with complex and variable issues with substantial potential impact, where development of an approach/taking of an action involves weighing various alternatives and balancing potentially conflicting needs.
• Requires good analytical skills in order to filter, prioritize and validate potentially complex material from multiple sources.
• Exercises wide degree of latitude and discretion.
• Significant impact on the area through complex deliverables.
• Provides advice and counsel related to the technology or operations of the business.
• Work impacts an entire area, which eventually affects the overall performance and effectiveness of the sub-function/job family.