Commercial Credit Approval Officer

Commercial Credit Approval Officer

Rockland Trust is seeking a Commercial Credit Approval Officer responsible for underwriting and decisioning commercial credit proposals within their assigned lending authority.

Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

• Utilize financial analysis, industry evaluation, credit underwriting guidelines, and superior judgment to efficiently underwrite and decision commercial business and real estate loan proposals within assigned lending authority or recommend decisions for requests exceeding individual lending authority.
• Collaborate with front line colleagues and/or directly with customers, as necessary, to obtain required documents and/or clarifying information needed to thoroughly underwrite.
• Accurately identify and apply credit policies/underwriting guidelines, prudently recommending approval of reasonable exceptions where the overall credit profile fits within the bank's risk tolerance.
• Properly structure loan proposals to balance simplicity and monitoring ease with credit conservatism.
• Proactively counter-offer SBA guarantees or other credit enhancements, as necessary, to meet customer needs, while mitigating risk.
• Mentor and assist in the professional development of junior credit colleagues by reviewing their work, serving as an expert resource for the department, and backing up the underwriting manager, as necessary.
• Accurately identify and apply credit policies, judiciously recommending approval of reasonable exceptions where the overall credit profile fits within the bank's risk tolerance.
• Assist/Coach front line colleagues, as necessary, to develop strategies for strengthening customer relationships (e.g. identify cross-sell opportunities, debt restructure strategies to strengthen liquidity or improve balance sheet leverage, succession planning, etc.).
• Stay conversant with banking laws, regulations, and credit policy/guidelines to ensure that all exceptions are properly identified and justified and that all credit actions comply with pertinent regulations.
• Collaborate with Business Banking, and Commercial Banking Partners, throughout the entire loan origination process to ensure an excellent customer and colleague experience.
• Develop and sustain strong partnerships with various front line and back office colleagues through complete, candid, and timely communication, a sense of urgency, and cooperative mindset.
• Participate in various initiatives and projects for the Commercial Banking Underwriting Department relating to technology and process improvement as needed, to improve the speed, efficiency, or operational integrity of the team.
• Participate in audits, regulatory exams, and other third party reviews and assist in the development of responses and follow-up actions, as necessary.

Competency Areas:

• Strong credit and financial analysis skills, including the ability to evaluate debt service coverage, analyze collateral, discern key financial trends and ratios, UCA cash flow, understand impact of emerging technology, trends, etc. on the bank's loan portfolio, etc.
• Strong credit judgment, as demonstrated by the ability to consistently apply pertinent credit policies and regulations to render sound credit decisions within assigned credit approval authority.
• Ability to independently make and confidently defend complex credit decisions with senior leaders.
• Strong business acumen (i.e. awareness of business cycles, economic conditions and trends, good understanding of factors impacting most industries, etc.)
• Expertise in banking regulations and credit policies relating to most commercial lending situations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to succinctly and persuasively present key issues and substantiate conclusions
• Extensive understanding of most legal and documentation issues impacting commercial lending and ability to structure loans to mitigate legal risk.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelors' degree in Accounting and/or Finance.
• 6+ years of experience in financial analysis/business lending.
• 4+ years with credit approval authority.
• Formal credit training preferred.
• Strong knowledge of available credit enhancements including SBA and Capital Access.
• Deep understanding of lending related compliance and regulatory issues.
• Thorough understanding of the legal documentation requirements for basic business loans.
• Experience developing credit policies, guidelines, and/or processes is beneficial.

Our goal is to offer our colleagues the most generous benefits package possible. We strive to provide colleagues with a comprehensive benefits package and an environment that supports a healthy work-life balance. Benefits include: Competitive compensation with performance incentive awards, Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, a 401K and DC Plan for your retirement, LTD & Life Insurance, Day Care Reimbursement, Tuition Assistance for graduate and undergraduate programs, an award winning Wellness program and much more! At Rockland Trust you'll find a respectful and inclusive environment where everyone is given the chance to succeed. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.