SBA Lead Underwriter

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a SBA Lead Underwriter based in the United States.

This role is a senior credit position focused on evaluating and structuring complex Small Business Administration (SBA) lending opportunities in a centralized environment.
You’ll assess new-money transactions, develop credit recommendations, and help shape loan structures that balance customer needs with the organization’s risk appetite.
The position works closely with relationship managers, credit teams, legal counsel, funding operations, and other stakeholders throughout the lending lifecycle.
You’ll play an important role in ensuring underwriting decisions comply with SBA eligibility requirements, government regulations, and guaranty standards.
The role also offers the opportunity to mentor junior underwriters and contribute to SBA lending education and process development.
Success requires strong credit judgment, detailed knowledge of SBA programs, excellent organization, and the ability to manage multiple complex transactions simultaneously.
This is a high-impact opportunity for an experienced banking professional to influence lending decisions while supporting small businesses and entrepreneurial growth.

Accountabilities:

• Review, analyze, and make credit decisions or recommendations for complex SBA loan applications, with a focus on new-money transactions and new borrowers.
• Partner with relationship managers on initial deal reviews, financial modeling, transaction structuring, and pre-clearance with credit, structured finance, capital markets, syndications, and other stakeholders.
• Work with relationship managers, prospective customers, and third-party providers to obtain and evaluate required due diligence information.
• Analyze available financial, operational, and credit information to prepare comprehensive credit approval documentation and change-in-terms requests.
• Coordinate with relationship management and credit teams to obtain appropriate credit approvals while maintaining adherence to established risk parameters.
• Develop training materials, educational guidelines, and best practices to strengthen SBA lending capabilities across the organization.
• Oversee compliance with SBA credit and eligibility requirements, government regulations, applicable Standard Operating Procedures, and SBA guaranty requirements.
• Maintain current knowledge of SBA products, services, program updates, and regulatory changes, and communicate relevant developments to business banking and market leadership.
• Engage legal counsel as needed and support negotiation and completion of legal documentation in partnership with relationship management.
• Coordinate closing, funding, and loan booking activities with funding and credit/collateral operations teams.
• Complete internal and external post-closing requirements and ensure outstanding items are properly resolved.
• Underwrite and manage amendments, restructurings, and other changes to existing transactions.
• Contribute to special projects and strategic assignments related to SBA lending and credit operations.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and supervision to junior underwriters, credit analysts, and/or leadership program participants when assigned.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, economics, or a related field, or equivalent relevant industry experience.
• Approximately 7 years of total professional experience, including 3–5 years of underwriting, credit, or loan origination experience, preferably within banking or investment banking.
• Thorough working knowledge of SBA SOP 50-10-8 and other applicable SBA Standard Operating Procedures and program guidelines.
• Strong understanding of SBA lending, credit analysis, loan structuring, eligibility requirements, and government-guaranteed lending practices.
• Familiarity with banking and lending platforms such as B2B, CCAS, nCino, AFS, appraisal systems, and loan-document preparation systems such as CLAS/LaserPro, or comparable vendor technologies.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and web-based applications; advanced Excel capabilities are a plus.
• Excellent analytical and financial modeling skills, with sound credit judgment and strong attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex credit considerations clearly to diverse stakeholders.
• Highly organized and capable of managing multiple detailed transactions, deadlines, and processes concurrently.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to build effective working relationships across sales, credit, legal, operations, and other functions.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, identify and escalate risks, and consistently operate within established policies and risk appetites.
• Demonstrated ability or interest in mentoring and developing less-experienced underwriting and credit professionals.

Benefits:

• Annual base salary range of $82,100–$172,500 USD , depending on relevant experience, skills, education, and geographic location.
• Eligibility for incentive compensation based on organizational, business-line, and/or individual performance.
• Comprehensive benefits designed to support physical, financial, emotional, and social well-being.
• Broad employee and family benefits programs supporting diverse individual and family needs.
• Virtual/remote work arrangement within the United States.
• Opportunity to work in a senior SBA credit role with significant exposure to complex lending transactions.
• Opportunities to mentor colleagues and contribute to training, education, and process improvement.
• Inclusive work environment committed to equal employment opportunity.
• Career development opportunities within a large financial-services organization.

How Jobgether works:

We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team.

We appreciate your interest and wish you the best!

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