SBA Lead Underwriter

• 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.