Commercial Underwriting Manager

About the position

We are seeking an experienced Commercial Underwriting Director to join our team. As part of the CountryPlace team and the manager responsible for the Commercial Lending Credit department you will help grow the business in a responsible way utilizing your experience and knowledge to assess and manage risk. The Commercial Lending team specializes in floorplan and other commercial lending specific to manufactured housing retailers and communities. We are searching for a Commercial Underwriting Director to manage the credit team and portfolio. The Commercial Underwriting Director is a management level position and is recognized for superior commercial lending knowledge and analytical abilities. A successful individual must possess and apply a broad understanding of the business environment including the manufactured housing industry, current events, and economic cycles. You will be a leader on the team and expected to understand the risk appetite, guide decisions, manage and influence priorities, and oversee the ongoing production of the portfolio. With minimal guidance, you will be expected to approve and structure deals appropriately that are within your credit authority and provide guidance and recommendations on deals outside of your credit authority. The Commercial Underwriting Director is expected to supervise and lead a team directly. This position is an in-office role based at our Plano, TX office. We are seeking candidates who are available to work on-site to contribute to our team's success in this setting.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate key risk factors related to specific transactions; develop a well-informed and balanced view of the business, financial and competitive risks.
• Lead customer due diligence calls to develop a better understanding of the company.
• Develop, negotiate, and document appropriate credit structures relative to the risk assessment.
• Ensure UCC filing process matches legal structure.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with key stakeholders across tight deadlines to ensure all credit related requirements are finalized and delivered.
• Ensure all credit facilities are approved at the appropriate level.
• Prepare credit approval write-ups, present, and recommend credits for approval at the appropriate level.
• Analyze / propose covenants and other key terms.
• Collaborate with external and internal counsel to draft and review legal documentation to ensure terms are appropriate and consistent with credit approval.
• Provide ongoing oversight of credit management activities with a focus on early identification of deteriorating credits.
• Identify and communicate material changes in credit performance and outlook.
• Analyze, prepare, present for approval, and document all required waivers and extensions.
• Prepare and present annual portfolio review to senior management.
• Coordinate with Credit team to ensure accuracy of system data and collection of legal documentation and company reporting.
• Conduct and maintain analysis on key risk metrics of portfolio (e.g. key ratio analysis, structural analysis, etc.).
• Actively engage and contribute thoughts and views as a critical member to the overall team.
• Understand everyone's role on the team; provide professional feedback to teammates.
• Anticipate potential issues and proactively remedy and be a value-add contributor and successful communicator to all teammates.
• Oversee the underwriting resources, timely submission and focus on meeting and exceeding service level commitments for stakeholders.
• Engage with plants, sales, operations and communicate with customers as needed.
• Be a change leader for your direct reports and assist with the mentoring, coaching, and providing ongoing training and development of staff.

Requirements

• BA/BS degree required preferably in Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
• 3-5 years of Commercial lending experience or equivalent including credit, structuring, financial statement analysis and marketing experience.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in commercial lending, with demonstrated credit authority and the ability to make sound, informed lending decisions.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite including Excel, Word and PowerPoint.

Nice-to-haves

• Superior analytical skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Outstanding organizational and project management skills to balance portfolio management and deal execution responsibilities.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills to collaborate with teammates, plants, senior management, and clients.
• Strong work ethic with an ability to meet deadlines while multi-tasking.
• Recognized leadership capacities and executive presentation.
• Ability to identify and resolve problems in a timely manner.
• Effective decision-making, customer service and problem-solving skill.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong understanding of financial analysis, credit underwriting, and risk assessment principles.
• Proven track record in business development, loan origination and portfolio management, preferably in the manufactured housing sector.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment.