Senior Associate, Underwriting

Bellwether is a global advisory firm that helps businesses solve their most complex challenges and enhance enterprise value. We specialize in formulating and executing dynamic growth strategies through true partnership with our clients. Merging deep industry expertise, advanced analytical capabilities and best-in-class talent, we create value across the business lifecycle, from transaction management to operational transformation. Bellwether specializes in the management, analysis, and reporting of over $40 billion of AUM across a wide range of real estate related assets and corporate platforms in North America, Europe and Asia.

Bellwether is privately held and has offices in Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Salt Lake City, London and Dallas.

The Associate, Underwriting will be responsible for assisting with all aspects of originating and structuring complex commercial real estate investments, including stretch senior mortgages, mezzanine loans, preferred equity, and common equity. This role will take investments from initial inquiry through term sheet and collaborate with the underwriting team through the full due diligence and closing of the investments.

• Lead the analysis, underwriting and structuring of new investments;
• Size and price investments with structural features;
• Participate in negotiations of term sheets and loan documents;
• Coordinate the due diligence process including managing third-party service providers such as
• appraisers, engineers, consultants, etc., and conduct critical review and analysis of all third-party reports;
• Identify potential risks and challenges associated with a transaction and provide ideas for solutions and risk mitigants;
• Gather, analyze and interpret real estate market data/trends and financial information;
• Prepare and present final due diligence findings to Investment Committee;
• Conduct comprehensive site inspections, including sale and rent comparable properties;
• Execute and oversee the closing process of transactions;
• Underwrite all asset classes using Excel-based underwriting models, including complex cash flow, DCF, IRR and fund/partnership waterfall modeling;
• Build Excel models from scratch for ad-hoc analysis;

• Maintain and analyze budgets, prepare periodic reports that compare budget to actual;
• Lead transition meetings between deal teams and asset management teams to effectively onboard each new asset or financing; and
• Maintain strong relationships with external auditors and internal partners.

• People Management Responsibilities:
• Involved with staff selection, interviewing and training as needed;

• Oversee the day-to-day workload and performance of direct reports, providing clear direction and support as needed to achieve work objectives;
• Ensure that direct reports understand their duties and delegated tasks;
• Monitor performance and development of direct reports and provide constructive and timely feedback and coaching;
• Work with direct reports to set individual goals and deadlines and conduct regular performance reviews aligned with performance review process; and
• Handle discipline of employees in accordance with company policy.

• A minimum of 5-7 years of experience in commercial real estate, with a focus on at least one of the following areas: loan origination, underwriting, commercial real estate loan workouts, debt and/or equity asset management.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Excel and Power Point
• Highly proficient in ARGUS

• Undergraduate degree in economics, finance, real estate, or related degree is preferred.

• Bellwether seeks to hire entrepreneurial individuals who are highly motivated, mature and intelligent, with demonstrated excellence in prior endeavors. The successful candidate should have:
• Job Knowledge & Technical Ability: Experience with portfolio and asset-level underwriting usingadvanced financial modeling. Have a strong understanding of property-level and fund-level metrics to help drive decision-making. Have a strong understanding of macro-trends that could potentially impactinvestment-level decisions. Have strong review skills when looking at Excel-based underwriting models and written work products.
• Initiative & Dependability: Ability to perform responsibilities independently and proactively, solve problems, and improve processes and/or services. Self-directed, takes initiative and responsibility,ensures completion of tasks.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills; strong listening and interpersonal skills. Highly effective at preparing and presenting information both internally and externally to clients.
• Professionalism & Teamwork: Acts with honesty and integrity and maintains confidentiality, adheres to company policies. Promotes a collaborative and productive work environment. Demonstrates team building, support and respect.

• Travel is not anticipated but may be needed from time to time.

• Classification: Exempt
• Position…