Commercial Credit Officer

About Self-Help

Self-Help started in 1980 with a focus on economic inequality especially in communities that have faced systemic barriers in building wealth. At the core of what Self-Help does is a drive to create and protect ownership and economic opportunity. In other words, we’re committed to economic justice! Economic Justice means that all communities have the basic infrastructure they need to thrive, from high quality schools to grocery stores selling fresh foods, resources that support opportunity at a neighborhood level regardless of demographics, income, or wealth.

Since our founding, we’ve constantly sought to find new ways to pursue greater economic justice: from providing fair and affordable loans, to working with partners to demand that lawmakers change unjust policies.

The Commercial Credit Officer (CO) provides support to Self-Help’s national Commercial Lending Team to originate commercial loans in the sectors and geographies in which the team lends. The position collaboratively advises due diligence teams, by providing expertise in underwriting, transaction structuring, and complex credit/financial analysis, to make recommendations that are consistent with Self-Help’s policy and mission. The CO works with loan officers, business development officers, construction specialists, risk analysts, legal, and closing specialists.

• Advise loan officers to analyze and structure loans that advance Self-Help’s mission and conform to our credit standards.
• Provide critical, objective review of loan officer’s credit memorandum and detailed analysis of financial information, viability of repayment sources, appropriate loan structures, industry background, management capacity, and collateral.
• Serve as the authority on and resource to teammates for ensuring proposed loans meet Self-Help’s regulation, policy, and procedures and are consistent with CL practices.
• Approve credit applications, transactions, exceptions, and other extensions of credit within credit approval authority or prepare loan officers for presentation of credit proposals to Self-Help’s credit committee per regulation, policy, and procedure. Participate as a voter in credit committee.
• Participate in loan closings, guiding key processes forward and ensuring documentation collection and compliance with closing conditions. Review critical reports and structuring remedies in response (e.g., property condition assessments, appraisals, contracts, etc.).
• Review and approve monthly construction disbursement as applicable.
• Work with portfolio management team on risk assessment of troubled loans, including loan modifications.
• Contribute to credit coaching and training of other staff members on due diligence teams, especially loan officers.
• In coordination with the Commercial Credit Officer Manager, may assume a leadership role on assigned strategic projects, if appropriate.
• In coordination with the Commercial Credit Officer Manager, may contribute to strategy development for various sectors or geographies in conjunction with business development officers, as interested.
• Perform other duties as may be deemed necessary.

• Bachelor’s OR equivalent related experience;
  Graduate degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, City Planning, Public Policy or Law, or a related field preferred.
• 6+ years of related experience in commercial lending, finance or community development OR equivalent related experience.
• Strong commitment to our mission – creating economic opportunity for all.
• Preference for working in organizations that place priority on teamwork and collaboration.
• Strong analytical skills including quantitative/credit analysis, financial ratio analysis, repayment ability, loan structuring, management assessment, and collateral risk evaluation.
• Ability to learn quickly and analyze new industries, consider industry drivers and competitive threats, and develop new contacts to provide in-depth industry knowledge.
• Ability to write and edit clear and concise credit memos, translating financial and numerical data into narrative form.
• Strong interpersonal and project management skills: effective teamwork, partnership…