Position Summary
The Chief Credit Officer (CCO) provides executive leadership for the bank’s enterprise credit function and is accountable for credit risk governance, underwriting quality, portfolio performance, and scalable credit operations across commercial and industry niche lending platforms. The CCO ensures the bank balances growth and innovation with safe-and-sound risk management while building examiner-ready specialty lending verticals.
Reporting & Governance
Reports to the CEO/President or Chief Lending Officer and works closely with the Board of Directors and relevant committees. Serves as a senior voting member of the bank’s credit and loan committee structure.
Key Responsibilities
Industry Niche & Specialty Lending Leadership
• Design, launch, and scale industry niche lending verticals (e.g., fund finance, franchise, equipment finance, lender finance, healthcare, sponsor-backed cash flow lending).
• Define credit boxes, underwriting standards, concentration limits, and approval authorities for each niche.
• Partner with business leaders to align growth objectives with the bank’s risk appetite.
• Ensure new verticals are structured to be examiner-ready and insulated from legacy portfolio risks.
End-to-End Credit Oversight
• Oversee the credit lifecycle from underwriting through payoff.
• Ensure timely, consistent, and well-documented credit decisions.
• Improve efficiency, transparency, and customer experience within the credit process.
Credit Policy & Risk Governance
• Own and maintain enterprise credit policy and delegated authority frameworks.
• Chair or participate in senior credit committees.
• Manage policy exceptions and ensure disciplined escalation and documentation.
Portfolio Management & Analytics
• Lead portfolio monitoring, stress analysis, and early-warning systems.
• Analyze trends in risk ratings, delinquencies, defaults, and concentrations.
• Use data analytics to guide risk mitigation and portfolio optimization.
Special Assets & Loan Review
• Provide executive oversight of criticized and classified assets.
• Oversee workout strategies and resolution planning.
• Ensure independent loan review findings inform policy and training improvements.
Regulatory & Examiner Management
• Act as senior regulatory interface on credit matters.
• Ensure compliance with FDIC, state, and program-specific requirements (e.g., SBA, USDA).
Technology & Process Leadership
• Partner with operations, IT, and analytics teams to modernize underwriting and credit workflows.
• Support LOS, portfolio management tools, and reporting enhancements.
Talent & Credit Culture
• Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing credit professionals.
• Foster a culture of disciplined risk-taking, accountability, and collaboration.
Qualifications
• 15+ years of commercial and specialty lending credit experience.
• Senior leadership experience overseeing underwriting and portfolio risk.
• Proven success building or scaling niche lending platforms.
• Strong regulatory and examiner management experience.
• Data-driven decision maker with sound credit judgment.
Preferred
• Experience with sponsor finance, asset-based lending, SBA/guaranteed lending, or specialty finance.
• MBA, CFA, or equivalent credentials.