Loan Underwriter (Construction)

Construction Loan Underwriter
Location: Downtown LA
Schedule: fully onsite | Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Duration: Direct Hire (Permanent)
Salary: $85k - $105k base (DOE)

Job Description: The Loan Underwriter will provide comprehensive credit support covering both new loan underwriting and ongoing portfolio management. The position will have a significant focus on commercial real estate and construction lending, including ground-up construction, renovation and other commercial real estate development projects. The successful candidate will be responsible for analyzing and underwriting commercial credits and monitoring an assigned portfolio after closing.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
-Underwrite and structure commercial real estate (CRE), owner-occupied, investor, and construction loan transactions by analyzing borrower financials, cash flow, collateral, property performance, repayment sources, and overall credit risk.
-Prepare comprehensive credit analyses, loan presentations, and recommendations for management and loan committee approval, identifying risks, policy exceptions, mitigating factors, and opportunities to enhance deal structure.
-Manage and monitor a commercial loan portfolio, including annual reviews, renewals, modifications, covenant compliance, financial statement analysis, and ongoing risk assessment.
-Underwrite and evaluate commercial construction projects by reviewing budgets, plans, permits, project feasibility, sources and uses, projected performance, and the financial strength of borrowers, guarantors, and project stakeholders.
-Oversee post-closing loan and construction portfolio performance by monitoring project progress, draw requests, inspections, budget variances, emerging credit concerns, and workout situations while collaborating with relationship managers to support client needs.

REQUIREMENTS:
-Bachelors Degree preferred
-7+ years of experience in commercial banking credit, underwriting, portfolio management
-Strong construction lending experience (preferably covering full loan cycle from underwriting, through funding, loan monitoring, and repayment or permanent financing)
-MS Office experience (Word and Excel)

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, or military or veteran status. We consider all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local laws, including the California Fair Chance Act, City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.