Lending Officer

Position: Lending Officer

Contract Type: Fulltime

Work Type: Hybrid

Visa Restriction: USC and GC only

Job Description:

Primarily responsible for assisting with credit lending activities, manage the operational requirements for credit extensions as well adhering to all compliance requirements.

Essential Job Functions:

Governance

• Ensure compliance with standards and regulatory requirements related to lending activities.
• Conduct periodic reviews of credit risk policies and standards.
• Assist Principal Credit Lending Officer to develop and implement strategies to promote safe and sound lending practices and minimize risks.
• Ensure member creditworthiness is factored into the decision-making process and complies with policies, standards, and requirements.
• Maintain up-to-date understanding of the Member’s credit Risk profile (e.g., troubled members, largest borrowers, watchlist members, etc.)
• Keep up-to-date with industry trends and changes in regulations.
• Stay informed about company regulations, FHFA guidelines, and federal requirements impacting the financial industry.

Policy and Standards

• Assist Principal Credit Lending Officer to update and implement lending policies, standards, and procedures.
• Communicate changes in policies and standards to relevant Member Business stakeholders.
• Communicate changes in business products, activities, processes and controls and coordinate approval of changes with the group/department head.
• Assist with watch list member activities such as monitoring, reporting, analytics and creating procedures.

Process and Controls

• Collaborate with 2nd LoD Risk Management to implement robust credit risk assessment processes to evaluate member creditworthiness.
• Monitor credit exposures limits and risk concentrations.
• Establish controls to mitigate credit risk throughout the lending lifecycle.
• Conduct periodic reviews of lending processes to identify opportunities for improvement and efficiency.
• Understand key processes and associated risk and controls, including domain-specific processes and risks.
• Assist in the process of loan approval, to confirm that all loans align with the institution's lending standards and risk acceptance prior to final approval.
• Collaborate to establish frameworks for monitoring and testing the effectiveness of controls in the lending process.

Issues and Events

• Identify and escalate emerging credit risks and issues.
• Investigate and resolve credit-related incidents and breaches.
• Conduct root cause analysis of credit losses or near-misses.
• Collaborate with 2nd LoD Risk Management to analyze internal and external loss events to identify new risks.
• Track, update, and report on risk events and issues, including remediation plans into an appropriate tool or system.

Risk Appetite

• Support and communicate the Bank’s risk appetite for lending activities.
• Monitor adherence to risk appetite metrics (thresholds and limits).
• Collaborate with Principal Credit Lending Officer to review appetite statements and risk indicators based on changing market conditions.

Risk Profile and Reporting

• Collaborate with 2nd LoD Risk Management to assess the overall credit risk profile of members and lending portfolio.
• Collaborate with 2nd LoD Risk Management to monitor key credit risk indicators and metrics (e.g., troubled members, largest borrowers, watchlist members, etc.) and quality metrics (equity price monitoring).
• Support and conduct periodic stress testing and scenario analysis to assess portfolio resilience.
• Collect and consolidate content for risk management's reporting to management, board, audit function and/or regulators.

Continuous Improvement

• Implement enhancements to lending processes based on lessons learned and industry leading practices.
• Develop and provide training to improve Member Business staff’s understanding in credit risk management.
• Conduct periodic reviews and assessments to identify areas for process improvement.
• Embed mindset of continuous improvement, drive transparency, governance and changes that result in continuously improving the lending environment.

Skills:

• Ability to assess and manage credit, collateral, and counterparty risk(s) across lending product offerings (e.g., secured loans) and portfolios.
• Proficiency in reviewing and understanding financial and underwriting analyses to evaluate member creditworthiness and assess lending viability.
• Expert use of Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Pro, use of data queries and SQL experience a plus.
• Effective communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills.
• Detail oriented with strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• Knowledge of lending regulations, Company regulations, FHFA guidelines, and federal compliance requirements.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, or related field required. Master’s degree is a plus.

Required Experience

• Minimum of five years in credit analysis, compliance, or a related role in the financial industry.