Senior Branch Credit Officer

Senior Branch Credit Officer

Start a career with First National Bank Alaska, the Best Place to Work in Alaska as recognized 11 years in a row by Alaska Business magazine readers.

General Purpose Summary

Provides expert-level credit analysis, portfolio management, and strategic guidance for the Bank's combined branch lending. Researches and makes recommendations for the purchase of outside loan portfolios; provides strategic portfolio management of Bank's BHG loan holdings; assists in the evaluation of participation loans; prepares the highest level of credit presentations for complex and high-value loans originated from the branch network and ensures all credit recommendations are sound, compliant, and align with the Bank's risk appetite and strategic goals by performing the following essential duties and responsibilities:

1. Evaluates borrowers' financials, collateral, cash flow and repayment capacity; identifies key risks; prepares and presents high-level credit analyses for complex and large commercial loans; and provides expert recommendations to senior and executive loan committees for appropriate structures.
2. Oversees and manages the Banks's BHG loan portfolio, analyzes performance, yield and risk exposure; provides analysis of subcategories of the loan portfolio, branch profitability and other units within the Bank; and recommends strategies to leverage and optimize BHG holdings within the Bank's overall loan portfolio to achieve diversification and profitability goals.
3. Conducts detailed due diligence, assesses credit quality, pricing and performance on prospective outside loan portfolios, works with lending, accounting and risk management to ensure successful portfolio acquisition and integration; and monitors acquired portfolios to ensure ongoing compliance and performance standards are met.
4. Assists with the evaluation/underwriting of the Bank's participation loan activities, including partner performance documentation review and adherence to participation agreements; and coordinates with corporate credit officers and credit administration on shared national and multi-bank transactions as needed.
5. Participates in limited business development efforts in coordination with branch lending teams to support relationship growth and loan portfolio expansion; and represents the credit administration function in lender calls and customer meetings when complex financial or structural discussions are required.
6. Ensures adherence to all Bank credit policies, underwriting standards, and regulatory requirements; identifies opportunities to improve credit processes, documentation, and risk analysis methods; and recommends credit policy enhancements to maintain alignment with best practices and regulatory expectations.
7. Collaborates with the Chief Credit Officer/President - Lending & Administration on credit strategy, concentration management, and policy adjustments; monitors branch loan portfolio performance to identify early signs of credit deterioration or concentration risk; and identifies opportunities to improve credit processes, documentation, and risk analysis methods.
8. Works closely with branch lending teams, loan operations, compliance, and executive management to maintain credit quality and process consistency; and provides technical guidance on complex loan structures and regulatory interpretations.
9. Promotes sound credit culture and supports the Bank's commitment to high quality, relationship-based lending.
10. Performs other work-related duties as assigned by supervisor.

Compliance Expectations

• Ensure business unit's operations comply with bank policy, procedures, and banking regulations (for business unit heads).
• Ensure you and your delegates have adequate and current compliance training, and ensure training is completed on time.
• Stay up-to-date on relevant laws and regulations.
• Ensure you and your delegates comply with the bank's policies, procedures, laws and regulations.
• Maintain customer confidence and protect the bank's operations by you and your delegates identifying and protecting confidential information.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Manages and is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of assigned staff. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems; may recommend the termination of employees.

Qualification Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Education and/or Experience: Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business or related field and eight years of progressively responsible experience in commercial credit analysis, underwriting, or credit risk management, or related field; or equivalent combination of education/training and experience. Five years' management experience. Preferred: Master's degree in finance or business administration; experience with portfolio acquisition, secondary loan markets, or strategic loan portfolio management.

Skills and Abilities: Word processing and spreadsheet software experience required. Ability to handle highly confidential information, frequent deadlines, and time constraints required.

Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common business journals and technical manuals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to clearly communicate both verbally and in writing with customers and all levels of bank employees.

Mathematical Skills: Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Skills: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, assess risk, draw valid conclusions, and make decisions based on those conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several variables.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision ability required by this job includes close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.