Chief Credit Officer

Description

Position Purpose:

The Chief Credit Officer is responsible for providing strategic leadership and oversight of the Bank’s credit risk management framework. This position establishes and maintains credit policies, underwriting standards, portfolio risk management practices, and governance processes that support safe and sound lending activities while aligning with the Bank’s strategic objectives and risk appetite. 

The Chief Credit Officer serves as a key member of executive management, partnering closely with lending, finance, risk management, compliance, and executive leadership teams to maintain asset quality, ensure regulatory compliance, and support profitable portfolio growth. The position also provides oversight of credit administration, loan review coordination, CECL methodology and reporting, and overall credit risk governance across the organization.

Description of Duties, Responsibilities and Expectations

Credit Risk Strategy and Governance

• Develop, implement, and maintain the Bank’s overall credit risk management strategy consistent with corporate objectives and risk tolerance. 
• Establish and maintain loan policies, underwriting standards, approval authorities, procedures, and internal controls. 
• Provide leadership and guidance to lending teams regarding credit risk management standards and expectations. 
• Monitor industry trends, economic conditions, regulatory developments, and emerging credit risks that may impact portfolio performance.
• Promote a culture of prudent risk management while supporting responsible business growth.

Loan Portfolio Quality and Oversight

• Monitor the overall quality and performance of the Bank’s loan portfolio. 
• Oversee reporting and analysis of credit quality metrics, including delinquencies, criticized and classified assets, nonperforming loans, concentrations, and charge-offs. 
• Identify emerging portfolio risks and direct corrective action plans to mitigate potential losses. 
• Evaluate portfolio trends and recommend strategic initiatives to strengthen asset quality and portfolio performance.
• Ensure ongoing monitoring processes support timely identification and escalation of credit concerns.

Credit Approval and Lending Partnership

• Oversee the Bank’s credit approval process and ensure consistency in underwriting decisions. 
• Serve as a trusted advisor to executive management and lending teams regarding significant credit relationships, complex transactions, and underwriting issues. 
• Provide oversight and guidance regarding Commercial Leasing and Finance (CLF) credit management activities. 
• Collaborate with business line leaders to balance growth objectives with sound credit administration practices.
• Promote consistency in credit decision-making across all lending functions.

Allowance, Reporting, and Regulatory Accountability

• Oversee the Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) methodology, calculations, and supporting analysis. 
• Prepare and present asset quality, portfolio performance, and credit risk reports to executive management and the Board of Directors. 
• Coordinate activities involving regulators, external auditors, internal auditors, and independent loan review providers. 
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting of credit risk metrics and portfolio information.
• Support regulatory examinations and audit processes by maintaining strong documentation and governance practices.

Credit Administration Leadership

• Provide leadership, coaching, and professional development for credit administration personnel. 
• Establish departmental objectives, performance standards, and strategic priorities. 
• Ensure systems, resources, and processes effectively support the credit risk management function. 
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Support succession planning and talent development within the credit organization.

Executive and Senior Management Collaboration

• Participate actively in Senior Management and Line of Business leadership meetings, providing strategic guidance and credit risk expertise. 
• Partner with Lending, Finance, Risk Management, Compliance, Operations, and other business leaders to support organizational goals.
• Contribute to strategic planning initiatives, mergers and acquisitions evaluations, new product reviews, and other enterprise-wide projects as appropriate.
• Provide executive-level insights regarding credit performance, portfolio trends, and emerging risks. 

Compliance and Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, accounting standards, and internal policies governing lending and credit administration.
• Maintain strong internal controls and risk management practices throughout the credit lifecycle.
• Support the Bank’s overall enterprise risk management framework and governance processes.
• Promote adherence to regulatory expectations and industry best practices.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly supervise credit administration management and designated credit personnel.
• Responsible for hiring, coaching, performance management, succession planning, and professional development within the credit function.
• Establish accountability standards and monitor departmental performance against established goals.

Requirements

Qualifications, Knowledge and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive commercial banking and credit risk management experience, including senior leadership responsibilities.
• Extensive knowledge of commercial lending, credit analysis, loan portfolio management, regulatory requirements, and risk management practices.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing large and complex credit portfolios.
• Strong understanding of CECL methodologies, allowance processes, and financial statement analysis. 
• Experience interacting with bank regulators, auditors, and loan review professionals. 
• Proven leadership and team development capabilities.
• Strong strategic thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship management abilities.
• Ability to influence and collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Proficiency with credit administration technologies, reporting tools, and Microsoft Office applications.

Physical Requirements

• Work involves eye strain due to frequent use of computer screens, review of reports, financial statements, loan presentations, and related documentation.
• Work may involve lifting and moving files, reports, and presentation materials up to 15 lbs.
• Periodic travel may be required for meetings, regulatory examinations, training, and industry conferences.