Regional Commercial Banking Manager

First Foundation Bank

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Published: 6/14/2022

Full Time

Job Description

This is an on-site position.

Summary: This position is responsible for leading and pioneering the bank's commercial banking efforts in emerging markets. The Regional Commercial Banking Manager will develop and implement strategic plans to achieve loan and deposit production goals while managing the credit quality of the assigned loan portfolio. This role involves identifying new business opportunities, establishing key relationships, and driving market growth. The Regional Commercial Banking Manager will also oversee regional marketing initiatives, provide advanced training to commercial banking teams, and ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Understand and comply with requirements of all laws and regulations applicable to the position
Responsible for leading a team of commercial bankers and selling FFB products and services to build strong relationships with commercial and industrial customers, including both deposit and loan products
Responsible for recruiting, managing, and developing commercial bankers
Partner with commercial deposit teams, retail branches, operations, and treasury management to cross-sell and service all bank clients
Work with all bank and advisory departments to provide exceptional service to bank and advisory firm customers by referring business and accepting referrals
Perform due diligence on commercial loan requests. This includes reviewing loan requests to ensure compliance with the Bank’s policies, guidelines, and procedures
Performs credit analysis on commercial loan requests and reviews the banking team’s commercial loan analysis to ensure accuracy. This includes analysis of the business, industry, and financial statements to determine risk, structure loan requests appropriately, and price loan requests by type of loan and risk to the Bank
Make decisions regarding commercial loan pricing, structure, and servicing within designated authority, seeking secondary approval as directed
Prepare pre-flight packages as directed by the Chief Credit Officer (CCO), Chief Lending Officer (CLO), and Commercial Banking Executive (CBE)
Actively partner with the Commercial Loan Underwriting team to complete, review, and endorse all commercial loan credit approval recommendations for both new and renewing loans
Responsible for ensuring accurate commercial loan application packages are delivered to commercial loan underwriters and documentation processors
Responsible for booked loan files and fully executed loan documents for boarding funded loans with commercial loan servicing
Maintain commercial loan files in partnership with assigned commercial documentation analysts and commercial loan servicing to ensure documentation is organized and complete in electronic files for third-party reviewers
Responsible for accurate data entry in commercial loan origination system to build customer, guarantor, and affiliated entity relationships in the loan system
Accountable for providing details regarding business, industry, management, requested structure, and site inspections to provide commercial loan underwriters the necessary detail to properly underwrite and approve commercial loan requests
Responsible for managing commercial loan documentation specialists as assigned to ensure accuracy in all commercial loan and deposit files as assigned. This includes scanning and uploading all customer, guarantor, affiliated entity, and loan documentation in the electronic filing system
Responsible for ordering third-party reports (or partnering with assigned Commercial Documentation Analyst) as assigned in commercial work processes to ensure compliance with FFB policies, guidelines, procedures, and all regulatory compliance
Partner with commercial loan underwriting and assigned Commercial Documentation Analyst to ensure financial ticklers and covenants are accurate and supporting documentation is collected from customers on time
Responsible for covenant and portfolio management to ensure accuracy in commercial loan risk ratings
Develop a calling program individually and with an assigned team of bankers to build loan and deposit portfolios and expand commercial and industrial relationships
Review and resolve a variety of customer problems/issues regarding bank products and services including (but not limited to); deposits, treasury management, online banking, and loan-related services
Must maintain a complete understanding of the Bank’s loan documentation policies, procedures, and guidelines
Review findings and decisions with the Chief Underwriter, draft the loan write-up including any conditions that underwriting is imposing on the closing or funding of the loan, review the write-up with the Chief Underwriter, and distribute to processing and servicing members
Participate in the training/cross-training of department employees as directed
Promote and provide excellent customer service by effectively communicating and cooperating with all internal and external customers
Provide support in the acquisition of new clientele and the maintenance of existing relationships
Understand and can speak knowledgeably about the various loan programs, loan procedures, and loan forms.
Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) and excellent client service are an important responsibility of First Foundation Bank Officers. Commercial Bankers are encouraged to seek out, promote, and participate in CRA-related opportunities
Perform related work as required or as delegated by management

Additional Responsibilities:

Develop and implement strategic plans to penetrate and grow market share in emerging markets.
Identify and capitalize on new business opportunities within the region to drive loan and deposit growth.
Establish and maintain relationships with key community leaders and business influencers to enhance the bank's presence and reputation.
Lead market research and analysis to identify emerging trends and opportunities in the region.
Oversee the development and execution of regional marketing and business development initiatives.
Provide mentorship and advanced training to commercial banking teams to enhance their skills and performance.
Collaborate with senior management to set regional performance goals and develop strategies to achieve them.
Ensure regional compliance with all regulatory requirements and internal policies.
Represent the bank at regional industry events, conferences, and networking functions.
Monitor and report on regional performance metrics, providing insights and recommendations for improvement

Qualifications: 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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Salary Range: The salary range budgeted for this position represents the Company's good faith minimum and maximum range for this role at the time of posting. The compensation offered to a candidate may vary depending on several factors, including a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, experience, and location.

Geographic Location:

Los Angeles, CA: $230,000 – $280,000 (Annually)
Irvine, CA: $225,000 – $265,000 (Annually)

Education and/or Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, or related field required; or a combination of education and experience
Minimum of 15 years of experience in commercial loan and deposit relationship management, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role. Proven track record of successfully leading and growing commercial banking teams in emerging markets while managing portfolio risks.

Skills:

Strong individual business development and lead generation skills with experience in commercial lending and commercial deposit management
Consultative relationship-building skills (listening, questioning, negotiating, closing, and networking) to provide a knowledgeable commercial banker and trusted advisor experience for commercial client relationships
Strong analytical skills and experience analyzing, underwriting, structuring, and approving commercial loan requests
Proven written and verbal communication skills
Knowledge of commercial and consumer loan documentation, including loans secured by real property, UCC Filings, titled vehicles, equipment, pledged assets, and contracts. The applicant is required to have working knowledge and experience with business entity documentation, including partnership agreements, trust agreements, corporate documentation, and limited liability companies
Expertise in dealing with borrowers, escrow, and title and strong customer service ethics and team-building skills
Must be able to prioritize, organize, and produce in a high-volume, deadline-driven production workgroup
Detail-oriented and self-motivated with the ability to work independently
Proficient in Windows applications, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands and fingers, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk. The employee is occasionally required to stand, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

First Foundation is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, status as a qualified individual with a disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.