Senior Analyst, Portfolio Manager - Real Estate Specialty Finance

Job description

At Customers Bank, we believe in working hard, working smart, working together to deliver memorable customer experiences and having fun. Our vision, mission, and values guide us along our path to achieve excellence. Passion, attitude, creativity, integrity, alignment, and execution are cornerstones of our behaviors. They define who we are as an organization and as individuals. Everyone is encouraged to have personal development plans. By doing so, our team members are on their way to achieve their highest potential and be successful in their personal and professional lives. Salary range: An annual salary range of $115,000 - $130,000, is what we expect to pay for this position based on overall skills and experience. Must be legally eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship, now or in the future, to be considered. Who is Customers Bank? Founded in 2009, Customers Bank is a super-community bank with over $22 billion in assets. We believe in dedicated personal service for the businesses, professionals, individuals, and families we work with. We get you further, faster. Focused on you: We provide every customer with a single point of contact. A dedicated team member who’s committed to meeting your needs today and tomorrow. On the leading edge: We’re innovating with the latest tools and technology so we can react to market conditions quicker and help you get ahead. Proven reliability: We always ground our innovation in our deep experience and strong financial foundation, so we’re a partner you can trust. What You’ll Do: Customers Bank is seeking an experienced Real Estate Specialty Finance – Senior Analyst / Portfolio Manager to support the growth and ongoing management of the Bank’s national Real Estate Specialty Finance Lending platform. This position will be responsible for underwriting new note-on-note lending opportunities, analyzing the underlying commercial real estate loan collateral, assisting with transaction structuring and closing, and providing ongoing administration and monitoring of existing note-on-note facilities. The successful candidate will have a strong commercial real estate credit background and the ability to analyze both the underlying commercial real estate loans and the financial strength, experience, and performance of the lending platform serving as Customers Bank’s borrower. The role will work closely with the Head of Specialty Lending, Relationship Managers, CRE Credit, Loan Administration, Legal, and other internal partners throughout the entire transaction lifecycle—from initial underwriting and approval through closing, funding, ongoing collateral administration, and portfolio monitoring. Credit Underwriting & Analysis Underwrite new commercial real estate note-on-note and lender finance transactions in accordance with Customers Bank’s credit policies and risk standards. Perform detailed analysis of the underlying commercial real estate loans securing each facility. Review and analyze property-level operating performance, rent rolls, borrower financial statements, appraisals, market information, and other relevant due diligence. Evaluate key CRE credit metrics, including LTV/LTC, debt yield, DSCR, occupancy, cash flow, sponsorship, liquidity, loan maturity, and exit strategy. Analyze the structure and terms of the underlying CRE loans, including interest rates, maturity dates, extension options, reserves, cash management provisions, guarantees, and other structural protections. Evaluate the experience, financial strength, capitalization, liquidity, track record, and lending strategy of the note-on-note borrower. Review borrower portfolio performance, historical losses, delinquencies, modifications, defaults, and realized loan performance, where applicable. Identify key transaction risks and recommend appropriate structural mitigants. Assist in establishing advance rates, borrowing base requirements, concentration limits, eligibility criteria, covenants, reserves, and other facility-level protections. Prepare comprehensive credit approval memoranda and supporting financial analysis. Present underwriting conclusions and respond to questions from Relationship Managers, senior management, and credit approval authorities. Assist with annual reviews, renewals, modifications, extensions, and increases to existing credit facilities. Note-on-Note Facility Administration Provide ongoing administration and monitoring of the Bank’s Real Estate Specialty Finance lending facilities. Review borrower funding and advance requests and confirm compliance with approved advance rates and facility requirements. Review and validate borrowing base certificates and supporting collateral schedules. Confirm that loans submitted for funding satisfy established collateral eligibility requirements. Calculate or verify availability under borrowing base facilities prior to funding. Maintain detailed collateral tracking for each note-on-note facility. Monitor underlying loan balances, paydowns, repayments, maturities, extensions, modifications, and other material changes. Track facility-level and loan-level concentration limits, including property type, geography, borrower/sponsor, loan size, leverage, and other applicable limitations. Monitor required collateral documentation and ensure appropriate assignments, control agreements, original loan documents, and other required items are received and maintained. Coordinate with Loan Administration and Operations regarding advances, paydowns, interest payments, principal payments, and other facility activity. Review collateral releases and payoffs and confirm compliance with applicable loan documentation. Maintain accurate internal records and reporting for all assigned facilities. Portfolio Monitoring & Risk Management Monitor the ongoing credit performance of both the note-on-note borrower and the underlying commercial real estate collateral. Review periodic borrower financial statements, compliance certificates, borrowing base reports, collateral reports, and other required reporting. Monitor underlying loans for changes in occupancy, cash flow, DSCR, debt yield, valuation, sponsorship, maturity, and business plan execution. Identify and escalate deteriorating credit trends, covenant violations, collateral deficiencies, documentation exceptions, and other emerging risks. Monitor watchlist loans and other criticized or higher-risk underlying collateral. Assist with internal risk ratings and changes to risk ratings as appropriate. Prepare periodic portfolio reports summarizing facility utilization, collateral composition, concentrations, upcoming maturities, credit trends, and identified risks. Assist with stress testing and portfolio-level analysis as required. Support internal and external audits, regulatory examinations, loan reviews, and other portfolio reviews. Ensure assigned facilities remain in compliance with approved credit terms, Bank policies, and applicable regulatory requirements. Transaction Closing & Documentation Work closely with Relationship Managers, Credit, Legal, Loan Administration, and outside counsel throughout the closing process. Review approved credit terms against final loan documentation to ensure consistency with credit approval. Assist with review of loan agreements, borrowing base provisions, collateral assignments, control agreements, guarantees, and other transaction documents. Track closing conditions and outstanding documentation requirements. Coordinate receipt and review of required third-party reports and due diligence. Ensure all required credit and collateral documentation is received prior to funding or appropriately documented as an approved exception. Assist with post-closing documentation and exception tracking. Relationship & Internal Support Work closely with the Relationship Managers to evaluate new opportunities and efficiently move transactions through the underwriting and approval process. Participate in calls and meetings with existing and prospective borrowers as appropriate. Develop an understanding of each client’s lending strategy, underwriting standards, portfolio composition, funding requirements, and business plan. Provide credit and portfolio insights to Relationship Managers to assist with structuring new transactions and expanding existing relationships. Serve as a key liaison among Relationship Management, Credit, Loan Administration, Legal, Operations, and other internal stakeholders. Support the continued development of processes, procedures, reporting, and controls for Customers Bank’s national Note-on-Note Lending platform. Role Objective The primary objective of the Real Estate Specialty Finance – Senior Analyst / Portfolio Manager is to provide the credit underwriting, transaction execution, collateral administration, and ongoing portfolio monitoring necessary to support the safe and efficient growth of Customers Bank’s national Note-on-Note Lending platform. The individual will play an important role in maintaining strong credit quality while helping the Bank provide responsive and efficient execution for its institutional commercial real estate lending clients. What Do You Need? Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Real Estate, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field. Minimum of 2–5 years of commercial real estate underwriting, credit analysis, portfolio management, or loan administration experience. Strong commercial real estate underwriting and financial analysis skills. Experience with note-on-note lending, loan-on-loan financing, lender finance, warehouse lending, debt funds, private credit, or commercial real estate bridge lending preferred. Strong understanding of CRE credit metrics, including LTV, LTC, DSCR, debt yield, occupancy, cash flow, and sponsor financial analysis. Experience underwriting multiple commercial real estate property types, including multifamily, industrial, retail, office, hospitality, and other CRE assets. Ability to understand and analyze complex commercial real estate loan structures. Familiarity with borrowing base facilities, advance rates, eligibility criteria, concentration limits, and collateral administration preferred. Experience reviewing commercial real estate loan documentation and third-party reports. Strong financial modeling and Microsoft Excel skills. Strong written credit analysis and communication skills. Highly organized and detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple transactions and deadlines simultaneously. Ability to identify credit and operational issues and escalate matters appropriately. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with Relationship Management, Credit, Legal, Loan Administration, and Operations. Key Attributes for Success Strong CRE Credit Foundation – Demonstrates sound commercial real estate underwriting skills and credit judgment. Detail Oriented – Maintains accurate collateral, borrowing base, covenant, and facility-level information. Analytical – Able to evaluate both individual underlying loans and overall portfolio-level risk. Risk Focused – Proactively identifies emerging credit issues and understands their potential impact on the Bank’s position. Execution Oriented – Effectively manages underwriting, closing, funding, and ongoing administrative responsibilities. Organized – Able to manage multiple facilities, funding requests, deadlines, and reporting requirements. Collaborative – Works effectively across Relationship Management, Credit, Legal, Loan Administration, Operations, and other areas of the Bank. Growth Mindset – Interested in helping develop the infrastructure, processes, and controls necessary to support the continued expansion of a national note-on-note lending platform. Technology Skills: Strong financial modeling and Microsoft Excel skills, with the ability to work with the Microsoft Suite and other Customers Bank applications. Familiarity with AI and automation tools that support productivity, workflow efficiency, and client engagement. Customers Bank is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also provide “reasonable accommodations”, upon request, to qualified individuals with disabilities, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws. Diversity Statement: At Customers Bank, we believe in working smart, working together, and having fun while delivering innovative solutions and memorable experiences for our customers. We are committed to the continual advancement of a culture which reflects the value we place on diversity, equity, and inclusion. We honor the diverse experiences, perspectives, and identities of our team members, and we recognize that it is their passion, creativity, and integrity that drives our success. Step into your future with us! Let’s take on tomorrow.