Chief Credit Officer

Job title: Chief Credit Officer (CCO)

Reports to: President/CEO

Summary

Our client is seeking a Chief Credit Officer to provide strategic leadership and oversight for all aspects of the banks credit risk management. This position is responsible for developing and implementing sound loan policies maintaining asset quality and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. The CCO leads the credit administration and analysis teams and communicates with senior management the board and regulatory examiners on credit-related matters.

Essential duties and responsibilities

Credit policy and administration

• Develop maintain and enforce the banks loan policies and procedures to ensure adherence to sound underwriting principles and regulatory standards.
• Provide leadership and guidance to the lending team on complex loan structures pricing and risk assessment.
• Review and approve or decline loan applications within established lending limits and present larger credits to the loan committee.
• Continuously evaluate and refine the loan approval process for efficiency and effectiveness.

Risk management and portfolio quality

• Oversee the management of the entire loan portfolio ensuring appropriate diversification and alignment with the banks risk appetite.
• Monitor portfolio performance identify emerging risks and develop strategies to mitigate potential losses.
• Supervise the banks special assets and collections activities including work-outs and disposition of real estate owned (REO) properties.
• Lead the calculation of the Allowance for Credit Loss (ACL) and make recommendations to executive management and the Board of Directors.
• Oversee loan stress testing to assess the impact of economic conditions on the portfolio.

Regulatory compliance and reporting

• Serve as the primary liaison for examiners and auditors regarding lending and credit risk.
• Ensure that all credit activities and documentation are in compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Prepare and present comprehensive credit risk reports portfolio trends and concentration analyses to the board and senior management.
• Correct and address any findings from regulatory exams in a timely manner.

Strategic leadership and team management

• Participate as a key member of the executive management team in shaping the banks strategic direction.
• Foster a proactive credit culture that balances risk management with a customer-centric business development-focused approach.
• Manage coach and mentor the credit department staff including analysts and loan reviewers fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Develop and oversee an internal credit training program for bank staff.

Qualifications

Education and experience

• Bachelors degree in finance accounting economics or a related field; a Masters degree is often preferred.
• 10 years of progressive experience in credit lending or financial risk management preferably within a community bank.
• Proven track record of effectively managing a large diverse loan portfolio.
• Extensive experience in commercial consumer and real estate lending including collections and workouts.

Knowledge skills and abilities

• Strong leadership skills: Ability to motivate and lead a team toward achieving credit quality and growth goals.
• Advanced analytical skills: Exceptional ability to analyze complex financial data and make sound data-driven credit decisions.
• Regulatory expertise: In-depth knowledge of state and federal banking regulations related to lending and credit.
• Communication skills: Excellent written verbal and presentation skills to effectively communicate with staff senior management the board and external regulators.
• Problem-solving: Ability to handle complex and non-standard credit issues under pressure.
• Strategic mindset: Capability to think strategically and align credit policy with the banks long-term business objectives.
• Technical proficiency: Advanced knowledge of financial software and credit risk management systems.

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. The employee is regularly required to sit for extended periods use a computer and occasionally lift up to 20 pounds.

Work environment

The work environment is typical of a professional office setting within a community bank.