Business First Bancshares, Inc.

Manager, Corporate & Specialized Loan Closing

Finance & Insurance
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • High School diploma or equivalent required; Associate degree preferred.
  • 7+ years of experience in commercial loan closing, especially large and complex transactions.
  • 1+ year of supervisory or leadership experience required.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of LaserPro is a must.
  • Strong management skills to oversee a large team.
  • Extensive knowledge of real estate documents and UCC rules is essential.
  • Fluent in complex commercial loan products like government guaranteed lending, interest rate swaps, and syndication.

Responsibilities

  • Manage the Corporate & Specialized Loan Closing unit's operations and staff.
  • Serve as the expert on large and complex commercial loan closings.
  • Track production performance and align team output with loan volume expectations.
  • Document and review departmental procedures for consistency and effectiveness.
  • Lead staff training, development, and succession planning efforts.
  • Perform second-level reviews of loan packages and provide necessary guidance.
  • Ensure accurate interpretation of credit approvals into loan documentation.

Benefits

  • Opportunities for career development through training and mentoring.
  • Flexible department infrastructure to support various bank growth initiatives.
  • Collaboration with multiple departments to enhance operational capabilities.
  • Supportive work environment focused on compliance and quality service.
Full Job Description
Summary

The Manager, Corporate & Specialized Loan Closing is responsible for managing the operational and production functions of the Corporate & Specialized Loan Closing unit in support of the Bank's strategic goals. This position oversees the accuracy, efficiency, compliance, and timely delivery of corporate and specialized loan closings prepared or reviewed by the unit. The role partners closely with production teams, Loan Operations leadership, internal and external counsel, and other operational departments to support a smooth closing process, strong internal controls, and consistent adherence to loan approvals, loan policy, and applicable laws and regulations.

Specific Job Functions
  • Manage the Corporate & Specialized Loan Closing unit, including staff supervision, workflow oversight, production performance, and adherence to departmental processes, procedures, and controls.
  • Serve as the subject matter expert for corporate and specialized loan closings, including large and complex commercial loans, Commercial & Industrial and Commercial Real Estate credits, loans over $10,000,000, letters of credit, government guaranteed loans, interest rate swaps, attorney-prepared documents, participation and syndication transactions, Business Manager lines of credit, Fed Funds lines of credit, Asset Based Lending lines of credit, and loans to non-depository financial institutions.
  • Track and report production performance to Loan Operations management and ensure team performance is optimized and aligned with the Bank's loan volume and service expectations.
  • Document, maintain, and review departmental procedures, expectations, and controls to promote consistency, knowledge sharing, and operational effectiveness.
  • Lead training, coaching, cross-training, succession planning, and staff development efforts to maintain appropriate support levels and strengthen the unit's talent pipeline.
  • Perform second-level reviews on loan packages for less experienced staff or complex transactions and provide guidance on due diligence, documentation, and closing requirements.
  • Review and accurately interpret credit approvals to ensure closing conditions are properly translated into loan documentation, escalating discrepancies or complex closing issues as needed.
  • Oversee the entry and tracking of closing exceptions in nCino to ensure post-closing exceptions are accurately reflected and resolved, including recorded mortgages, final title policies, UCC filings, and collateral perfection items.
  • Assist staff with preparing loan packages, drafting customized language, and preparing standard loan and collateral documents using LaserPro or other Bank-approved documentation tools.
  • Review and provide guidance on complex documentation matters, including participation and syndication transactions, legal documents provided for loan closings, and coordination with internal or external counsel as needed.
  • Ensure staff obtains and reviews required supporting documentation prior to closing, including credit approvals, financial reporting requirements, organizational documents, lien searches, title documents, insurance, flood determinations, environmental due diligence, appraisals, and other applicable documentation.
  • Promote accuracy and quality by ensuring existing loan and collateral documentation is reviewed for renewals and that errors, exceptions, or deficiencies are identified and corrected.
  • Provide high-quality internal customer support and partner with production teams and other departments to resolve issues, clarify expectations, improve processes, and support a timely and accurate closing process.
  • Maintain a flexible and scalable department infrastructure that supports Bank growth, sales, service, revenue, geographic expansion, appropriate system capabilities, efficient processes, and controlled risk.
  • Collaborate with IT, Lending Systems, and other operational departments to document processes, evaluate system capabilities, troubleshoot issues, and implement corrective measures when necessary.
  • Support Loan Operations projects by assisting with project plans, assigned resources, action items, due dates, milestones, budget considerations, documentation, status updates, and committee reporting.
  • Ensure department policies, procedures, and practices remain compliant with applicable federal and state banking regulatory guidance; monitor regulatory requirements and support audit, examination, safety and soundness, and compliance efforts.
  • Responsible for the timely completion of all required compliance training, such as BSA, Information Security, and other job-specific training as assigned. Assists with training, coaching, and development of assigned closing staff.
  • Performs other duties, as assigned.


Minimum Job Requirements
  • High School diploma or equivalent is required.
    • Associate degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Banking or related field preferred.
  • Seven (7) years of commercial loan closing/documentation experience is required, including experience with large, complex, and specialized commercial loan transactions.
  • One (1) year of supervisory or leadership experience is required.
  • Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of LaserPro is required.
  • Strong management skills with the ability to manage a large team.
  • Extensive knowledge of real estate documents (Title Opinions, Title Insurance Documents, Mortgages, Appraisals, etc.).
  • Fundamental knowledge of UCC rules and regulations.
  • Fluent knowledge of complex and specialized commercial loan products, including government guaranteed lending (SBA 7(a), SBA 504, USDA), interest rate swaps, letters of credit, and participation/syndication transactions.
  • Clear understanding of other departments that share the loan lifecycle ecosystem with Loan Operations and loan document preparation.
  • Exceptional interpersonal communication and leadership skills.
  • Excellent organizational and time management skills.
  • Strong computer, keyboard, and software application (Microsoft Word and Excel) skills.
  • Ability to work independently while managing and supporting others.

About Business First Bancshares, Inc.

Business First Bancshares, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The company provides a wide range of banking services to commercial and individual customers in Louisiana and Texas. Business First Bancshares, Inc. was founded in 2006 and has grown rapidly through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions. The company is committed to providing exceptional customer service and building long-term relationships with its clients. Business First Bancshares, Inc. is publicly traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol BFST.
Learn more about Business First Bancshares, Inc.
Size
347 employees
Market Cap
$548.8 million
Industry
Net Income
$29.9 million
5 Year Trend
+31.5%

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