Bank of Montreal

Senior Credit Officer, Commercial Real Estate

Bank of Montreal • $85K — $185K *
Finance & Insurance
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 7+ years of experience in commercial real estate credit adjudication and underwriting.
  • Proven ability to evaluate complex credit transactions and make sound risk-based decisions.
  • Exceptional attention to detail with a strong track record of maintaining portfolio quality.
  • Expert in banking products, services, and industry trends and regulations.
  • Demonstrated leadership and coaching capabilities for less experienced professionals.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a focus on influencing stakeholders.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving acumen, adept at data-driven decision-making.

Responsibilities

  • Review, structure, and adjudicate complex commercial real estate credit applications independently.
  • Serve as a senior credit authority and subject matter expert for commercial real estate lending.
  • Evaluate borrower strength, cash flow, and overall creditworthiness to support informed decisions.
  • Collaborate with Relationship Managers to develop financing structures that protect the Bank's interests.
  • Monitor and maintain quality of the commercial real estate portfolio, identifying emerging risks.
  • Coach and mentor junior team members to enhance credit analysis capabilities.
  • Provide clear and concise credit decisions, including terms and conditions effective for stakeholders.

Benefits

  • Health insurance coverage.
  • Tuition reimbursement for continuing education.
  • Accident and life insurance options.
  • Retirement savings plans.
  • Performance-based incentives and discretionary bonuses.
Full Job Description

Application Deadline:

10/22/2026

Address:

100 King Street West

Job Family Group:

Audit, Risk & Compliance

The successful candidate can be based in Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax, or Toronto and must be able to work within BMO's hybrid operating model, with a combination of in-office and remote work.


As the Senior Credit Officer, Commercial Real Estate, you will serve as a trusted risk advisor responsible for the independent adjudication of complex commercial real estate credit transactions. Leveraging deep expertise in commercial lending, portfolio management, and credit risk, you will make sound financing decisions that balance business growth with prudent risk management. You will partner closely with front-line banking teams, provide strategic guidance on deal structuring, and help develop the next generation of credit professionals while ensuring the portfolio remains aligned with BMO's risk appetite and lending policies.


Key responsibilities:


  • Independently review, structure, and adjudicate complex commercial real estate credit applications, ensuring transactions meet the Bank's credit policies, risk standards, and financing guidelines.
  • Act as a senior credit authority and subject matter expert for commercial real estate lending, providing recommendations and approvals within delegated lending authority.
  • Evaluate transaction risk, borrower strength, cash flow, collateral quality, market conditions, and overall creditworthiness to support informed decision-making.
  • Partner with Relationship Managers and front-line lending teams to develop sound financing structures that meet client needs while protecting the Bank's interests.
  • Monitor and maintain the overall quality of the commercial real estate portfolio, identifying emerging risks, market trends, and potential credit concerns.
  • Review approximately 400 credit transactions annually, applying strong attention to detail and expert credit judgment to ensure consistency and quality.
  • Coach, mentor, and provide oversight to less experienced Line Officers and underwriting professionals, helping strengthen credit analysis and risk assessment capabilities across the team.
  • Provide clear and concise credit decisions, including rationale, terms, conditions, covenants, and collateral requirements.
  • Influence strategic business decisions by providing risk insights, industry expertise, and recommendations to senior stakeholders and business partners.
  • Collaborate across lending, risk, and operational teams to drive process improvements, enhance credit effectiveness, and support strategic initiatives.
  • Stay current on commercial real estate market trends, economic developments, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices to proactively manage portfolio risk.
  • Support special projects, portfolio reviews, and strategic initiatives while serving as a trusted advisor on complex or non-routine credit matters.

Qualifications:


  • Typically 7+ years of relevant experience and post-secondary degree in related field of study or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Deep expertise in commercial real estate credit adjudication, underwriting, and risk assessment, with a proven ability to evaluate complex transactions and make sound, risk-based lending decisions.
  • Exceptional attention to detail and credit judgment, with a demonstrated track record of maintaining portfolio quality, identifying potential risks, and ensuring compliance with lending policies and regulatory requirements.
  • Credit Qualifications and associated credit knowledge and skills according to the established qualification standards.
  • In-depth / expert knowledge of banking products & services.
  • In-depth / expert knowledge of industry trends and regulations.
  • In-depth / expert knowledge of credit portfolio management policies & procedures, and financing guidelines.
  • Proven leadership skills and highly developed coaching skills.
  • Seasoned professional with a combination of education, experience and industry knowledge.
  • Verbal & written communication skills - In-depth / Expert.
  • Analytical and problem solving skills - In-depth / Expert.
  • Influence skills - In-depth / Expert.
  • Collaboration & team skills; with a focus on cross-group collaboration - In-depth / Expert.
  • Able to manage ambiguity.
  • Data driven decision making - In-depth / Expert.

Salary:

$85,500.00 - $185,000.00

Pay Type:

Salaried

The above represents BMO Financial Group’s pay range and type.

Salaries will vary based on factors such as location, skills, experience, education, and qualifications for the role, and may include a commission structure. Salaries for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on number of hours regularly worked. For commission roles, the salary listed above represents BMO Financial Group’s expected target for the first year in this position.

BMO Financial Group’s total compensation package will vary based on the pay type of the position and may include performance-based incentives, discretionary bonuses, as well as other perks and rewards. BMO also offers health insurance, tuition reimbursement, accident and life insurance, and retirement savings plans. To view more details of our benefits, please visit: 

About Bank of Montreal

The Bank of Montreal is a Canadian multinational investment bank and financial services company. It provides a wide range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management, and investment banking products and services. The bank had revenues of CAD 23.6 billion in 2020.
Learn more about Bank of Montreal
Size
45,454 employees
Market Cap
$60.9 billion
Industry
Founded
1817
5 Year Trend
+9.1%
NASDAQ

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