Senior Lending Specialist

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Lending Specialist to join our team at BMO. As a key member of our Wealth Sales & Service group, you will be responsible for providing exceptional customer service and portfolio management in lending services for existing and potential clients.

• Provide technical expertise for proactive credit analysis, structuring, decisions, and portfolio monitoring.
• Apply lending expertise to a lending and deposit portfolio of accounts or part of the lending process (e.g. underwriting, funding, monitoring).
• Identify cross-selling opportunities to increase client penetration for banking, investments, and deposits.
• Prepare new business proposals or presentations to clients/prospects.
• Participate in activities for client meetings and account opening documentation.
• Provide day-to-day technical support and management of accounts for team members and customers.
• May act as lead relationship manager.
• Ensure timely resolution of all client questions and concerns, both internal and external.
• Perform client sales & service support activities as required to meet client needs and maintain overall service standards.
• Determine client needs and ensure timely and accurate completion of transaction processing.
• Provide after-sales support and handle exceptions tactfully, accurately, and efficiently in accordance with Bank policy.
• Recommend and implement solutions based on analysis of issues and implications for the business and the client.
• Assist in the development of strategic plans.
• Identify emerging issues and trends to inform decision-making.
• Maintain detailed knowledge and understanding of the integrated private banking services and offerings and lending procedures.
• Partner with the leadership team on strategic direction and complex line-of-business projects.
• Conduct independent analysis and assessment to resolve strategic issues.
• Support the execution of strategic initiatives in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders in order to deliver on business objectives.
• Coordinate the management of databases; ensure alignment and integration of data in adherence with data governance standards.
• Complete comprehensive analysis for risk, financial, and profitability rating and assessments.
• Break down strategic problems, and analyze data and information to provide insights and recommendations.
• Monitor and track performance, and address any issues.
• Design and produce regular and ad-hoc reports, and dashboards.
• Build change management plans of varying scope and type; lead or participate in a variety of change management activities including readiness assessments, planning, stakeholder management, execution, evaluation, and sustainment of initiatives.
• Coordinate account management activities with deal team members and internal groups.
• Perform audits and quality checks, to ensure decisions are adequately documented and clearly communicated.
• Manage operational audits and controls for banking and account administration.
• Manage day-to-day portfolio administration activities through the completion of a wide variety of credit, non-credit, and related activities.
• Monitor the timely and accurate setup & maintenance of accounts, including account setups, collateralization, and documentation.
• Provide input into the planning and implementation of operational programs.
• Execute set-up, maintenance, and advancement of lending products and related account administration as per guidelines.
• Verify and process loan drawdowns, ensuring they are within the terms of the credit authorization and completion of required security documentation.
• Review and action overdrafts and other monitoring reports in a timely manner.
• Set up and complete margin / covenant tests within established timeframes.
• Maintain control of security collateral including preparation and registration.
• Identify, diarize, and monitor accounts for security renewals, registrations, and other expiry dates to meet compliance requirements.
• Monitor and control the integrity of lending documentation.
• Collect fees applicable to credit terms and conditions or account agreement.
• Identify business needs, design/develop tools and training programs; may include delivery of training to audiences.
• May specialize as either a funding specialist or a credit underwriting specialist.
• As a funding specialist, facilitate the funding process acting as a final and independent control point for legal documentation and ensure that the security/legal documentation reflects what was approved; all terms and conditions noted in the credit application have been met; proper execution/perfection of all documents prior to funding/releasing funds; assesses significance of any security or conditions shortfalls, credit and fraud risks.
• As a credit underwriter, focus on underwriting and making recommendations loan applications; interacting directly with Clients, Prospects, Bankers, and Risk Management to provide expertise regarding the adjudication of applications.
• Mitigate identified risks and make credit recommendations/decisions in accordance with sound credit-granting principles and compliance with the Bank's philosophy and principles outlined in corporate risk policy and supporting policies and procedures.
• Identify and escalate irregularities and discrepancies to management as per guidelines.
• Participate in assigned audits and compliance reviews.
• Ensure proper adherence to the code of conduct and ethical guidelines.
• Follow security and safeguarding procedures and apply appropriate due diligence for the prevention of loss due to fraud, counterfeiting, money laundering, or defalcation in accordance with Bank policy.
• Protect the Bank's assets by adhering to all banking, investment, and lending regulations, policies, and procedures, legal and ethical requirements, process requirements, bank guidelines, and established risk guidelines.
• Focus is primarily on business/group within BMO; may have broader, enterprise-wide focus.
• Provide specialized consulting, analytical, and technical support.
• Exercise judgment to identify, diagnose, and solve problems within given rules.
• Work independently and regularly handle non-routine situations.
• Broad work or accountabilities may be assigned as needed.

• Typically between 5 - 7 years of relevant experience and post-secondary degree in related field of study or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• In-depth knowledge of personal (primarily) and commercial credit and non-credit products, monitoring/operational processes and applications.
• In-depth understanding of loan and security documentation, including registration and renewal routine.
• Expert communication and relationship management skills.
• If a Credit Qualifiable job, Credit Qualifications and associated credit knowledge and skills according to the credit portfolio requirements and qualification standards.
• Deep knowledge and technical proficiency gained through extensive education and business experience.
• Verbal & written communication skills - In-depth.
• Collaboration & team skills - In-depth.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills - In-depth.
• Influence skills - In-depth.
• Data-driven decision making - In-depth.