Commercial and Specialty Lending Portfolio Manager — Irvine, CA

Commercial & SBA Lending Portfolio Manager / Underwriter

Location: Irvine, CA

Employment Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire

Work Arrangement: 100% Onsite, Monday–Friday

Base Salary: Up to $160,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications

Overview

KORE1, a nationwide provider of staffing and recruiting solutions, is seeking a Commercial & SBA Lending Portfolio Manager / Underwriter for a full-time, direct-hire opportunity with a commercial banking institution in Irvine, California.

This position combines conventional commercial loan underwriting, SBA 7(a) lending, and ongoing portfolio management. The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in commercial credit analysis, understands how to evaluate and structure SBA transactions, and can confidently present credit recommendations to senior management and loan approval committees.

The role offers a balanced mix of new loan underwriting and existing portfolio oversight, with approximately 35% focused on conventional lending, 30% on SBA lending, and 35% on portfolio management.

This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially minded credit professional who enjoys hands-on underwriting, financial analysis, and credit risk management. The organization is open to both experienced underwriters and developing credit professionals who demonstrate strong analytical capabilities, sound judgment, and the ability to grow into greater responsibility.

The position is part of a collaborative, onsite banking environment that emphasizes credit quality, professional development, and long-term career growth. This is a credit-focused role with no sales production requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Analyze and underwrite conventional commercial loans and SBA 7(a) transactions, evaluating borrower creditworthiness, repayment capacity, and overall transaction risk.

Review business and personal financial statements, tax returns, cash flow, financial projections, collateral, liquidity, leverage, and global debt service coverage.

Prepare comprehensive credit approval memorandums outlining financial analysis, key risks, mitigating factors, proposed loan structures, and underwriting recommendations.

Structure appropriate loan terms, covenants, collateral requirements, guarantees, and other credit conditions based on borrower needs and identified risks.

Manage an existing commercial loan portfolio through annual loan reviews, financial covenant testing, ongoing monitoring, and credit risk assessments.

Present underwriting analyses and credit recommendations to internal loan committees, senior management, and board-level approval groups, clearly explaining and defending credit decisions.

Collaborate with Relationship Managers, Credit Administration, Loan Processing, and Operations to support efficient loan approvals, documentation, and funding.

Review appraisals, environmental reports, credit reports, and other third-party due diligence to ensure appropriate risk assessment and loan structuring.

Ensure compliance with internal credit policies, applicable banking regulations, and relevant SBA lending requirements, including requirements necessary to preserve SBA loan guarantees.

Maintain accurate credit documentation, support audits and regulatory examinations, and manage underwriting and portfolio responsibilities within established timelines.

Required Qualifications

3+ years of commercial credit analysis, underwriting, or related commercial lending experience, with consideration for strong developing candidates who demonstrate the ability to advance quickly.

Practical experience with SBA 7(a) underwriting or a strong commercial underwriting background with demonstrated knowledge of SBA loan analysis.

Experience evaluating conventional commercial loan requests, including borrower financial strength, repayment capacity, collateral, and credit risk.

Strong understanding of financial statements, business and personal tax returns, cash flow analysis, global debt service coverage, liquidity, and leverage.

Ability to analyze financial projections and assess the viability of commercial borrowers and proposed transactions.

Experience preparing credit memorandums, underwriting recommendations, and supporting financial analyses.

Ability to communicate credit findings and recommendations effectively to Relationship Managers, management, and loan approval committees.

Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and written communication skills.

Proficiency with commercial loan origination, underwriting, or credit analysis systems.

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Ability to work onsite five days per week in Irvine, California.

Preferred Qualifications

2+ years of SBA lending or underwriting experience, particularly with SBA 7(a) loans.

Familiarity with SBA Preferred Lender Program (PLP) transactions and government-guaranteed lending requirements.

Knowledge of SBA Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), including underwriting and documentation requirements that protect the SBA guarantee.

Experience with SBA 504, SBA Express, or other government-guaranteed lending programs.

Experience managing commercial loan portfolios, including annual reviews, covenant monitoring, and ongoing credit risk evaluation.

Experience underwriting commercial real estate or other specialty commercial lending transactions.

Experience presenting credit recommendations to internal loan committees, executive leadership, or board-level approval groups.