Title: Chief Credit Officer

Chief Credit Officer

HELP US TAKE FAIRWAY AMERICA TO THE NEXT LEVEL!

"We are looking for an experienced credit professional to lead our credit and underwriting department including our collections function. This person will assume immediate leadership responsibility taking over the President's current role in the underwriting, approval, structuring, and managing of our loans. He or she will also be the strategist and a catalyst for our development of a reliable and scalable credit model that will support the broad geographic markets we plan to enter and additional loan originations they create. We envision a candidate for this position to be a talented, hard working commercial lender who knows how to underwrite property and loans but also knows how to communicate with people, effectively articulate his or her ideas and thoughts, and gain buy-in and engagement from others. This is a truly outstanding career opportunity with substantial responsibility and growth for the right individual."
                                  Matt Burk, President/John Brooke, CEO

At Fairway America, we are committed to our core values:

• Focused, Driven and Committed
• Accountable & Responsible
• Interdependence & Collaboration
• Respect, Trust, & Integrity
• Winning Attitudes
• Approachable, Open Communication
• You Make Fairway Fun!

These values are alive at our company and we live them every day while pursuing our purpose of "Honorably doing worthwhile deals that create value, wealth, dignity and superior returns for all parties involved." If a deal is not worthwhile for everyone (our borrowers, investors, referral sources, and Fairway America), we'd rather not do it at all.

For the A-player looking for something special and who can answer "yes" to all of the following questions, this is the opportunity for you.

• Do you truly understand real estate – valuation, marketability, how it works, what makes it good or bad, stable or not stable, etc.?
• Can you use that knowledge to develop models that allow us to make reliable credit decisions and real estate valuations that will hold up over a broad geographic area?
• Are you a lender that understands that delicate balance between sales and underwriting?
• Do you know how to accurately assess risk and are not afraid to make a decision based on that assessment?
• Can you effectively lead and manage others as well as a department?
• Can you understand and help develop strategy and also implement and monitor the implementation of tactics?
• Are you able to effectively work closely with the sales/origination side of the business while making tough decisions on what credit risks to take and not take?
• Are you looking for more than just a job but a genuine career opportunity?
• Do you hate office politics as much as we do?
• Are you willing to take a position that has significant responsibility and leadership where the results of your decisions will have profound impact on the future success or failure of the organization?
• Do you have passion to succeed?
• Do you live by the maxim, "Say what you are going to do and do what you've said?"

If you answered "yes" to these questions, we want to meet you!

Our Company

Fairway America is a successful locally owned and privately funded asset based lender. Through a simplified and streamlined process, Fairway America provides financing solutions for people who are unable or unwilling to get financed by more traditional lending sources. Every day, Fairway America helps borrowers solve difficult problems, meet pressing deadlines, or take advantage of excellent opportunities. While assisting these borrowers, we also enable our investors to earn above average returns they are unable to get elsewhere. As many brokers and lenders have gone out of business or are struggling mightily, our conservative lending approach has enabled us to weather this financial storm and positioned us to take advantage of unprecedented market opportunities while helping people who are otherwise unable to secure financing.

The Position

Fairway is seeking a "Chief Credit Officer" to build out and oversee the credit functions of the business from underwriting to collections. The Chief Credit Officer will report directly to the President. In this capacity, he or she will provide input, recommendations, support, direction, and leadership in the credit, underwriting, lending, and collection policies to grow a quality loan portfolio. The successful candidate will thrive not only in working on current deals in a timely fashion to accurately assess risk but also in developing processes and models to allow us to do so more efficiently for much a larger loan portfolio over a wider geographic area.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and manage the credit and collections department which initially consists of 3 people and upon growth would include a team of underwriters, field underwriters, processors, closer/funders, portfolio administrators, and other staff.
• Develop credit policy and procedures to ensure risk is in sync with company credit standards relative to returns.
• Be the liaison between the Sales and Credit/Underwriting departments in terms of assisting with structuring and selling of loans based on company credit standards, risk ratings, etc.
• Direct the Portfolio Manager to ensure that collections remain within company expectations and requirements.
• Make or approve credit and underwriting recommendations and decisions on loans in current portfolio as necessary.
• Define and create credit and underwriting policies going forward both for loans held servicing retained and for loans originated for sale into the secondary market, if any.
• Help develop and implement risk adjusted pricing models for new loans and communicate and implement policies effectively through other company stakeholders.
• Review appraisals and internal valuations for accuracy and completeness.
• Inspect properties as necessary and make determination of value.
• Build and maintain Approved Appraiser and similar 3rd party provider lists related to the credit underwriting function.
• Oversee growth of the department as we expand geographically.
• Recruit, hire and train underwriters, field underwriters, processors, loan servicing personnel, etc.
• Participate in audits with respect to the company's credit and collections policies.
• Research new geographic markets that are desirable to enter based on demographics, competitive landscape, and other factors, and build out future infrastructure of Credit/Underwriting/Appraisal processes to support growth.

Qualifications

At Fairway America, your values, abilities, and demonstrable track record of success are generally more important to us than direct experience. That being said, an ideal candidate would have the following:

• 5-10 years experience in real estate lending, credit analysis and similar training specifically in the areas of commercial mortgage origination, lending, credit analysis, property valuation, and loan servicing
• Ability to demonstrate an understanding of consultative selling practices
• Conversant in and committed to LEAN, business process improvement (BPI), Six Sigma, or similar process improvement strategies
• Some portion of background/experience in asset based lending (hard money, factoring, equipment leasing, etc.) and developing credit policies valuing collateral located in disparate geographies
• Experience with managing a collections activity
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or Mathematics or a similar field would be a plus
• Ability to demonstrate a track record of having effectively managed a team of people
• Sound understanding of credit risks, appraisals, cash flow analysis, and real estate
• Strong analytic, management and communication skills
• Strong computer skills, especially in MS Office programs
• Demonstrable track record of success in related capacities

Benefits

Fairway America is committed to maintaining a motivated, positive work environment full of great people who share, demonstrate, and live our core values.  Take pride in working for a company that lives its core values, vision and mission/purpose and continually provides tangible value and benefit to its employees, brokers, borrowers and investors.  Our benefits include:

• Excellent base salary
• Individual bonuses based on personal performance and as well as performance of the loan portfolio over time
• Company profit sharing participation (no waiting period)
• Medical & dental coverage
• Matching 401K plan
• Cafeteria plan (section 125 plan)
• Short term disability policy
• Company paid ongoing training and personal development
• Vacation, personal time off and company paid holidays
• Outstanding working environment
• Family friendly atmosphere and culture
• Working with other "A players" with a burning desire to win

Apply

If you feel you are an "A player", are up for our challenging, demanding, and rigorous hiring process, and would like to join a dynamic, growing company, please submit your cover letter and resume to start the application process. All candidates must complete the application process to be considered. Phone calls are not accepted.
http://www.fairwayamerica.com/jobopp05.php

• Location: Portland, OR
• Compensation: Negotiable
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• Please, no phone calls about this job!
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