Credit Underwriter

The Credit Underwriter plays a key role in analyzing, underwriting, and providing recommendations for new and existing credit transactions, as well as perform monitoring of ongoing credit quality of Farmer Mac customers.

This role supports a seasoned sales team responsible for growing Farmer Mac’s Corporate AgFinance portfolio through multi-lender, structured cash flow transactions to a diverse set of companies that include corporate agribusiness and large vertically integrated farm and ranch operations. In addition, the position will occasionally support and may have a small portfolio of Broadband Infrastructure names. Broadband Infrastructure transactions include fiber transport, data centers, wireless, towers, broadband, and other ancillary areas.

The suitable candidate must be able to analyze the current, historical, and projected financial condition and repayment capacity of borrowers. Additionally, the Credit Underwriter will evaluate the validity of borrower business plans based on assessments of industry outlooks, competition, technology, management, and overall capital structure. The Credit Underwriter will have the opportunity to attend lender meetings and interact with arrangers during the credit assessment, documentation review, and execution of transactions.

Suitable candidates must be self-starters, able to work and complete various and recurring tasks timely and thoughtfully. Candidates must also be able to work with minimal supervision within one’s field of expertise and should be an active and efficient communicator. 

Who You Will Work With

Credit Underwriter will report directly to the Senior Director of Credit Underwriting. The position will have regular interaction with Managing Director and Head of Corporate AgFinance, Senior Director of Capital Markets, Relationship Managers, Loan Operations, and Farmer Mac internal and external counsel. The position will also have a high degree of interaction with Farmer Mac Credit Approval Committee, including the Senior Vice President - Chief Credit Officer. 

Where You Will Work

Farmer Mac embraces a Presence with Purpose work environment, which allows for flexibility of work location while providing the opportunity for teams to come together in the office with purpose. Work outside of core hours may be required for planned and unplanned activities to complete time sensitive projects or to attend off-site meetings or events. The position is remote with preference for candidates in Washington, D.C. and Denver, CO metro areas.

Primary Responsibilities and Duties

• Assess and analyze new transactions to companies that include large corporate food and agribusinesses and large vertically integrated farm and ranch operations. Occasionally support the analysis of fiber transport, data centers, wireless, towers, broadband, cable, and ancillary broadband areas within prescribed standards and underwriting guidelines. 
• Focus on large corporate food and agribusiness transactions, including but not limited to cash flow-based loans (leveraged loans, term loan B, etc.), ABL loans, and other collateral dependent facilities.
• Analyze the current, historical, and projected financial condition and repayment capacity of borrowers.
• Identify key risks and issues pertinent to each credit request, including mitigants for identified risks.
• Be responsible for risk rating assessments and ongoing management of a loan portfolio and required reviews. 
• Have ownership of portfolio reporting and analytics, including risk rating migration, past-due review and analysis, exceptions, upcoming maturities, etc. 
• Prepare and give presentations to the Credit Approval Committee.
• Work with Loan Operations to coordinate the closing of transactions.
• Spread financial statements in Moody’s CreditLens and independent financial analysis.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of the agribusiness and broadband infrastructure industries and subsegments through research and periodic attendance of conferences.
• Understand financial markets, economy, market conditions, rates, and competition.

Professional Experience/Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Commercial Banking or an equivalent/relevant program. 
• Experience in Commercial or Corporate Banking with formal credit training or related training/experience. 
• Understanding of cash flow lending, ideally within the agribusiness sector.
• Skills in credit analysis, quantitative and qualitative assessments, enterprise valuation, and legal documentation review.
• Ability to deal with complex problems involving multiple facets and variables in non-standardized situations.
• Knowledge of industry dynamics and KPIs within the agribusiness sector.
• Demonstrated analytical, problem solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Must have strong written and verbal communication abilities.
• Experience using Microsoft Excel, Moody’s Analytics, Moody’s CreditLens, and Salesforce.
• Strong work ethic, curiosity, and an ability to work on one or more tasks efficiently and effectively with minimal supervision.

Our compensation philosophy is targeted pay positioning relative to peers, our industry, and external markets. Farmer Mac is committed to a compensation program that will enable the organization to attract, motivate, reward, and retain highly skilled and creative talent to maintain sustained long-term performance and achieve the organization’s strategic business objectives. The typical starting salary range for this position is between $110,000 - $140,000, although wages can vary based on experience and geography, plus performance-based bonus and equity-based awards. Individual compensation will be commensurate with the candidate's experience.

Salary : $110,000 - $140,000