Senior Credit Officer - Strategic Accounts

Description

The Senior Credit Officer – Strategic Accounts is a senior underwriting role supporting Lima One Capital's largest and most active home builder and developer relationships. This individual will own the credit relationship for an assigned book of high-volume strategic accounts, underwriting new construction loans with a focus on sound credit judgment, consistency, and speed of execution. The role also requires deep experience in land, lot, and acquisition, development and construction (AD&C) lending, so that this individual can underwrite Lima One's land collateral and horizontal development loans and serve as a qualified underwriting and escalation resource as those programs launch and scale nationally.

The Senior Credit Officer evaluates borrower creditworthiness and sponsor experience, assesses the viability of the underlying project and collateral, structures and sizes complex multi-property and multi-phase facilities, prepares and presents credit memorandums to senior credit leadership and the Credit Review Committee, and manages a demanding, multi-deal pipeline

Responsibilities:

Strategic Accounts & New Construction Underwriting

• •Serve as the primary credit point of contact for an assigned book of strategic builder and developer accounts, providing continuity of relationship and consistent, timely credit decisions
• •Underwrite new construction loans, including single-asset, multi-property, and portfolio transactions, from initial scenario review through closing
• •Evaluate borrower and sponsor risk, including business strategy, construction track record, credit, business and personal statements, liquidity, and schedule of real estate owned
• •Prepare and present credit memorandums detailing lending opportunities, risks, mitigating factors, and financial analyses; present to the EVP of Credit and Credit Review Committee as required
• •Conduct credit assessments, market analyses, and real estate appraisal reviews
• •Collaborate with Loan Officers, Relationship Managers, Construction Management, Closing, and Servicing to ensure thorough due diligence and smooth execution
• •Analyze legal documentation related to borrower structure, compliance (AML/KYC/OFAC), and loan agreements
• •Monitor relationship-level exposure, performance, and concentration across the strategic book; identify and escalate potential credit issues to management

Land Collateral & Horizontal Development Underwriting

• •Underwrite land collateral loans secured by pools of finished lots under a blanket lien, including allocated loan amounts by lot, lot release pricing, and phased vertical construction draws
• •Underwrite AD&C loans financing land acquisition, horizontal development, and vertical construction, including single-close, multi-phase structures
• •Build and maintain multi-phase loan models, including loan sizing against LTV, LTC, and ARV constraints, per-lot allocations and release prices, tail LTV testing on remaining lot collateral, and interest reserve sizing
• •Review multi-scenario commercial narrative appraisals (as-is land, as-developed, bulk and individual finished lot, and as-complete values) and reconcile conclusions to independent market and absorption studies
• •Evaluate entitlement status, zoning, subdivision plats, and development permits; assess entitlement, jurisdictional, and absorption risk
• •Partner with Construction Management to review horizontal development budgets (hard costs, soft costs, and contingency), and assess geotechnical reports and civil engineering plans for budget and schedule impact
• •Validate sponsor horizontal development experience, including completed land-to-finished-lot projects of similar scope and complexity
• •Coordinate with third-party reviewers (appraisal, geotechnical, environmental, feasibility), title, and legal counsel on blanket lien, lot release, and multi-phase closing requirements
• •Contribute to underwriting guideline refinements, procedures, checklists, and team training as land and development programs mature

General

• •Leverage underwriting expertise to interpret data, assess risks, and make informed, well-documented decisions
• •Synthesize information from multiple sources to conduct analysis and provide clear recommendations
• •Manage competing priorities efficiently in a fast-paced environment while meeting deadlines
• •Demonstrate strong interpersonal, negotiation, presentation, and communication skills
• •Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by management

Requirements

• •Bachelor’s degree in finance, real estate, accounting, economics, or a related field preferred
• •7+ years of underwriting, credit analysis, or related experience in private or institutional real estate lending, with significant experience in residential construction lending
• •5+ years of direct experience underwriting land acquisition, lot, land development, or AD&C loans at a commercial bank, construction lender, or non-bank lender
• •Demonstrated experience managing credit for large, complex builder or developer relationships
• •Experience structuring blanket lien and multi-phase facilities, including allocated loan amounts, release pricing, and phased draw schedules
• •Working knowledge of commercial narrative appraisals for land and subdivisions, including bulk lot valuation, discounted cash flow, and absorption analysis
• •Familiarity with the entitlement and permitting process, subdivision plats, civil engineering plans, geotechnical reports, and Phase I/Phase II environmental assessments
• •Strong knowledge of credit and financial analysis, including cash flow, balance sheets, tax returns, personal financial statements, liquidity verification, and real estate valuation
• •Proficiency in financial modeling, including development pro formas, absorption schedules, loan sizing, and NOI/DSCR analysis
• •Advanced skills in Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and database applications for pipeline management
• •Ability to present credit recommendations clearly and persuasively to senior leadership and credit committees

Preferred:

• •Familiarity with new home market data and absorption research providers
• •Experience with construction draw management and loan origination platforms

What We Offer:

Industry Leading Benefits:

• •Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• •Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability
• •Hospitalization and Accidental Insurance
• •Flexible Spending Accounts – Health and Dependent Care
• •Health Savings Account
• •Safe Harbor 401K with company match
• •Growing Families Support (including paid parental leave, infertility support and assistance, childcare reimbursement, and elder care)
• •Pet Insurance

Work Life Balance: 12 paid time off days and 5 sick days, in addition to 12 paid holidays – that’s about a month of time to rest, relax, and recharge every year.

Career Development: We prioritize the growth and success of our team members. You'll benefit from continuous learning opportunities, dedicated mentorship, and the chance to refine your skills and advance your career.

New Headquarters: Join us in our brand new, thoughtfully designed office in the heart of Downtown Greenville (parking is paid for!)

Why Lima One?

At Lima One Capital we’re relentlessly focused on a simple but powerful goal: to be the nation’s premier lender for real estate investors. Inspired by that vision, every member of our team is driven by our mission to create opportunities for our customers and employees by educating, empowering, and financing real estate investors who are building, improving, and stabilizing their neighborhoods and communities nationwide.

• •Loans Funded: $10+ billion in loans funded, 30k loans closed since 2010
• •Geography: 46 states + D.C. where we revitalize neighborhoods
• •Employees: ~250 employees with competitive benefits and perks
• •Stability: Backed by the immense resources of MFA Financial, a publicly traded mortgage REIT with 25 years of proven success
• •Veteran Founded: Founded by 2 US Marine C