CREDIT ASSOCIATE JOB DESCRIPTION

A Credit Associate handles what most people in finance never see up close: the gap between a loan request and a fundable deal. The work centers on financial modeling and credit documentation review for new and existing transactions, with ownership stretching from initial underwriting through quarterly portfolio reviews. Most Credit Associates in this space support relationship managers and investment committees whose approval timelines depend directly on the accuracy and speed of the analysis delivered. That dependency is narrow and specific - a Credit Analyst owns the research opinion, a Portfolio Manager owns the allocation decision, but the Credit Associate owns the execution of the credit case itself.

As the Credit Associate, you will own the financial analysis, credit application preparation, and documentation execution that move transactions from initial review to closing within a commercial or private credit lending environment. You will work alongside relationship managers and senior credit officers, supporting a portfolio that spans corporate borrowers, direct lending mandates, and periodic restructuring situations.

Career Impact: Building credit models for corporate and private credit transactions - including amendments, upsizes, and refinancings - establishes the technical underwriting depth that distinguishes candidates competing for senior credit and portfolio roles.

Business Impact: When credit applications, borrower ratings, and quarterly reviews are delivered accurately and on time, relationship managers can move deals through approval committees without delays that cost the firm mandates.

Growth Opportunity: Exposure to the full range of transaction types in commercial and direct lending - from origination to restructuring - positions the Credit Associate to step into a Senior Credit Associate or Assistant Vice President role within a typical two-to-three-year track.

• Build and maintain financial models for new and existing credit transactions to support underwriting and portfolio decisions.
• Prepare credit applications, borrower rating submissions, and annual and quarterly client reviews for relationship manager and committee approval.
• Execute transaction closing processes including legal documentation review and coordination with counsel.
• Monitor sector-level developments and advise relationship managers on events affecting assigned borrowers.
• Review and interpret credit agreements, loan documentation, and amendments for new and existing deals.
• Oversee junior analysts on transaction workstreams to ensure timely and accurate deal progression.
• Maintain portfolio ownership for assigned clients from origination through ongoing monitoring, including restructuring and turnaround support as needed.

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business, or economics, or equivalent work experience.
• 2 or more years of credit analysis, commercial banking, or direct lending experience, with demonstrated transaction execution exposure.
• Proven ability to build and interpret financial models across corporate borrowers spanning income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow projections.
• Strong command of credit documentation, including loan agreements, covenant structures, and amendment mechanics.
• Ability to synthesize large volumes of financial and operational data into a clear, actionable investment or credit thesis.
• High attention to detail with a consistent record of meeting strict underwriting and committee deadlines.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present credit summaries to internal management and investment committees.

• Prior experience in investment banking, private credit, or leveraged finance, including exposure to CLOs or bank loan structures.
• Familiarity with borrower restructuring and turnaround processes, including amendment negotiations and special assets coordination.
• Experience supporting a loan portfolio that includes consumer lending products such as personal lines of credit or installment loans.
• Knowledge of Sarbanes-Oxley compliance requirements as they apply to credit policy and documentation standards.

• Turnaround time on credit application submissions, measuring how efficiently transactions reach committee review.
• Accuracy rate on borrower rating applications, reflecting the reliability of financial analysis delivered to relationship managers.
• Quarterly portfolio review completion rate, tracking whether assigned client reviews are delivered on schedule.
• Covenant monitoring coverage ratio, measuring the percentage of portfolio borrowers with current compliance status on file.
• Amendment and transaction closing cycle time, reflecting how quickly legal documentation is finalized after credit approval.
• Typical tools: financial modeling platforms (commonly Excel with advanced functions); credit spreading tools (commonly Moody's CreditLens or equivalent).

• Base Salary Range: $70,000 to $100,000 annually, depending on seniority and market.
• Bonus: Annual performance bonus, typically 10% to 20% of base salary.
• Equity: Uncommon at this level; available at select institutional firms.
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage; employer contribution standard.
• PTO: 15 to 20 days annually, plus federal holidays.
• Common Perks: Professional development support, CFA exam sponsorship at select firms, hybrid work arrangements.

Background check completion, including credit history review consistent with financial services regulatory standards, is a condition of employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, and local law. Reasonable accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities throughout the hiring process. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

The Credit Associate owns daily cash application across lockbox receipts, ACH and wire transfers, and credit card payments while maintaining cash files, deduction coding, and SOX-compliant documentation for the AR and Credit teams. Supporting month-end close and process improvement efforts, this position delivers accurate reconciliation and cash activity reporting that enables management to track collections against goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Apply cash on a timely basis daily.
• Post all lockbox receipts including electronic payments such as ACH and wire transfers, and identify and properly post exception items from the bank report.
• Post and reconcile credit card payments daily.
• Reconcile daily cash receipts including intercompany DHO entries and report cash activity for management including daily collections vs. goals update.
• Maintain and store cash files and documentation.
• Assign proper deduction reason codes for short/over payments and post unidentified and unapplied payments.
• Provide back-up documentation for cash application and deductions to other AR/Credit team members.
• Post all receipts before fiscal month-end close, including possible evening and weekend hours to meet closing deadlines.
• Maintain customer master records as back-up and assist with automated processes, and identify and recommend new process improvement opportunities.
• Perform account reconciliation offsets and assist with escheatment reporting and compliance with credit policy and SOX guidelines.

Required Qualifications

• High School/GED required; Associate's Degree in Accounting/Finance preferred or some college credits.
• Minimum 1–3 years of high-volume data entry experience; cash application experience preferred.
• Basic understanding of accounting principles.
• Aptitude for working with numbers and attention to detail with proven record of accuracy and dependability.
• Ability to provide timely, accurate, and detailed information to internal departments.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office with emphasis on Excel; competent with internet and electronic commerce tools; GetPaid software experience a plus; experience with a large ERP such as SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards, or QAD.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and superb follow-up skills.
• Ability to multi-task, work independently, meet deadlines, and learn quickly including remote/off-site training.

• Support the Credit Portfolio Management Team overseeing investment grade credit, high yield, and bank loan strategies for institutional and retail clients.
• Prepare trade studies to reposition accounts based on Portfolio Management Team requests.
• Recommend trades based on account positioning, credit analyst recommendations, firm-wide risk targets, and account guidelines.
• Coordinate execution of approved trades with trading desks globally.
• Ensure all proposed trades are consistent with client guidelines in concert with the Compliance Team.
• Manage cash flows, benchmark changes, and other account transition events in coordination with the PM Team.
• Facilitate trading operations of the Credit Desk in support of portfolio managers across the firm.
• Coordinate with Middle Office, Settlements, Compliance, Risk Management, and Account Management to ensure client objectives are met and all credit trades are ticketed and processed.

• Strong academic background in a related field from an accredited university with 1–5 years of work experience.
• Fundamental fixed income expertise required; prior exposure to cash and derivative securities in credit and interest rate sectors preferred; knowledge of Bank Loans, CLOs, and leveraged finance a plus.
• Outstanding analytical skills with proven ability to function efficiently in a high-pressure, time-critical environment.
• Mastery of advanced Excel techniques required; programming skills in SQL, VBA, or Python a plus.
• Strong communication skills, poise under pressure, and professionalism required.
• Positive, can-do attitude with willingness to embrace all tasks on a high-volume desk.
• Collaborative mindset with ability to work effectively on a diverse team with cross-functional constituencies.

Reporting to senior relationship managers, the Credit Associate delivers end-to-end transaction execution from origination through deal closing, building financial models, preparing credit applications, and overseeing junior analysts across an assigned portfolio. Partnering with internal teams and clients, this associate enables timely deal completion and ongoing portfolio monitoring that supports the bank's credit and lending objectives.

Primary Duties

• Provide support in managing and executing transactions from beginning to closing, including building and maintaining financial models.
• Execute transaction closing and legal documentation.
• Monitor and evaluate current events related to the assigned sector and advise RM accordingly.
• Manage preparation of credit applications, borrower rating applications, and annual and quarterly client reviews.
• Oversee junior analysts on the team to drive transactions to completion.
• Maintain end-to-end ownership of the portfolio and clients under assignment, from origination through deal closing and ongoing monitoring.

Skills & Qualifications

• 3+ years in a relevant role; previous bank experience preferred.
• Strong finance and accounting skills with ability to read and interpret financial statements and perform credit analysis proficiently.
• Outstanding financial modeling, valuation, and analytical skills; knowledge and skill in legal documentation.
• Excellent research skills and high degree of attention to detail with ability to complete work accurately under strict deadlines.
• Ability to execute transactions from beginning to end with minimal supervision; able to quickly learn and adapt to new processes and systems.
• Ability to organize thoughts, clearly articulate points, and provide summaries of transactions verbally or in writing to management.
• Strong intellectual curiosity.

• Analyze financial statements, build financial models, and analyze macro and micro trends.
• Articulate fundamental investment facts and opinions.
• Read and interpret credit documentation for new and existing deals.
• Assist in underwriting and obtaining approval for amendments, upsizes, refinancings, and other transactions within the existing portfolio.
• Assist in restructuring and turnaround situations as applicable.
• Attend and participate in meetings regarding new and existing investments.
• Prepare quarterly credit reviews and valuations of investments.

• Bachelor's degree required; finance, accounting, or business preferred.
• 2–5 years of experience in corporate/commercial banking, investment banking, or private credit/direct lending.
• Proficient in financial modeling.
• Familiarity with loan documentation and credit agreements.
• Ability to distill substantial qualitative and quantitative information into a succinct, coherent, and actionable investment thesis.

A key member of the accounts receivable team, the Credit Associate 1 leads the payment application process by handling cash application, lockbox posting, and electronic deposits with speed and accuracy for daily and month-end deadlines. Collaborating across Credit Specialists and internal banking systems including SAP, this associate ensures deposits are balanced and unapplied payments are resolved to maintain clean AR records.

Functions

• Assume lead role in the payment application process.
• Process payments quickly, efficiently, and accurately, including Cash Application/CODs, Lockbox Posting via ECP, Salesmen Collections, and Electronic and Remote Deposit.
• Prepare daily accounts receivable deposit, including creating and balancing receipts.
• Ensure balancing to meet daily deadlines.
• Identify and resolve issues causing payments to be unapplied.
• Distribute unapplied payments to Credit Specialists for follow-up.
• Balance bank deposits back to SAP.
• Process NSFs and perform other duties as assigned.

Experience & Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• 1+ years of experience in a related area.
• Knowledge of commonly used concepts, practices, and procedures within the accounts receivable field.
• 10-Key by touch.
• Excellent MS Office skills with advanced Excel experience including VLOOKUP and Pivot Tables.
• Proficient with automated accounting systems; SAP or similar ERP experience a plus.

Accurate new account setup and timely AR operations depend on the Associate III, Credit, who reviews and processes account applications, manages mailbox inquiries, and generates reports in support of the broader credit and financial management team. Based within a hybrid work structure on a permanent night shift schedule, this associate ensures daily coverage and assists colleagues to maintain consistent compliance with account policies and guidelines.

Accountabilities

• Review documents and approvals for new account applications and upload documents.
• Set up accounts with complete documentation in compliance with policies and guidelines.
• Handle and address mailbox inquiries and direct to relevant departments as necessary.
• Assist other associates in processes and generate reports.
• Provide daily operations coverage for PTOs and as needed by the business.

Technical Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Management Accounting, Business/Financial Management, or a related course.
• 1–2 years of minimum experience in Accounts Receivable or general accounting.
• Willing to work on a permanent night shift.
• Candidates must have a stable internet connection to support a temporary work-from-home setup.
• Hybrid setup starting April 2022.
• This is not a complete listing of the job duties; it is a representation of the things you will be doing, and you may not perform all of these duties.

As the Credit Associate, this role supports underwriting for Eagle Lending's Personal Line of Credit product by processing loan requests, spreading financial statements via Moody's CreditLens, and monitoring the portfolio for signs of default across the full loan life cycle. The consumer lending team relies on this work to maintain credit quality, meet turnaround requirements, and sustain ongoing relationships with partners across Sales, Closing, and Loan Servicing.

Activities

• Support underwriting needs for Eagle Lending's Personal Line of Credit product by processing, evaluating, and completing financial analysis on individual loan requests to meet turnaround time requirements.
• Verify accuracy and completeness of loan application files.
• Cultivate strong working relationships with partners including Sales, Closing, Executive Loan Committee, Loan Servicing, and Product teams.
• Use Moody's CreditLens or similar tools to spread tax returns and financial statements.
• Ensure quality credit underwriting and identify potential signs of default throughout the loan life cycle.
• Perform ongoing portfolio servicing including loan modifications and projects with Special Assets and Credit & Risk.
• Actively participate in continuous improvements and assist in underwriting additional consumer lending products as needed.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience required.
• 1+ year of underwriting experience; experience with financial/credit analysis including financial statements, credit reports, tax returns, and various income streams.
• Strong decision-making, interpersonal, and communication skills with ability to clearly understand complex concepts.
• Flexibility to adapt and manage multiple assignments while working independently.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills with attention to detail.

Credit Associate builds and maintains credit files, processes applications, and manages new account setup in SXe while supporting lien waiver research, credit card payments, and portal billing across construction and distribution client accounts. The work directly supports the credit department's ability to assess customer risk accurately and resolve account discrepancies with appropriate supervisor oversight.

Operational Focus

• Perform lien waiver research and completion.
• Process credit applications and prepare credit files for review and approval, including pulling D&Bs and references.
• Manage customer master changes and account discrepancy reviews.
• Submit credit refund requests and process credit card payments.
• Set up new accounts in SXe and route invoices and statements in CoAction/Billtrust.
• Send invoices and statement copies to sales or customers and enter adjustment credits as requested.
• Refer complex or unusual problems to supervisor and perform other related duties as required.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

• Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field preferred.
• Customer service and/or credit experience preferred.
• Construction, distribution, or building material knowledge a plus.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills and proficiency in Microsoft Word.
• Organized with excellent time management skills.
• Effective communicator verbally and in writing with exceptional phone skills and attention to detail.
• Positive attitude and problem-solving ability; experience in process improvement desired but not required.