Senior Underwriter

As a Senior Underwriter at Berkadia, your primary responsibilities include analyzing complex commercial real estate loan applications, assessing borrower creditworthiness, and preparing detailed underwriting narratives. You'll also collaborate with internal teams and external clients throughout the approval process, ensuring all loan terms align with our requirements.

To qualify for the Senior Underwriter position at Berkadia, candidates should possess a Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience, alongside 5-7 years in a similar role. Strong underwriting, structuring, and decision-making skills are vital for success in this fast-paced environment.

At Berkadia, the underwriting process for commercial loans involves critically reviewing borrower data and property financials, preparing cash flow estimates, and presenting detailed recommendations to the approval committee. The process emphasizes collaboration and thorough assessment to ensure acceptable risk levels.

Collaboration is essential for a Senior Underwriter at Berkadia. You'll work closely with loan officers, legal counsel, and borrowers to navigate the approval and closing process. This teamwork helps align all parties with major credit terms and streamlines transactions.

Aside from a competitive salary, Senior Underwriters at Berkadia enjoy a holistic benefits package that includes monthly paid volunteer hours, tuition reimbursement for continued education, mental health support, and family planning services, further promoting a work-life balance and personal growth.

When assessing the risk of a loan application, focus on evaluating credit reports, analyzing financial statements, and understanding the economic factors associated with the property. Highlight any methodologies you've used in previous roles to make informed lending decisions.

Discuss specific projects where you've evaluated multifamily properties. Mention the types of financial metrics you considered and how they influenced your underwriting decisions, demonstrating your understanding of market trends and property values.

Effective communication of risks requires clarity and transparency. Describe how you prepare reports, present findings, and ensure stakeholders understand the key risks and mitigants associated with each transaction, showcasing your ability to synthesize complex information.

Ensure compliance with credit policies by staying updated on regulatory changes, conducting thorough internal reviews, and collaborating with risk management teams. Share examples of how you've navigated compliance issues in previous roles.

Use this question to showcase your proficiency with cash flow analysis. Explain the methods you utilize, the tools you use, and how your insights from cash flow assessments have guided past underwriting decisions.

In a fast-paced environment, prioritize tasks by assessing deadlines, the complexity of assignments, and potential impact. Discuss any project management tools you’ve utilized to streamline workflows in previous roles.

Describe your systematic approach to site inspections. Discuss how you evaluate market competitiveness, assess physical conditions, and gather data that informs your underwriting decisions, emphasizing attention to detail.

Address conflicts by maintaining open communication and a sense of professionalism. Share a specific example that illustrates your conflict-resolution skills and how you reestablished trust with borrowers.

Share a detailed example of a complex transaction, explaining your role, the challenges involved, and how you brought together all necessary information for a successful underwriting decision.

List the software tools you’ve utilized, such as MS Office, underwriting platforms, or CRM systems. Highlight how you’ve effectively leveraged them to enhance productivity and accuracy in your underwriting tasks.