<p>This is a remote position.</p> <p>Summary: This position is responsible for Small Business Administration (SBA) loan and deposit production and growing the Bank's small business portfolio throughout all geographic lending areas. Job responsibilities include preparation and recommendation of SBA loan requests including review, analysis, and recommendation of loans that meet the Bank's policies and guidelines.</p> <p>Duties and Responsibilities:</p> <ul> <li>Understands and complies with requirements of all laws and regulations applicable to the position </li><li>Must maintain a complete understanding of the Bank's Commercial Loan Underwriting, Documentation and SBA policies, procedures, and guidelines </li><li>Properly structure and price SBA loans </li><li>Perform due diligence on SBA loan requests. This includes reviewing loan requests to ensure compliance with SBA loan programs and the Bank's policies, guidelines, and procedures; understanding the applicant business, management, and industry; and preparing pre-flights when necessary and as requested to address significant credit weaknesses or other challenges with the loan application </li><li>Demonstrate knowledge and use of the Bank's established software, tools, and processes to submit and originate SBA loan requests </li><li>Responsible for accurate data entry in commercial loan origination system to build customer, guarantor, and affiliated entity relationships in the loan system </li><li>Develop a calling program to build SBA loan and deposit portfolio and to expand and develop commercial and industrial relationships, including relationships with Certified Development Companies (CDCs), Accountants, Financial Advisors, and other sources of SBA business </li><li>Fulfill various duties as the primary point of contact for SBA customers, including reviewing and resolving issues related to deposits, treasury management, online banking, and loan-related services </li><li>Partner with commercial loan underwriting to produce a complete and accurate credit presentation. This includes requesting from customers and providing to underwriting complete application packages and other information necessary to satisfy Bank and SBA underwriting, reviewing and contributing to the final credit presentation and providing and reviewing the accuracy of financial covenants and covenant ticklers </li><li>Responsible for managing Commercial Loan Documentation Analysts as assigned to ensure accuracy in all commercial and deposit loan files as assigned. This includes scanning and uploading all customer, guarantor, an affiliated entity, SBA forms, and other loan documentation in an electronic filing system and maintaining an organized and complete file </li><li>Partner with Commercial Loan Documentation Analysts to order appropriate third-party reports, to collect documentation from customers, and to electronically file and provide all requested information to Commercial Loan Underwriters, Loan Processing and Loan Servicing to properly document SBA loan requests and ensure compliance with FFB policies, guidelines, procedures, and all regulatory compliance </li><li>Monitor assigned loan portfolio to include portfolio reporting, trend analysis, financial tracking, and covenant management to ensure accuracy in risk rating and preservation of government guarantees </li><li>Directly contribute to the Bank's Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) related portfolio </li><li>Work with all bank and advisory departments to provide exceptional service to the bank and advisory firm customers by referring businesses and accepting referrals </li><li>Participate in the training/cross-training of department employees as directed </li><li>Promote and provide excellent customer service by effectively communicating and cooperating with all internal and external customers </li><li>Provide support in the acquisition of new clientele and the maintenance of existing relationships </li><li>Understands and can speak knowledgeably about the various loan programs, loan procedures, and loan forms </li><li>Perform other duties as assigned </li></ul> <p>Salary Range: The salary range budgeted for this position represents the Company's good faith minimum and maximum range for this role at the time of posting. The compensation offered to a candidate may vary depending on several factors, including a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, experience, and location.</p> <p>Geographic Location:</p> <ul> <li>Irvine, CA: $89,200 - $109,800 (Annually) </li><li>Naples, FL: $85,400 - $105,000 (Annually) </li></ul> <p>Applicants must have current work authorization when accepting a First Foundation Inc. position. Currently, we cannot sponsor or take over the sponsorship of an Employment Visa.</p> <p>Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.</p> <p>Education and/or Experience:</p> <ul> <li>Bachelor's degree in business, accounting, finance, or comparable experience required </li><li>Minimum of 5 to 7 years of related experience required </li><li>Strong business development and lead generation skills with experience in commercial lending and commercial deposit management </li><li>Knowledge of commercial and consumer loan documentation, including loans secured by; real property, UCC Filings, titled vehicles and equipment, pledged assets, and contracts required </li><li>Working knowledge and experience with business entity documentation including partnership agreements, trust agreements, corporate documentation, and limited liability companies required </li><li>Expertise in dealing with borrowers, escrow, and title and have strong customer service ethics and team-building skills </li></ul> <p>Skills:</p> <ul> <li>Consultative relationship building skills (listening, questioning, negotiating, closing, and networking) to provide a knowledgeable commercial banker and trusted advisor experience for commercial client relationships </li><li>Strong analytical skills and experience analyzing, underwriting, structuring, and approving commercial loan requests </li><li>Proven written and verbal communication skills </li><li>The ability to prioritize, organize, and produce in a high-volume, deadline-driven production workgroup </li><li>Detail-oriented and self-motivated with the ability to work independently </li><li>Proficient in Windows applications, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook </li></ul> <p>Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.</p> <p>While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands and fingers, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk. The employee is occasionally required to stand; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.</p> <p>First Foundation is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, and status as a qualified individual with a disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.</p>