Credit Officer Ag Lending

About the Role

This position analyzes new credit requests, makes loan servicing decisions for existing clients, and performs other essential credit duties. It completes financial analysis and underwriting on a variety of crop and livestock industries. The role makes credit decisions consistent with established credit policies, procedures, and best practices, approving or denying requests within delegated authority. A majority of the time is spent completing loan analysis and communicating decisions. This position works with clients and Financial Officers to discuss loan packages and provides financial counseling.

Key Responsibilities

Credit Analysis

• Analyzes financial and supporting documentation for formal and informal lending and servicing requests.
• Identifies, communicates, and assists in the collection of financial information required for processing.
• Approves, declines, or escalates credit decisions.
• Determines appropriate level of analysis and due diligence based on credit risk.
• Determines appropriate account classification and probability of default rating.
• Communicates credit decisions, terms, conditions, and findings through formal narrative write-ups.
• Establishes loan conditions and closing requirements for approved actions.
• Answers questions and provides direction on credit-related issues during processing, closing, and servicing.
• Facilitates negotiation of credit agreements.
• Creates innovative credit packages.

Loan Servicing and Credit Administration

• Monitors lending portfolio and loan performance.
• Works with the sales team or clients to develop plans to cure loan delinquencies.
• Structures stressed credits to meet internal lending requirements, client expectations, and organizational growth objectives.
• Coordinates with sales and RAU teams to develop servicing plans and monitoring for higher-risk relationships.
• Monitors database exception reports for accuracy of financial, collateral, and loan classifications.
• Works with sales and operations teams to balance credit risk with portfolio growth.

Client Relations

• Works jointly with Financial Officers and other team members to implement the Team Relationship Model.
• Meets with clients to provide quantitative assessments of financial performance.
• Prepares and presents financial peer reports, industry benchmark analysis, and other financial counseling tools.
• Assists clients in understanding their financial position and setting future goals.

Industry Knowledge

• Stays up-to-date with industry trends and procedures.
• Builds and maintains knowledge within crop and livestock industries by reviewing publications, internal guidance, and attending meetings, seminars, and conferences.
• Participates in industry updates and webinars.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• MS Office applications
• Customer relationship management (CRM) programs
• Internal underwriting and database systems

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Ag business, finance, economics or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Basic to solid interpersonal, collaboration, communication, team building, problem solving, analytical, organizational, and time management skills.
• Basic to solid decision making, negotiating, and influencing skills.
• Flexible and adaptable to changing situations.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Preferred: Entry-level experience in credit analysis in a financial institution.
• Preferred: Basic to solid knowledge of agricultural businesses and operations, crop insurance, and livestock industries.
• Preferred: Basic to solid knowledge of loan products, services, and credit operations.
• Preferred: Basic to solid understanding of credit processing and servicing activities, accounting principles and practices, credit analysis procedures, credit administration, monitoring, and reporting.

Work Location

• Hybrid work option up to 50%.
• Office location: Fond du Lac, WI or Sun Prairie, WI.