Senior Credit Approver

Location: Denver, CO (In-Office)

Job Type: Full-Time Exempt

Salary: $86,000 - $124,600/YR *Actual offer will be based on experience, location, education, and/or skills*

Applications should be submitted for consideration no later than 10/31/2026.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Who We’re Looking For

You are an experienced credit professional with deep expertise in commercial, consumer, and residential mortgage underwriting. You are comfortable evaluating complex credit structures, exercising sound judgment, and providing independent challenge while maintaining collaborative relationships across the organization. You enjoy mentoring others, promoting robust credit practices, and helping maintain a high-quality loan portfolio. Your analytical skills, risk management mindset, and ability to navigate complex lending situations make you a trusted partner and advisor.

About the Role

The Senior Credit Approver is responsible for the independent approval of complex consumer, commercial, and residential mortgage credit requests within delegated lending authority while promoting sound portfolio risk management across the organization. This role performs one-up reviews of credit decisions, evaluates complex credit structures and policy exceptions, validates risk ratings and underwriting quality, and ensures approved loans satisfy all credit conditions, regulatory requirements, and policy standards prior to closing. The Senior Credit Approver serves as a subject matter expert, provides guidance and mentorship to analysts and junior approvers, supports the consistent application of credit policy and risk practices,



identifies emerging portfolio trends and risks, and partners with lending and credit leadership to maintain a strong credit culture and overall portfolio quality.

What You’ll Do

- Independently approve complex consumer, commercial, and residential mortgage loan requests within assigned lending authority limits. Partner with PC associates, lenders, and Credit Administration to facilitate timely and efficient movement from approval through documentation and closing.
- Perform one-up reviews of credit decisions made by lower delegated authorities, providing independent challenge, guidance, and oversight to ensure sound underwriting and adherence to credit policy.
- Conduct post-approval, pre-closing reviews of complex transactions to verify satisfaction of approval conditions, policy requirements, and regulatory standards.
- Perform and validate dual risk rating reviews at origination, ensuring consistency in risk assessment and accuracy of portfolio risk ratings.
- Serve as a mentor and subject matter expert for Credit Analysts and Credit Approvers by supporting onboarding, training, coaching, and ongoing professional development.
- Provide recommendations for the development, enhancement, and maintenance of credit policies, underwriting standards, procedures, and risk management practices.
- Partner with lending teams, Credit Administration,



and senior leadership to structure, evaluate, and resolve complex underwriting matters, policy exceptions, and high-impact credit transactions.
- Identify emerging portfolio risks, underwriting trends, and credit quality concerns, escalating issues and recommending appropriate risk mitigation strategies.
- Support portfolio management initiatives through ongoing review of credit quality, risk exposure, and compliance with established credit standards.

What You Bring

- Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics or related field required.
- 7-10 years of Commercial, Consumer, and/or Mortgage Credit Underwriting and Analysis experience required.
- 3-5 years of Credit Approval or Delegated Lending Authority Experience preferred.
- 3-5 years of Training, Mentoring, or Leadership Responsibilities within Credit Functions preferred.
- Strong knowledge of commercial, consumer, and residential mortgage lending principles.
- Thorough understanding of financial statement analysis, cash flow analysis, global cash flow, collateral analysis, and credit structuring.
- Knowledge of regulatory guidance, banking compliance requirements, and risk management practices.
- Ability to coach and train less experienced analysts and lenders.
- Proficiency with loan origination systems, financial spreading software, and Microsoft Office applications.
- Formal Commercial Credit Training (e.g., RMA, Moody’s, or equivalent) preferred.

What We Offer

- Competitive base salary: $86,000 - $124,600/YR , plus strong bonus potential.

- 401(k) plan with employer match.

- Paid parking and transportation benefits.

📌 Senior Credit Approver (Quinte West)
🏢 First Western
📍 Quinte West