Portfolio Manager – Strategic Specialty Lending
Location: Bay Area preferred (San Francisco / Peninsula / East Bay). Broader California considered for the right candidate.
Overview
This is a high-ownership Portfolio Manager role inside a fast-growing Strategic Specialty Lending / Corporate Banking group that operates like a startup within a well-established bank. You’ll partner closely with a senior commercial banking sales team and work on complex credits across Asset-Based Lending, Leveraged Finance, sponsor-backed transactions, and M&A-related opportunities.
This is not a narrow “portfolio only” job. You’ll run deals end-to-end—early diligence through underwriting, structuring, execution, and ongoing monitoring—while helping build a scalable platform.
What You’ll Do
Own transactions end-to-end: Lead deals from initial review through closing with minimal oversight.
Drive diligence: Identify the key questions early, run diligence calls, manage follow-ups, and keep the process moving.
Underwrite and structure deals: Shape deal terms, evaluate risks, and craft clear credit narratives for approval.
Build and challenge financial analysis: Review sponsor and non-sponsor models, identify key drivers, recreate/sensitize analyses, and develop downside scenarios.
Support term sheets and documentation: Provide input on term sheets, review and mark up legal documents, and negotiate terms with sponsors and counterparties.
Manage the portfolio: Monitor risk grades, covenants, collateral/performance trends, and profitability.
Contribute to the build: Help refine processes and (for senior hires) mentor junior support as the team scales.
What We’re Looking For
6+ years in commercial banking, underwriting, credit, specialty lending, or related experience.
Specialty lending exposure in one or more of the following:
Asset-Based Lending
Leveraged / sponsor-backed lending
M&A / event-driven credit
Other complex corporate banking or specialized verticals
Strong credit fundamentals: underwriting, structuring, policy discipline, and sound judgment under time pressure.
Advanced Excel and financial analysis skills (you’ll be hands-on).
Strong communication skills—able to influence internal stakeholders and engage confidently with external parties.
Self-starter mindset: organized, resourceful, comfortable running multiple workstreams at once.
The Environment
Lean, fast-paced, high accountability. The team is scaling quickly and expects hires to contribute immediately.
Broad mandate. You’ll see a wide range of deal types and industries.
High visibility. You’ll partner directly with senior sales leadership and credit decision-makers.
Hands-on role. This is an individual contributor seat today (even for senior candidates). If you want a purely managerial role with heavy infrastructure, this won’t be the right fit.
Why This Role
You’ll have real influence on deal outcomes and how the platform evolves.
You’ll work on sophisticated transactions with strong deal flow.
You’ll join a group building something meaningful—where performance and judgment matter more than rigid lanes or titles.
Compensation & Leveling
Leveling is flexible (strong AVP/VP profiles are ideal; senior candidates considered if hands-on). Compensation can be adjusted for standout specialty talent.