VP, Commercial Solar Projects Underwriting
Company: Hope Enterprise Corporation
Locations: Mississippi, Remote; Arkansas, Remote; Alabama, Remote; Louisiana, Remote; Tennessee, Remote
Job Function: Underwriting
Background
Recognized as one of the most successful Black and Women owned credit unions in the nation, HOPE continues to deepen its impact by expanding access to financial services and engaging in advocacy to mitigate the extent to which factors such as race, gender, birthplace and wealth limit one’s ability to prosper. Over the last 30 years, HOPE’s work has benefitted millions of people in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee and influenced billions of dollars in investment. This work has supported small business owners struggling to gain access to capital, families seeking to own homes and individuals looking for a better way to manage their hard-earned money with a financial institution they can trust. Learn more at www.hopecu.org.
Summary
The Vice President of Commercial Solar Underwriting will lead and oversee the underwriting of commercial solar project loans, ensuring the safety, soundness, and risk management of HOPE’s solar portfolio. This role includes conducting comprehensive credit and financial analyses for commercial solar transactions, collaborating with members of solar-focused members of HOPE’s Commercial Lending and Community and Economic Development (CED)teams to build customer relationships, evaluate projects and move creditworthy transactions to close. The VP will manage the underwriting team, oversee portfolio reviews, and present credit memoranda for HOPE’s Executive Leadership Team. This position will be focused on identifying and mitigating risks, and, in collaboration with HOPE’s Fiscal and Investor Relations teams, contribute to project compliance and performance reports to be included in HOPE’s reporting to the Environmental Protection Agency. The VP may assist Servicing, Portfolio Management and other areas of the Commercial Lending team as needed.
Responsibilities
- Lead HOPE’s commercial solar lending for multifamily and community Solar for All projects, including financing for small- and medium-sized solar businesses in Arkansas and Mississippi
- Lead and mentor the commercial solar underwriting team in evaluating and approving commercial solar project loan applications
- Develop underwriting approaches and policies for commercial solar loan products that meet HOPE’s market needs, risk appetite, and profit goals
- Align HOPEs underwriting approaches with Solar for All, as well as other Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (NCIF and CCIA) awardee standards
- Manage pipeline of borrowers for commercial solar projects (primarily solar developers and multifamily building owners that will be the primary Solar for All borrowers)
- Build flexible, equity-driven approaches that drive projects to under resourced solar installation businesses beginning in Arkansas and Mississippi
- Maintain strong sales and service culture to build long-term relationships with commercial borrowers
- Collaborate with market leaders to develop risk mitigation strategies for new loan requests
- Ensure compliance with industry regulations and internal policies
- Present comprehensive credit memoranda and recommendations to HOPE’s Executive Leadership Team
- Prepare regular portfolio compliance and performance reports for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Greenhouse Gas Reduction
- Stay informed about solar industry trends, NCUA regulations, and credit culture developments
- Perform general administrative duties, including attending meetings and producing reports
- Lead and participate in special projects as requested or assigned
Requirements
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in finance or accounting
- 7 or more years of experience in commercial credit analysis and underwriting
- 5 or more years of experience underwriting solar and/or renewable energies transactions (ideally community- or utility-scale solar)
- 3 or more years management experience
- Demonstrated strength in credit analysis, financial analysis, and communication skills (written and verbal)
- Able to travel up to 25% for onsite, project sites, meetings, conferences, and other work related activities
Preferred Qualifications:
- Prefer experience with Moody’s KMV Financial Analyst or Baker Hill / NextGen
Competencies/Skills:
- Strong computer skills, especially with financial spreadsheets and word processing; prefer experience with Moody’s KMV Financial Analyst or Baker Hill / NextGen
- Ability to read and interpret documents and write routine reports and correspondence
- Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers and employees of the organization
- Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals
- Ability to compute rate, ratio and percent and interpret data
- Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions
- Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations
- Ability to evaluate creditworthiness from multiple structured and unstructured variables.
- Ability to restructure loans as necessary
- Ability to using knowledge of systems, situations, procedures, and culture inside the organization to identify potential problems and opportunities
- Ability to assess skills strengths and weaknesses of individuals and teams in order to determine what actions are appropriate to build and/or improve the needed skills.
- Ability to show perseverance on achieving concrete and tangible results out of personal responsibilities
Compensation and Benefits
Full salary range for VP level role is $111,706 to $134,047
Comprehensive Benefit Package:
Medical, Dental, Vision, 401 (K) Savings Plan, Paid Time Off (Sick Leave, Vacation), Holidays (10)
Tuition Reimbursement
How to Apply
To apply, send your cover letter and resume to:
EEO Employer – Disability/Veteran/Minority/Female/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity