The Mortgage Senior Credit & Product Officer role is an onsite leadership position with FirstBank Florida in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This role directs senior mortgage operations, including underwriting, product development, risk analysis, and policy guidance, and works closely with sales, production, and key stakeholders across the organization.
Responsibilities
- Provide executive oversight of mortgage underwriting to ensure accuracy, regulatory compliance, and timely loan decisions.
- Direct the loan review pipeline, maintaining deadlines and service levels.
- Identify and implement process improvements to boost underwriting productivity and shorten cycle times.
- Lead comprehensive risk analysis of mortgage portfolios, using financial statements and market data to identify and mitigate emerging risks.
- Develop and propose new mortgage products and CRA offerings to align with market demand and regulatory requirements.
- Collaborate with the sales and production teams to train staff and realtors, ensuring up-to-date product knowledge and underwriting guidelines.
- Serve as a subject matter expert for investors and senior corporate credit officers on complex credit matters and product questions.
- Review and update credit policies in response to regulatory changes and market trends.
- Coordinate with default administration to analyze delinquency trends and implement proactive risk mitigation strategies.
- Supervise the loss mitigation underwriting process.
- Streamline underwriting documentation to balance efficiency with strong risk controls and regulatory compliance.
- Act as the primary liaison with internal and external auditors and regulators to ensure underwriting compliance with applicable laws and standards.
- Oversee ECR credit analysis to maintain consistent standards across regions.
- Partner with sales and production managers to refine processes, remove bottlenecks, and accelerate loan origination cycles.
- Oversee the appraisal and dispatching team to ensure timely receipt, review, and distribution of transaction documents.
- Supervise the clear to close unit to ensure all loan conditions are fulfilled before moving files to the closing stage and coordinating final numbers.
- Participate in cross-functional projects and committees as assigned.
- Contribute to enterprise-wide risk management initiatives.
- Prepare and present reports for executive leadership and board committees as required.
- Support due diligence for mergers, acquisitions, or new market entries.
- Foster staff development through mentoring and training opportunities.
- Stay informed of industry best practices, regulatory changes, and competitive trends.
Requirements
- Education: Master’s degree in finance, Juris Doctor, Business Economics or a related field is required.
- Certifications: Certifications in credit risk, mortgage banking, or regulatory compliance are preferred.
- Experience: A minimum of three to five years of progressive experience in credit risk management, mortgage underwriting, or product development within a banking institution.
- Analytical expertise: Three to five years of demonstrated ability to analyze complex transactions using financial statements and credit reports.
A BRIEF OVERVIEW
The Mortgage Operations Manager is a senior leadership role focused on guiding mortgage underwriting, ensuring timely loan reviews, driving productivity improvements, and directing the development of new or enhanced mortgage products. The Officer partners with the sales and production teams, provides policy guidance, and serves as a liaison with internal and external stakeholders.
Disclaimer
The statements above describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this role. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills. The reporting relationship may not reflect the most recent changes to the corporate structure.
Our Company
At FirstBank PR, we strive to be a trusted advisor to our clients, and our employees are the ones who ensure we deliver on our promise of excellence in personalized customer service. We employ more than 3,100 people across Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Florida who share a commitment to outstanding service. We are proud of our team for continuously surpassing client expectations.