Portfolio Manager - Sponsor Finance

Position Description

We are building a dedicated Sponsor Finance vertical within our Commercial Bank and are seeking a Portfolio Manager - Sponsor Finance to play a key role in its development. This is a unique opportunity to join at the ground level of a growing platform focused on lending to private equity-backed middle market companies.

The Portfolio Manager - Sponsor Finance will support underwriting and ongoing portfolio management of sponsor-backed credits, working closely with relationship managers and senior leadership. This role offers meaningful exposure to financial sponsors, direct involvement in credit decisioning, and the ability to influence the evolution of a new team.

Position Accountabilities

Underwriting & Deal Execution:

• Analyze new credit opportunities involving private equity-backed companies across various industries in the middle market
• Evaluate financial performance, projections, and capital structures, including detailed downside case analysis
• Review and interpret sponsor models and assess key assumptions
• Prepare credit approval materials including deal screens, underwriting memos, and cash flow models, including downside stress testing; present recommendations to Credit Administration
• Conduct industry and company research

Portfolio Management & Monitoring:

• Actively monitor a portfolio of sponsor-backed credits, including financial performance, covenant compliance, and risk trends
• Identify emerging risks and recommend appropriate actions (amendments, restructurings, etc.)
• Partner with relationship managers to maintain strong borrower and sponsor relationships
• Participate in or lead client due diligence meetings and ongoing sponsor dialogue

Platform Build & Strategic Contribution:

• Contribute to the build-out of the Sponsor Finance vertical, including processes, best practices, and credit frameworks
• Operate effectively in a dynamic "build" environment with evolving infrastructure and limited precedent
• Actively manage multiple priorities while meeting tight deadlines
• Collaborate closely with senior leadership, leveraging their experience while taking initiative in shaping the platform

Organizational Relationship

• This position reports to the Team Leader - Credit Portfolio Management.

Position Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance and seven or more years of experience in a commercial lending environment
• Employed at Atlantic Union Bank for more than 12 consecutive months and possesses a working institutional knowledge of the Bank credit policy and risk & industry appetite.

Knowledge & Skills

• The position will necessitate limited supervision and/or guidance from the Team Lead.
• Demonstrate the highest level of credit aptitude, analytical skills, and industry knowledge across respective line of business and deal types.
• Experienced across business industries including but not limited to, commercial & industrial operating companies, residential real estate developers and builders, service provider, retail operations, commercial real estate developers and investors, religious organizations and government. If supporting the commercial real estate line of business, requisite skills would also include construction loan underwriting and administration (construction budgets, sources/uses, construction draw administration, property entitlement, lease analysis and property valuation principles).
• Actively participates in complex decisions and exhibits sound business judgments regarding business and lending activities
• Considered a SME for aligned industry, commercial credit and lending concepts, practices and regulations.
• Skilled in the analysis of financial statements, tax returns and cash flows of commercial & industrial companies, or commercial & residential real estate companies (as applicable).
• Abreast of current conditions, events of significance and emerging trends within respective LOB/sector.
• Excellent written, oral and interpersonal skills, to include selling, structuring, negotiating, closing, maintenance, modifications and problem resolution.
• PC proficiency with Word and Excel, including the use of Bank
• Strong organization skills with the ability to self-manage time, work flow and multiple project to meet deadlines.
• Exhibits willingness to proactively seek learning opportunities to continually improve performance and knowledge base.
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team environment.
• Capability to function as back-up for Team Lead, as needed.
• Proven peer mentor with the ability to partner with and train junior CPM teammates in underwriting skills and vital portfolio management tasks.
• Possesses the ability to improve job function by identifying deficiencies in processes/procedures related to job function and is able to recommend ways to improve.

Salary offered will be based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, etc. This position is also eligible to participate in either an applicable incentive compensation plan for the position or a discretionary profit sharing bonus program. General information on our comprehensive benefits package can be found by visiting https://www.atlanticunionbank.com/about/careers/benefits.

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We maintain a drug-free workplace.