Credit Manager - Mercy Corps Northwest

*This posting will close January 22, 2021*

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

The Mercy Corps Northwest Team

As the U.S. field office of Mercy Corps, Mercy Corps Northwest (MCNW) works to build more just, productive and resilient communities in the Pacific NW. Our programs support up to 2,100 small business owners each year; reduce prison re-entry rates for participants by 50%; improve services at more than 30 local nonprofits; and support under resourced communities with disaster preparedness knowledge.

At MCNW, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to improve their life regardless of their background. By investing in those without ready access to resources, existing economic disparities will become more equitable, and motivated, hard-working individuals and families will have opportunities to break intergenerational cycles of poverty for good. For more information about Mercy Corps Northwest, visit www.mercycorpsnw.org

The Position

The Credit Manager will directly oversee the loan portfolio budgetary, decision-making, and programmatic aspects of the Microloan program at MCNW. The position provides loan underwriting and credit training to Program Managers and Community Navigators at all MCNW locations. Furthermore, this position will provide financial and business analysis support to other programs such as the Individual Development Accounts (IDA) program as requested. The Credit Manager is responsible for the overall microloan portfolio by assessing and managing risk through modifications to loan client repayment, revisions to the underwriting guidelines, and improvements to the loan process. This position will also be responsible for administrative functions of the loan program as well as all financial reporting for the loan program.

Key Responsibilities

Business Microloan Underwriting

• Oversee the loan portfolio budgetary, decision-making, and programmatic aspects of the Microloan program for all of MCNW whereas the Business Development Services (BDS) Manager oversees the SBA donor award application process, overall loan program budget in addition to Community Navigators delivering client services across the Pacific Northwest.
• Conduct financial analysis, utilizing supporting documents submitted by the Community Navigators and Program Managers, such as debt service coverage, client investment-to-loan ratio, liens, and collateral.
• Pull loan applicant’s credit report and conduct credit analysis.
• Complete credit memorandums for complete loan applications and loan committee (i.e. for loans over $15,000).
• Provide on-going technical support to staff per underwriting and Small Business Administration (SBA) guidelines.

Credit Analysis

• Pull hard inquiry credit reports for loan clients and pull soft inquiry credit reports for Master Your Credit (MYC) clients.
• Provide credit analysis for Microloan and MYC clients.
• Assist with training MCNW staff and volunteer coaches in the Master Your Credit program in principles of credit.

Business & Financial Analysis

• Provide financial analysis to verify income to determine eligibility for participants in programs such as Individual Development Accounts (IDAs).
• Provide business plan review for IDA graduates.

Administration & Donor Reporting

• Review monthly loan client ACH payments through Down Home and Wells Fargo.
• Make decisions regarding client loan status (deferments, payment modifications, collections, and chargeoffs) per SBA policy and communicate those decisions to MCNW staff to work with the client directly.
• Process monthly credit reporting through the Credit Builders Alliance.
• Review monthly loan client ACH in accordance with Small Business Administration (SBA) policies and procedures through the Microloan Program Electronic Reporting System (MPERS).
• Manage relationships with the local contact of the Small Business Administration (SBA) and ensure that Mercy Corps is in compliance.
• Attend training (virtual and travel) provided by the Small Business Administration (SBA), Credit Builders Alliance (CBA), and other agencies as necessary.
• UCC filing and renewal.

Portfolio Quality

• Maintain rigorous risk management of loan portfolio to ensure repayment of loans, managing loan collections and workouts.
• Coordinate with the Finance & Compliance Manager to review and manage the loan portfolio (balance sheet) for the Microloan program.
• Coordinate with the Finance & Compliance Manager to monitor, assess, and address risk to the loan portfolio.
• Ensure that Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for this program are current and adhered to by program teams.

Supervisory Responsibility: Financing Support Officer 

Accountability 

Reports Directly To: Deputy Director

Works Directly With: Business Development Services Manager, Walla Walla Program Manager, Southern Washington Program Manager, Finance & Compliance Manager, Community Navigators

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills* 

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant. 

• BA/S or equivalent in accounting, finance, business, economic development, international studies or a related field of study. 5U.S. based or international degrees are both acceptable. Professional work at or near the level of this position can substitute year for year for the educational requirement;
• 1 year experience conducting financial, business or credit analysis preferably at a non-profit organization;
• 1 year experience with financial reporting.

*Transferable skills: Any skills you have gained through education, volunteer or work or life experience (including the military) that are relevant for this position will be considered. Be sure to describe any transferable skills and how they apply to this position in your cover letter.

Success Factors

A successful Credit Manager is process-oriented, pragmatic, and must be able to effectively balance risk management while providing opportunities for access to capital to communities that have historically been excluded. The position must be able to take basic underwriting principles and adapt it to the communities we serve by approaching risk assessment and mitigation differently. The successful Credit Manager will enjoy working with and communicating with non-technical team members that interface with clients and potential clients.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position can be based anywhere in Oregon or Washington. The majority of the MCNW team resides in Portland, OR; however, we also have team members and offices in Seattle, Vancouver, and Walla Walla, WA that this position will directly support.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.  

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work. 

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.