Position Summary
Pinnacle Financial Partners is seeking a Managing Director, Lender Finance Underwriting to serve as a senior credit leader and underwriter for lender finance and specialty finance credit facilities ranging from $10MM to $150MM.
This role is responsible for end-to-end credit underwriting, structuring, and approval of complex specialty finance transactions and sits at the center of a relationship-driven, credit-focused platform. The Managing Director will partner closely with originations to deliver tailored financing solutions to non-bank lenders, specialty finance companies, and asset-based lenders, while ensuring disciplined risk management aligned with growth objectives.
In addition, this individual will oversee underwriting standards, mentor junior professionals, and play a central role in credit committee presentations and approvals.
Key Responsibilities
Credit Underwriting & Structuring
Underwriting of lender finance facilities, including warehouse facilities (consumer, commercial, fintech assets), asset-backed revolvers and other structured credit solutions.
Perform detailed analysis of:
Borrower financial performance and liquidity
Collateral quality, dilution, and performance trends
Advance rates, borrowing base mechanics, eligibility criteria, and concentration limits
Structure credit facilities to optimize risk-adjusted returns, including covenants, reporting requirements, and control mechanisms
Own preparation of clear, decision-oriented credit memos and present transactions to credit committee in partnership with the originations team
Partnership with Originations & Clients
Act as a strategic credit partner to deal teams (not a gatekeeper)
Engage early in deal screening, structuring, and term sheet development
Provide pragmatic solutions to support execution within defined risk tolerance
Interface directly with clients, sponsors, management teams and intermediaries as a senior credit representative
Credit Risk Leadership, Governance & Portfolio Transition
Ensure alignment with firm-wide credit culture, policies and risk appetite
Identify and mitigate key risks, including collateral volatility, concentration exposure, operational risk, and counterparty risk
Partner with portfolio management to ensure effective transition from underwriting to ongoing monitoring
Maintain high-quality underwriting standards across the platform
Serve as a senior voice in credit committee discussions and decisions
Cross-Functional Execution
Collaborate closely with originations, legal, portfolio management, and operations to execute transactions efficiently
Support negotiation of loan documentation and closing conditions
Provide structuring guidance throughout transaction lifecycle, from deal screening to term sheet development and through closing
Strategic & Platform Development
Help build and scale Pinnacle’s lender finance platform, including credit frameworks, underwriting guidelines, and product capabilities
Contribute to portfolio construction strategy, including industry focus and concentration limits
Provide market insights on specialty finance trends, structures, and competitive dynamics
Assist with hiring, development and mentoring of junior underwriters and analysts
Deliver training on structuring, collateral analysis, and credit judgment and promote best practices in credit writing and presentation
Foster a high-performance, collaborative underwriting culture while supporting scalable growth
Technical & Soft Skills
Expertise in collateral-based lending, borrowing base mechanics, and advance rate analysis
Strong financial modeling, structuring and risk assessment capabilities
Deep understanding of legal documentation and intercreditor dynamics
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to balance risk discipline with commercial pragmatism
Strong judgment in complex and ambiguous situations
Comfortable operating on a lean, high-accountability team
High ownership mindset with end-to-end accountability
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in lender finance, fund finance, or structured finance platforms
Background working with non-bank lenders, fintechs, or specialty finance companies
Prior experience building or scaling an underwriting function
Qualifications
Minimum Experience
10–15+ years in Asset-based finance, Lender finance / specialty finance, and/ or Structured or private credit
Deep experience underwriting and structuring collateral-based credit facilities in the $10MM–$100MM+ range
Proven experience presenting to and interacting with senior leadership and credit committees
