[Hiring] Lending Support Officer @Southern Bancorp

Role Description

This role supports the management of troubled loans, criticized/classified assets, and high-risk borrowers by coordinating documentation, monitoring loan performance, assisting with workout strategies, and ensuring compliance with internal policies and regulatory requirements. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, analytical, and capable of working with sensitive and complex credit situations.

This role is expected to demonstrate the following supervisor leadership competencies:

• Empowering Leadership
• Business and Financial Acumen
• Information Decision Making and Problem Solving
• Managing Talent
• Strategic Execution and Direction
• Owning Results

Responsibilities include:

• Manage Lending Support team members, including training, setting goals, performance reviews, and hiring responsibilities.
• Track loan performance, financial reporting compliance, collateral positions, and covenant adherence.
• Prepare and maintain watchlists, problem loan reports, and asset quality summaries.
• Gather borrower financial statements, collateral documentation, insurance information, and other required loan documents.
• Ensure records are accurately maintained in the loan operating system and document repository.
• Support the completion of loan modifications, forbearance agreements, extensions, and other workout documentation in partnership with credit and legal teams.
• Assist in the preparation of workout strategies, action plans, and borrower communication materials.
• Oversee sale of bank assets and other collection and recovery activities to secure maximum recovery for the bank.
• Coordinate site visits, appraisals, collateral inspections, and third-party vendor activity (attorneys, appraisers, consultants).
• Support collection efforts by tracking payments, contacting borrowers as directed, and preparing collection status updates.
• Ensure compliance with internal credit policy, loan servicing standards, and regulatory guidelines.
• Support preparation for loan reviews, audits, and regulatory examinations.
• Maintain accurate documentation for financial reporting support, charge-offs, and recoveries.
• Recommend process improvements to increase efficiency in troubled loan management.
• Complete all required training.
• Perform other duties as required or assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in banking, including 2-3 years lending, credit administration, or collections experience.
• Strong understanding of commercial or consumer lending principles.
• Experience supporting problem loans, charged off accounts, or special assets.
• Familiarity with regulator guidance regarding classified assets and workout practices.
• Knowledge of collateral management, loan documentation, and credit analysis.
• Ability to effectively and professionally communicate verbally and in writing.
• Ability to organize, handle multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and resourcefully solve problems.
• Ability to comprehend written material and interpret financial data.
• Must be proficient in MS Office (specifically MS Word, Outlook, and Excel).
• Professionalism when dealing with distressed borrowers or challenging situations.

Benefits

• 401(k)/Roth plan with immediate eligibility and employer match up to 6%.
• Employee stock ownership plan.
• Discounted rate on primary home mortgage.
• Credit and housing counseling as well as free financial education tools available to customers and employees.
• No deductible medical insurance plan.
• Dental and vision insurance.
• Employer paid life and long-term disability insurance.
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Paid holidays and paid time off.
• Bonus plan.
• Opportunity for merit raises.
• Employee reward and recognition programs.
• Community service opportunities.