Loan Assistant / Junior Loan Specialist

Learn more at https://www.mbac.biz/about/join-the-team/

Position Overview

Montana Business Assistance Connection (MBAC), the Helena Area Economic Development Authority serving four central Montana counties, is seeking a Senior Loan Officer to provide portfolio oversight and day-to-day management of lending activities necessary to advance the organization's mission and economic development objectives

The Loan Assistant / Junior Loan Specialist provides day-to-day lending, loan servicing, documentation, and portfolio support necessary for the effective administration of Montana Business Assistance Connection's (MBAC) lending programs. The position serves as a primary operational resource for borrowers and the lending team and supports consistent, responsive, and compliant lending practices across the organization.

A significant component of the position is loan processing and servicing administration, including borrower intake, application and documentation collection, loan file preparation, closing coordination, loan system maintenance, payment and servicing activities, portfolio tracking, collateral documentation, compliance monitoring, and maintenance of complete and audit-ready loan records.

Working under the direction of the Senior Loan Officer, the position also develops foundational lending and credit analysis skills by supporting borrower financial review, loan eligibility assessment, underwriting preparation, portfolio monitoring, and funder compliance. The position works closely with borrowers, financial institutions, funders, vendors, and community partners to support timely loan processing and effective portfolio administration.

Primary Roles and Responsiblities:

Loan Origination, Processing & Closing Support

• Support loan applicants through the lending process; respond to inquiries, assist with applications, communicate documentation requirements, and coordinate timely collection of borrower information.
• Establish and maintain borrower files; organize applications, financial statements, tax returns, credit reports, collateral information, insurance, and other required documentation.
• Support preliminary loan and financial review; assist the Senior Loan Officer with borrower eligibility, financial information, credit documentation, repayment analysis, and underwriting preparation.
• Track outstanding loan requirements; maintain application and closing checklists and follow up with borrowers and third parties to obtain required information.
• Prepare and coordinate loan documentation; assist with disclosures, loan authorizations, closing documents, UCC filings, mortgages, insurance, lien documentation, and other required security documents.
• Support loan closings and funding; verify documentation and approval conditions, coordinate signatures and closing activities, and ensure completed documents are appropriately recorded and maintained.

Loan Servicing and Portfolio Administration

• Administer routine loan servicing activities; process payments, payoff requests, payment information, account changes, paid loans, ticklers, UCC renewals, and other approved servicing transactions.
• Maintain loan servicing systems and records; accurately enter and update borrower, loan, payment, collateral, and servicing information within MBAC's lending and financial systems.
• Maintain complete loan files; ensure electronic and physical records are current, organized, secure, and maintained according to MBAC and individual funder requirements.
• Monitor portfolio requirements; track financial statements, insurance, collateral, UCC expirations, maturities, payment performance, reporting deadlines, and other loan-level requirements.
• Support funder compliance; maintain working knowledge of individual funding-source requirements and assist with documentation, eligibility tracking, reporting, servicing requirements, audits, and corrective actions.
• Identify and escalate exceptions; promptly communicate delinquency, missing documentation, expired collateral protection, servicing exceptions, or other potential portfolio concerns to the Senior Loan Officer.
• Support portfolio reconciliation and reporting; assist with periodic reconciliation, portfolio reports, funder reports, loan status reporting, and supporting documentation
• Support problem loan administration; track troubled loans, maintain required documentation, and assist with approved workouts, collections, and funder compliance under Senior Loan Officer direction.

Borrower, Compliance & Lending Program Support

• Provide responsive borrower service; respond to routine inquiries regarding applications, documentation, payments, balances, and loan servicing.
• Support lending compliance; follow MBAC policies, servicing procedures, internal controls, documentation standards, and individual funder requirements.
• Support audits and reporting; prepare loan files, documentation, and information for portfolio reviews, funder reporting, audits, and compliance activities.
• Develop lending competency; build knowledge of financial analysis, credit, underwriting, portfolio management, and economic development lending under Senior Loan Officer guidance.
• Support lending operations; effectively utilize lending systems and contribute to consistent workflows, portfolio activities, and continuous improvement.

Other Lending and Loan Servicing Activities

• Participate in lending program development and continuous improvement initiatives; encourage ongoing evaluation of loan products, policies, procedures, systems, documentation standards, and portfolio management practices.
• Support system utilization and efficiency; effective utilization of core operating, financial and lending systems, technologies, tools, and techniques to improve operational efficiency and quality controls.
• Uphold professional and regulatory awareness; stay current with industry trends, accounting regulations, grant and funder compliance requirements, and related professional development.

Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting, or related experience (preferred).
• Minimum 1-3 years of commercial, small business, economic development, or community lending experience, including underwriting and portfolio management.
• Experience with loan documentation, financial records, lending software, banking, or customer service preferred.
• Interest and demonstrated ability to develop financial analysis, credit, underwriting, and portfolio management skills.
• Strong organizational skills, deadline management, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work with confidential financial and borrower information and consistently follow established controls and procedures.
• Ability to multitask and make decisions in complex, dynamic work environment.

This is a rare opportunity to build what comes next. We enter this next chapter with a meaningful regional mission, an established lending portfolio, and an ability to strengthen its role as a catalyst for business and economic development across central Montana. A chapter of strategic renewal built upon valuable lending assets, longstanding public and private partnerships, and a clear public purpose.

Full job description available at https://www.mbac.biz/about/join-the-team/

Pay: $58,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Experience:

• Econ Dev / Loan Portfolio Mgmt : 3 years (Required)

Location:

• Helena, MT 59601 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Helena, MT 59601: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $58,000 - $65,000