Credit Risk Review Officer

About Us
Live Oak Bank is a digital bank that serves small business owners across the country. Our groundbreaking spin on service and technology has fueled our mission to be America’s Small Business Bank. Our products help customers buy, build, and expand their business, and our high-yield savings and CD products help them grow their hard-earned money. At Live Oak, we never lose sight of the well-being of our people. We believe our employees are the heart of our company. Our commitment to our customers and culture is intertwined, and we seek those who embody and embrace what it takes to empower the American dream.
How This Role Impacts Live Oak and Its People
As a Credit Risk Review Officer, you will play critical role in safeguarding the strength, integrity, and long‑term performance of Live Oak Bank’s loan portfolio. Serving as a subject matter expert within the Credit Risk Review function, you will independently assess the Bank's most complex Specialty Lending relationships, provide credible challenge to credit and underwriting practices, and help ensure that lending practices align with regulatory expectations, internal policies, and Live Oak’s high standards for sound credit risk management. Through your expertise, you will ensure transparency and accountability in loan quality, helping to shape strategic decision‑making, enhance credit risk governance, and support our mission of being a trusted financial partner for customers and communities.
Location Preference: This position is ideally based in Wilmington, NC; however, remote designations may be considered for qualified candidates. Work sponsorship is not supported, now or in the future.
What You'll Do at Live Oak
Lead reviews of the Bank's most complex, higher-risk, or specialized lending relationships, including the development of independent conclusions regarding risk ratings, underwriting quality, policy compliance, and portfolio management practices.
Support monitoring of portfolio performance to identify trends, emerging risks, and areas of concern. Identify and evaluate portfolio trends, including delinquency, bankruptcy, collateral sufficiency, and industry concentrations.
Contribute to the evolution of credit risk review methodologies, coverage strategies, reporting frameworks, and risk assessment practices.
Perform individual file and relationship reviews under the established risk‑based loan review program.
Validate the accuracy and consistency of loan risk grade assignments at the file or relationship level in alignment with established policies and regulatory guidelines.
Act as a subject matter expert for assigned commercial products, requiring a thorough understanding of all related product aspects, policies, underwriting and portfolio management guidelines, and
Ensure the quality, completeness, and accuracy of supporting credit risk review documentation and analysis performed personally or by direct reports as applicable.
Participate in findings discussions with credit risk and the first line leadership and monitor progress of corrective actions.
Provide independent, objective challenge to lending, underwriting, and portfolio management practices while maintaining effective working relationships with business and credit partners
Support regulatory examinations, internal audits, and governance reporting activities through preparation of analyses, documentation, and response materials.
Deliver timely, actionable reports to the Managing Director, Credit Risk Review as required.
Maintain expertise in commercial and government‑guaranteed lending programs (e.g. SBA, USDA).
Manage, coach, and develop Credit Risk Review Associates and Senior Associates as applicable, providing quality oversight, technical guidance, and professional mentorship while promoting a culture of independence, professionalism, and continuous improvement within the Credit Risk Review function.
Serve as a thought partner to first line partners for assigned commercial products in enhancing credit policy, risk appetite, and portfolio management strategies.
Maintain strong awareness of applicable regulatory requirements including BSA, AML, CIP, and OFAC.
Required Experience
10+ years of progressive experience in credit risk review, special assets, internal audit, or commercial credit within a regulated financial institution exhibiting a focus on credit-related risk.
Extensive knowledge of complex and highly structured commercial lending structures, underwriting standards, credit risk frameworks, and portfolio management practices across a variety of bilateral and syndicated commercial loan products with expertise in Sponsor Finance, Lender Finance, Subscription Finance, Asset Based Lending, and Venture.
Capable of providing a fulsome review and opinion as to the credit risk and mitigated loan quality of large and structurally complex transactions.
Strong understanding of regulatory expectations related to credit risk management, independent loan review, and safety‑and‑soundness standards.
Demonstrated ability to implement review methodologies, drive process improvements, and contribute to executive‑level reporting.
Strong analytical, communication, and relationship‑building skills.
Preferred Experience
University or College degree majoring in a related discipline (e.g. Business or Finance).
Formal credit risk training or professional certification
Familiarity with risk analytics, credit metrics, portfolio analysis, and credit MIS tools.
Background in high‑growth or digitally‑focused banking environments.
Proven ability to mentor and lead high‑performing risk or credit teams.
Our Values
Dedication: Possess a deep commitment to Live Oak Bank’s mission and core values, exemplified through a strong work ethic, adaptability and pride in your work.
Ownership: Take initiative to deliver positive results by proactively and creatively solving problems, while maintaining a high degree of quality.
Respect: Treat everyone with courtesy, politeness, and kindness.
Innovation: Embrace fresh ideas and fearlessly contribute new solutions to emerging or existing problems.
Teamwork: Foster collaboration, accountability, and trust with others and understand that together, we do more
For a detailed overview of our employee benefits please visit: http://www.liveoakbank.com/careers/
Live Oak Bank is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer, Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled. We consider applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, veteran status or disability. Equal access to programs, service and employment is available to all persons. Those applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application and/or interview process should notify human resources at HumanResources@liveoak.bank.
EEO is the Law
The base pay range for this position is $128,500.00 - $179,900.00 per year. Compensation may also include annual bonuses and long-term incentives, subject to various metrics and company policy. A candidate’s salary is determined by several factors including travel, relevant work experience or skills and expertise.
Please note that we provide at least the minimum requirement of paid sick leave to our employees who reside in states that require employer-paid sick leave, including but not limited to Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.