Senior Credit Analyst

Description

The role is within the Business Banking Regional Credit team that has responsibility for credit decisions pertaining to a +$10 billion commercial loan portfolio across all sectors of the Canadian economy. Key sectors include land & construction, hospitality, income producing real estate and general industries – Commercial and Small Business.

This role is responsible for supporting the Director, Business Credit in the administration of the commercial Loan portfolio within the framework of the approved credit management policies as set by the Board, to ensure the loan assets represent acceptable risk and return to the Credit Union.

The successful candidate will be a self-starter with drive and determination. The person will help Members and colleagues achieve goals with a positive, can-do attitude. Effective communication and the ability to build relationships with others is also key.

A sound understanding of financial statements and experience in analyzing lending proposals is important, as is a willingness to learn and be adaptable. This will provide an opportunity to develop an understanding of recovery strategies and work with top tier recovery professionals.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the wider Regional Credit adjudication team as required, including financial analysis, modelling, underwriting & adjudication, with a particular focus on EWS annual reviews and small-to-mid sized loan requests.
• Conduct adjudication on commercial credit applications in excess of lender discretionary limits, either within their own limits or by referral to a Senior Manager, Commercial Credit and/or Director, Business Credit for approval.
• Strong focus on portfolio management duties, inclusive of annual review scheduling, RIL monitoring/tracking, and follow-up with Banking colleagues.
• Exercise sound and consistent underwriting practices.
• Provide consistent, timely and focused value-added service to the Delivery Units.
• Become proficient using credit tools including Meridian’s Business Banking / Commercial Loan Origination System (iLend) and Moody’s Risk Analyst (spreading and risk rating) for financial analysis.
• Be proficient on the main Microsoft Office applications (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams)
• Support colleagues working in Small Business, as required, based on workflow volumes.
• Establish personal goals and action plans to support Business Banking objectives.
• Keep abreast of changes within diverse industry sectors and proactively identify opportunities to improve the risk profile within Meridian’s Business Banking portfolio.
• Identify inefficiencies in processes and suggest improvements to address.
• Foster a culture of proactive risk management with all business partners.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Drive and determination to get the job done with a positive, can-do attitude.
• Strong understanding of commercial business structures and familiarity with acceptable financing options and techniques.
• Sound knowledge and understanding of business financial statements, business case, cash flow analysis, and commercial lending security documentation. Collection / work-out experience and remedies would be beneficial but not required.
• Excellent communication skills and computer competency (word processing / spreadsheet).
• Strong negotiation and verbal / written communication skills; must be confident in dealing with external vendors, lawyers, Members and internal/external staff.
• Strong credit writing skills. Demonstrates innovative and creative approaches to solving difficult challenges and seizing opportunities.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment. Works well in a team environment.
• Able to prioritize and plan workload to meet deadlines in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Self-motivated.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, and train both on/off the job to improve general business and lending skills.

Education, Designations, Training, and Experience

Minimum 3 years experience in Business Credit underwriting / adjudication and risk management in a financial services environment, combined with relevant post-secondary education with an emphasis on business and finance.

This role represents an existing vacancy. Internal candidates are being considered as part of our standard process

Salary Range: CAD $52,000 to $75,000 annually.

Compensation for this role is based on a combination of skills, experience, and internal equity. Candidates with stronger alignment to the role’s requirements may be placed higher within the range. Your recruiter will share more information about our total rewards package during the hiring process.

Office Location: 75 Corporate Park Drive, St. Catharines. This is a hybrid work opportunity.

Meridian has a remote work policy that allows flexibility for employees to work remotely but also requires a minimum of one day per week in the office for purposeful meetings to collaborate, innovate and build effective relationships with your team, your colleagues and your leader which is important to us.

What's in it for you?

• We have an inclusive and collaborative working environment that encourages teamwork, creativity, curiosity, and celebrates success!
• We provide you with the tools and technology needed to delight your candidates and clients!
• You will get to work with and learn from diverse industry leaders and colleagues, who have hailed from top organizations.
• Hybrid work arrangements with in-person office time to collaborate, innovate and build relationships with your colleagues.
• This is not your typical "corporate" job. We work hard and we have fun!

Build the Future of Banking with Us

At Meridian, we’re not just adapting to the future—we’re shaping it. We see talent as a catalyst for sustainable growth, community impact, and future-readiness. As the financial landscape evolves, we’re looking for team members who bring:

• Embedding & leveraging technology – Confidence and willingness to learn and integrate AI and emerging technologies into new ways of working. Experience with low/no code tools like the Microsoft Power Platform and generative AI productivity tools like Microsoft Copilot is considered an asset
• Critical Thinking – The ability to analyze, evaluate and interpret information from various sources and apply logic and problem solving to make decisions.
• Data Driven– Leverage data and insights to identify, prioritize and improve member experience and business efficiency.
• Curiosity & Flexibility – Comfortable navigating and embracing change and uncertainty, ask more questions, explore more options. Continuously learn and grow.

Who we are:

Meridian is Ontario’s largest credit union, and second largest in Canada, helping to grow the lives of our more than 380,000 Members. Meridian has more than 80 years of banking history and is 100% owned by its members. With 87 retail branches and 15 Business Banking Centers across Ontario and $ 32B in assets under management, Meridian offers a full range of financial products and services to its retail, business banking and wealth members. With over 2200 employees and corporate offices located in Toronto and St. Catharines, Meridian has a track record of creating and delivering innovative new offerings and is committed to investing in the communities that we serve. Our plan is to build on our momentum as we deliver on our purpose - helping our members achieve their best life.

Find our story here: