VP, First Line Risk and Compliance

COMPANY DESCRIPTION: Forbright is a nationwide full-service bank and commercial lender focused on helping to build a brighter future for our clients and the communities we serve. Forbright is committed to exceptional client service by providing seamless, innovative personal banking services to depositors and creative financing solutions to visionary middle market businesses and investors in healthcare, technology, financial services, real estate, and other industries.

COMPANY CULTURE: We are a dynamic, high energy, fun, and fast-paced organization that has an exciting growth trajectory, meaningful mission, and embedded responsible practices into our daily interactions. We offer our team members a culture of collaboration, inclusion, flexibility, recognition, and giving back. We look to hire individuals that are passionate about our mission, and who are motivated, customer and results-oriented, innovative, adaptable, and thoughtful.

COMPANY MISSION: We are a mission-driven institution. We operate a sound dynamic institution that is well capitalized, liquid, profitable and uses best practices to manage risk and assure compliance with laws and regulations. We use Forbright’s capital, capabilities, innovation, and expertise to help our clients succeed and contribute broadly to building a brighter future.

JOB SUMMARY: The VP, First Line Risk and Compliance, Commercial Lending is responsible for strengthening and operating the first line control environment for the Bank’s commercial lending activities, with an emphasis on disciplined credit risk practices across the end‑to‑end lifecycle (origination, underwriting, closing, servicing, and portfolio management). This role partners closely with Commercial Lending, Credit Administration, Legal, Compliance, BSA, and Enterprise Risk Management to ensure key risks are proactively identified and controlled through clear procedures, effective controls, monitoring, timely issue remediation, and reporting aligned to the Bank’s risk appetite and regulatory expectations. The position enables safe and sound growth of the commercial lending portfolio by embedding consistent credit standards, data quality, and control execution into day‑to‑day operations.

Serve as the primary first line control leader for Commercial Lending Operations, including creating and maintaining procedures to ensure consistent execution of credit policies and applicable regulatory requirements

Oversee control activities across commercial lending with a focus on reducing credit and operational losses through adherence to underwriting standards, collateral/valuation documentation, and data accuracy

Design, implement, and maintain first line controls, key control indicators, and monitoring routines focused on credit quality drivers (exceptions, overrides, documentation defects, covenant compliance, etc.)

Partner with second line functions (Enterprise Risk Management, BSA, and Compliance) and internal/external audit to support control testing, regulatory exams, and remediation tracking for commercial lending processes

Execute first line risk management responsibilities in accordance with the Bank’s Risk Management Framework, including performance of risk assessments, business continuity planning, and third‑party risk reviews; adherence to risk appetite; timely identification and escalation of issues; and clear reporting to governance forums

Lead issue identification, root cause analysis, remediation planning, and validation of corrective actions for credit policy exceptions, documentation gaps, booking errors, and process breakdowns

Provide guidance to lending, underwriting, and operations teams on control execution, documentation standards, and regulatory expectations

Support change initiatives (new products, process enhancements, system implementations, growth) by performing control impact reviews and confirming credit requirements (data, documentation, approvals, and monitoring) are built into the design

Prepare and deliver clear, timely reporting and metrics on control performance, exceptions, remediation status, and credit process health to senior management and governance committees

Promote a strong control culture by reinforcing ownership, accountability, and consistent execution of credit processes across Commercial Lending Operations

Perform other duties as assigned

Bachelor’s Degree required; in Business, Finance, Risk Management, or a related field preferred; Master of Business Administration preferred

Minimum of 8 years of experience in commercial lending, banking operations, risk management, or compliance within a regulated financial institution required

Strong knowledge of specialized, middle-market, commercial lending products, processes, and applicable banking regulations

Demonstrated applied thinking skills to adapt regulatory requirements to unique lending verticals

Experience designing and implementing first line risk controls and monitoring programs

Ability to effectively partner with business leaders while maintaining independent risk judgment

Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel)

Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills

Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

Outstanding problem‑solving and time management skills

Self‑motivated, self‑directed, and results‑oriented

Adaptable and able to multitask in a fast‑paced environment

Ability to work independently and collaboratively across teams with a solution‑oriented mindset