Commercial Real Estate Director, Debt Finance / US Founding Team Member

OakNorth is seeking a Commercial Real Estate Director to join its US “Founding Team” as it expands its lending business to the United States where the business has lent over $500m since inception of the US business in the summer of 2023.

At OakNorth, the mission of our directors is to independently source high quality, new deals that match OakNorth’s directive to support high quality entrepreneurs and profitable, growing businesses, whose needs are unmet by traditional main street and commercial banks. The directors take end-to-end ownership, with a strong focus on credit discipline and building a customer experience that is unmatched in the market, marrying high quality 1:1 relationship with the power of OakNorth’s platform.

Like our customer base, we think and act like entrepreneurs – an ownership mindset is critical to success at OakNorth. For this new role helping build not only the US book of business, but the US team as well, this is especially true.

As a Director on the US team, you will leverage your extensive rolodex of customers and potential team members to help accelerate our journey, building upon the c. $500M we have originated in the US so far.

You will:

• Be a key member of the existing launch team, bringing your extensive knowledge of US lending to bear while leveraging the power of OakNorth’s proven model and world-class data and analytics
• Build a book of business in the US through sourcing, structuring and executing transactions in-line with our lending ethos – high yielding with a conservative credit approach
• Build on the asset classes in which OakNorth have lent on to date and providing knowledge and insight to new areas to lend
• Own, manage and develop customer relationships, putting experience and delight at the forefront, and serving as a true partner vs. “just a banker”
• Drive innovation in our product proposition to improve customer experience levels whilst maintaining asset quality whether this be in the direct origination or lender finance space
• Set and meet aspirational team and individual targets including profit, credit quality, new customers, retention and customer satisfaction
• Own the end-to-end deal process, including Build a healthy pipeline and the reputation of OakNorth with customers, financial sponsors, developers, etc.
• Work with borrowers from initial conversation through closing and in-life, guiding them through our lending process
• Work together with our Credit Analytics team to prepare credit memos
• Ensure transactions are documented in accordance with credit approved terms and sanctions
• Continue to identify new opportunities for existing clients, and leveraging their networks to uncover new prospects
• Collaborate with our team of world-class lenders, credit professionals, transaction lawyers, and others across the US, UK and India, while living OakNorth's values at all times

You have:

• The “entrepreneurial itch” and desire to get in on the ground floor of our US venture
• Willingness to think differently as we redefine commercial lending in the US
• Work closely with the existing US Debt Originations team to grow the business successfully
• In-depth understanding of the US market, with an extensive network in Commercial Real Estate lending – both customers and potential team members
• Proven success within commercial real estate deals and being able prove a continued excellence for new transactions
• Strong credit, financial analysis and modelling skills, including the ability to read strong, structured credit papers and present these clearly at credit committee
• Strong problem-solving ability, capacity to think creatively through different deal structures and aptitude to partner with our legal team on documenting these
• Obsession with customers, with excellent communication and customer facing skills, and ability to build long-term lasting relationships