Business Associate

About Baker Boyer:

Baker Boyer is the oldest independently owned community bank in the Pacific Northwest.  We are Eastern Washington’s trusted financial advisor, serving the Walla Walla valley, Kennewick and Yakima communities, providing wealth management as well as personal and business banking services.   

About the Business Associate Role:

The Business Associate plays a critical role in loan processing and is often the go-between for clients, DS Baker Advisors and the lending team.  The Business Associate will be responsible to review loan requests, obtain required support documentation, provide the financial analysis and credit management for relevant credit and financial data, and generate loan documents.  The Business Associate will evaluate the credit worthiness of business banking borrowers by producing a comprehensive and objective credit analysis through the review, spreading and trend comparison of financial reports and data in order to assist the Business Advisor in making an informed credit decision.  The Business Associate must be able to identify potential risks of the credit using acceptable trend analysis generated by various tools, spreadsheets, and Financial Analyzer.  The Business Associate must be able to clearly and concisely communicate such analysis to the Business Advisor and bank management in the form of loan write-ups and other such reports and determine the appropriate mitigation of such risks.

The Business Associate will also assist the Business Advisor in the management of the loan portfolios by identifying problem credits, reviewing past due loan reports and suggesting a management plan to remedy them.  The Business Associate will take the lead in managing operational issues of the loan portfolios by pulling various monitoring reports and communicating with clients regarding upcoming renewals and gathering the financial data necessary to complete the renewals.

The Business Associate communicates regularly with clients and other members of the DS Baker Advisors and lending team.  This position requires a strong sales and customer service oriented individual with detailed knowledge of all Baker Boyer loan types and deposit products.

Key Responsibilities:

• Performs a variety of administrative duties for Business Advisor(s), most of which are confidential and complex in nature.


• Serves as the primary contact between the client and the Business Advisor(s) for day-to-day transactions; gathers information for loan transactions and moves the application through the workflow to the documentation stage.


• Obtains information related to the loan origination process including but not limited to: ordering credit reports, appraisals, preliminary title reports, UCC searches, environmental reports, insurance information, flood certificates and various other items. Verifies that legal documentation or Government Agency Guaranteed loans are complete and correct.


• Creates new loan files, maintains existing loan files, and takes a lead role in clearing exception items from the origination system, working in partnership with the Business Advisors and Loan Operations.


• Coordinates loan closings with the Title companies or with the clients on behalf of the Business Advisors.


• Cross sells products and services and handles personal banking needs of business owners and their families. Identifies client needs and proactively recommends products and services that fill those needs. Makes referrals to other areas of the bank to assist our clients. Responsible for retaining and expanding existing client relationships with the Bank.


• Spreads and analyzes monthly, quarterly, and annual financial information; prepares spreadsheets; calculates ratios; and prepares budgets and projections of borrowers to determine if they have the capacity to repay debt as agreed.  Analyzes borrowers’ industry, business practices, and management capability as well as financial condition, performance, and projections.


• Prepares well-written loan reports for the Business Advisor and lending management summarizing borrower’s loan request, advisor recommendations, an analysis of the proposed collateral, and an analysis of financial trends and data to ascertain borrower’s ability to repay loans.  Works with the Business Advisor to gather detailed data on borrower, history, management experience, industry, and other necessary facts pertinent to preparing a complete and high quality loan report.  May assist in presenting loan report to underwriting and approving managers.  May also assist in ordering loan documentation as needed.


• Reports, tracks and maintains financial monitoring and covenant system for Business Advisors using Credit Quest covenant tracking system.  Works with borrowers and Business Advisors to collect financial reports and data.


• In conjunction with the Business Advisor(s), the Business Associate helps identify problem credits so that these credits may be placed on the bank’s problem asset list and a solid management plan may be initiated.  Through the periodic analysis of financial information, the Business Associate promptly informs the Business Advisor of any unusual events or trends taking place within the credit.


• Assists and provides back-up support to Business Banking Advisors with respect to managing business banking clients and achieving the credit needs of those clients.


• Attends training sessions and schools for job development and enhancement.  Reads current publications and maintains contact with a variety of sources of information in the banking industry to keep informed about business, economics, market conditions, industry trends, etc.; maintains intimate knowledge of the Bank’s lending area including the surrounding economy and real estate values.


• Promotes and maintains a professional bank image and acts as a role model for all bank employees.


• Assists in the training of new personnel.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Detail oriented, thorough and accurate in approach to work.  Able to work under pressure, prioritize multiple job tasks and consistently meet deadlines.


• Self-motivated and able to work with minimal supervision or oversight.


• Ability to understand, spread, and analyze business and personal tax returns, financial statements, and projections.


• Knowledge of many different types of business accounting.


• Ability to prepare comprehensive, well-written loan write-ups and other analytical reports.


• Strong computer literacy, including Microsoft Office.  Demonstrate ability to efficiently learn new programs and to proficiently use and interpret data provided by software tools, including spreading software.  


• Seeks out and participates in ongoing education to maintain knowledge of regulations, industry trends, and economics.


• Ability to quickly learn and work with bank regulations, products, processes & procedures.  Will work closely with policy manuals.


• Ability to quickly learn and work with loan documentation for business purpose loans.


• Demonstrate excellent time management and organizational skills.


• Demonstrates strong verbal and written communication skills. Able to interact with all levels of the organization in a caring and professional manner.

• Excellent customer service skills; able to deliver professional and courteous contact with the public in person, on the phone or through written correspondence.


• Proactively builds and maintains positive relationships by portraying an approachable and open-minded outlook. Ability to work effectively within business banking team, with clients, loan production, and with other bank departments.


• Ability to deal with problems involving several variables in standardized situations, or seek additional support when needed


• Exceptional time management skills, attention to detail and accuracy; ability to efficiently organize and prioritize multiple tasks.

Education and Experience Requirements:

Graduation from a four-year college or university in finance, business or related field preferred.  Equivalent combination of education and experience to perform the job functions is acceptable.   Thorough understanding of GAAP accounting (cash and accrual) and tax accounting for various types of industries including commercial, wineries, agriculture, and dealers.  Knowledge and ability to work with Jack Henry and Credit Quest desired.

Physical Demands/Conditions Requirements:

The job tasks and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made as appropriate to enable individuals with qualified disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, write, type, speak, & listen. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach, stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color and peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Ability to sit at desk and work on computer.

Baker Boyer is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability or protected veteran status.