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This position has closed. BMO removed this listing from their careers page on Oct 3, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Credit Officer Leverage Lending and Technology

BMO · Chicago, IL · $137,000–$238,000 a year · Full time

Posted Aug 11, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 1, 2026

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

You provide independent, objective review within credit limits or make recommendations above them. How do you keep independence when the relationship team is pushing hard?

What they are checking: Independence, which is the entire reason this role sits in risk rather than coverage.

Tell me about a credit you declined that the business felt strongly about. How did that conversation go?

What they are checking: Saying no to revenue and preserving the working relationship.

What emerging trend in leveraged lending or technology credit are you watching right now?

What they are checking: Active market awareness, since the role asks them to identify emerging issues.

What would you do

Walk me through how you would review a credit application where the business case is strong and the structure is weak.

What they are checking: Separating the borrower from the deal, the essential skill in adjudication.

You act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on business decisions. How do you advise on strategy while staying the person who says no to individual deals?

What they are checking: Holding both roles at once, which the posting asks for.

This files under Chicago at a Canal Street address in the audit, risk and compliance family, and prints an application deadline field that is blank with no salary band. What would you want settled before going further?

What they are checking: That they read the posting closely and will ask about what it leaves out.

About the work

This seat adjudicates credit for leveraged lending and technology borrowers. What do you look at differently in a leveraged credit than in an investment grade one?

What they are checking: Leveraged finance specifics — coverage, covenants, cash flow sustainability.

Technology borrowers often have limited hard assets and negative earnings early on. How do you underwrite that?

What they are checking: Sector-specific credit judgment, named directly in the title.

You would provide credit coaching and training to your team and other stakeholders. What do bankers most often get wrong in a credit write-up?

What they are checking: Depth visible through what they correct.

How do you monitor risk on a portfolio basis rather than one transaction at a time?

What they are checking: Portfolio-level thinking, named in the duties.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by BMO.

Application Deadline: Address: 320 S Canal Street Job Family Group: Audit, Risk & Compliance Provides independent, objective review and adjudication of credit applications and transactions for an assigned portfolio within credit limits or makes credit recommendations and escalates as required. Ensures the credit quality of the assigned portfolios are maintained within the Bank’s risk tolerance, policies & procedures, and meet financing guidelines. Supports credit adjudication operations and initiatives. Provides training and support to teams and channels where the applications and transactions originate. • Acts as a trusted advisor to senior leaders for making business decisions and implementing strategic initiatives. • Develops an expert understanding of business/group challenges. • Networks with industry contacts to gather competitive insights and best practices. • Recommends measures to improve organizational effectiveness. • May consult to or serve on various committees and task forces. • Provides credit coaching, training and support to direct team and other stakeholders as required. • Works with stakeholders to ensure effectiveness of risk management controls, analysis and monitoring on a transactional and portfolio basis. • Influences and negotiates to achieve business objectives. • Identifies emerging issues and trends to inform decision-making. • Recommends business priorities, advises on resource requirements and develops roadmap for strategic execution. • Manages resources and leads the execution of strategic initiatives to deliver on business and financial goals. • Conducts independent analysis and assessment to resolve strategic issues. • Acts as the prime contact for internal/external stakeholder relationships, which may include regulators. • Ensures alignment between stakeholders. • Develops and manages comprehensive information management systems; designs and/or leads initiatives to improve processes, analysis and reporting. • Integrates information from multiple sources to enable more efficient processes, enhanced analysis and/or streamlined reporting. • Defines business requirements for analytics & reporting to ensure data insights inform business decision making. • Employs systems (e.g. customized exception reports, tracking reports etc.) to manage information. • Breaks down strategic problems, and analyses data and information to provide insights and recommendations. • Leads change management programs of varying scope and type, including readiness assessments, planning, stakeholder management, execution, evaluation and sustainment of initiatives. • Leads the development of the communication strategy focusing on positively influencing or changing behaviour. • Collaborates across BMO to develop communications strategies and ensure consistency of messaging, in order to positively influence or change behaviour. • Leads the execution of operational programs; assesses and adapts as needed to ensure quality of execution. • Supports credit due diligence activities for bank acquisitions or integration. • Reviews and communicates decisions on credit transactions with rationale that can be understood and explained to customers. • Identifies and advises on terms, conditions and collateral requirements for the transaction decision as well as opportunities for cross-selling and/or alternative solutions to meet client’s needs. • Keeps abreast of economic and market developments within the portfolio to inform decision making and credit risk policies. • Provides approval for exceptions according to established policy and standards. • Monitors the credit portfolio through transaction review & approval to ensure compliance with the Bank’s lending policies and procedures. • Provides credit risk coaching and advice to sales & service employees to increase awareness of risk, policy, and knowledge of structuring transactions. • Builds effective relationships with internal/external stakeholders. • Gathers and formats data into regular and ad-hoc reports, and dashboards. • Monitors and tracks performance and addresses any issues. • Executes work to deliver timely, accurate, and efficient service. • Operates at a group/enterprise-wide level and serves as a senior specialist resource across BMO. • Influences how teams/groups work together. • Applies expertise and thinks creatively to address unique or ambiguous situations and to find solutions to multiple, interdependent, complex problems. • Communicates abstract concepts in simple terms. • Fosters strong internal and external networks and works with and across multiple teams to achieve business objectives. • Anticipates trends and responds by implementing appropriate changes. • Broader work or accountabilities may be assigned as needed. Qualifications: • Typically 9+ years of relevant experience and post-secondary degree in related field of study or an equivalent combination of education and experience. • Credit Qualifications and associated credit knowledge and skills according to the established qualification standards. • Expert knowledge of banking products & services. • Expert knowledge of industry trends and regulations. • Expert knowledge of credit portfolio management policies & procedures, and financing guidelines. • Proven leadership skills and highly developed coaching skills. • Seasoned expert with extensive industry knowledge. • Technical leader viewed as a thought leader for innovation. • Verbal & written communication skills - Expert. • Analytical and problem solving skills - Expert. • Influence skills - Expert. • Collaboration & team skills; with a focus on cross-group collaboration - Expert. • Able to manage ambiguity. • Data driven decision making - Expert. Salary : $137,000.00 - $238,000.00 Pay Type: Salaried The above represents BMO Financial Group’s pay range and type. Salaries will vary based on factors such as location, skills, experience, education, and qualifications for the role, and may include a commission structure. Salaries for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on number of hours regularly worked. For commission roles, the salary listed above represents BMO Financial Group’s expected target for the first year in this position. BMO Financial Group’s total compensation package will vary based on the pay type of the position and may include performance-based incentives, discretionary bonuses, as well as other perks and rewards. BMO also offers health insurance, tuition reimbursement, accident and life insurance, and retirement savings plans. To view more details of our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.bmo.com/global/en/Total-Rewards About Us At BMO we are driven by a shared Purpose: Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. It calls on us to create lasting, positive change for our customers, our communities and our people. By working together, innovating and pushing boundaries, we transform lives and businesses, and power economic growth around the world. As a member of the BMO team you are valued, respected and heard, and you have more ways to grow and make an impact. We strive to help you make an impact from day one – for yourself and our customers. We’ll support you with the tools and resources you need to reach new milestones, as you help our customers reach theirs. From in-depth training and coaching, to manager support and network-building opportunities, we’ll help you gain valuable experience, and broaden your skillset. To find out more visit us at http://jobs.bmo.com/us/en BMO is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. We evaluate applicants without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or any other legally protected characteristics. We also consider applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. BMO is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to BMOCareers.Support@bmo.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Note to Recruiters: BMO does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to BMO, directly or indirectly, will be considered BMO property. BMO will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. A recruiting agency must first have a valid, written and fully executed agency agreement contract for service to submit resumes.