Senior Portfolio Manager, CRE
Posted Sep 4, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 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
This role manages a portfolio of commercial real estate credits from Hartland. Walk me through the portfolio you manage now.
What they are checking: Whether they currently manage a commercial real estate portfolio at this senior level and can describe it in specific, confident detail.
What would you do
You'd proactively manage covenant compliance testing. What do you do when a borrower trips a covenant?
What they are checking: Whether they handle a covenant breach with sound judgment and clear steps, because that is when portfolio management stops being routine monitoring.
How do you decide a deal should be declined when the relationship manager wants it?
What they are checking: Whether they will decline a weak deal despite production pressure, because protecting credit quality matters more than keeping one relationship manager happy.
About the work
The posting names multifamily among the asset types. Take one asset type you know well and tell me what you underwrite differently about it.
What they are checking: Whether they have real depth in particular property types, since underwriting multifamily or other assets well takes more than general credit skill.
You'd write opportunity memos and full credit approvals covering the client, the sponsors and their history. What makes a sponsor worth lending to?
What they are checking: Whether they know how to judge a sponsor's track record and strength, because the sponsor often decides whether a real estate loan succeeds.
The posting names cash flow modeling and lease abstracting. Walk me through abstracting a lease and what you pull from it.
What they are checking: Whether they can actually abstract a lease and know which terms matter, since the posting names it and leases drive property cash flow.
You'd review and process construction draws with the construction loan administration department, the title company and the borrower. What goes wrong on a draw?
What they are checking: Whether they know how construction draws go wrong in practice, since coordinating draws with the title company and borrower is a named duty here.
You'd review attorney-prepared loan documents against approval guidelines. What do you look for?
What they are checking: Whether they review loan documents carefully against the approval rather than skimming, because mismatches can leave the bank exposed later.
What would you be watching in commercial real estate right now?
What they are checking: Whether they follow current commercial real estate conditions closely, since this sector is under real pressure and judgment needs to reflect today's market.
The posting asks for a bachelor's degree, at least six years in commercial real estate credit or portfolio management, and prefers formal bank credit training. Where do you sit?
What they are checking: Whether their degree, years of credit experience and training actually meet the stated qualifications, so both sides can judge the fit honestly.
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As published by Wintrust.