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Team Lead Portfolio Management, Commercial

Wintrust · Oak Lawn, IL · $117,000–$175,000 a year · Full time

Posted Apr 1, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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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

How do you review the work of portfolio managers on your team?

What they are checking: Whether they give feedback that improves analysis quality, not just catch errors.

Tell me about a credit you flagged early that later deteriorated. What signs did you see?

What they are checking: Whether they can spot early warning signs and escalate before losses grow.

How would you train a new portfolio manager on spreading financials?

What they are checking: Whether they can teach the core skills clearly and patiently.

What would you do

A borrower trips a covenant and the relationship manager wants to waive it quietly. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they keep proper documentation and approvals even when it creates friction with the banker.

How do you balance a heavy volume of renewals and reviews across your team with quality?

What they are checking: Whether they can manage workflow, deadlines and priorities as a lead.

How do you work with relationship managers who see the portfolio team as slowing them down?

What they are checking: Whether they can build partnership with sales while keeping credit discipline.

About the work

What does a strong annual review of a commercial credit look like?

What they are checking: Whether they know how to update financials, covenants, risk ratings and collateral in a review that holds up to exams.

How do you assign and justify a risk rating when the numbers are mixed?

What they are checking: Whether they weigh cash flow trends, leverage, collateral and guarantor support with consistent judgment.

What's the difference between a pass, special mention and substandard credit?

What they are checking: Whether they understand regulatory risk rating categories and what moves a loan between them.

How do you prepare your team for a regulatory exam or loan review?

What they are checking: Whether they know examiners look for complete files, current ratings and documented exceptions.

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The full job description

As published by Wintrust.

Wintrust provides community and commercial banking, specialty finance and wealth management services through its 16 bank charters and nine non-bank businesses. Wintrust delivers the sophisticated solutions of a large bank while staying true to the relationship-focused, personalized service of our community banking roots. We serve clients in all 50 states with more than 200 branch banking locations in Illinois, southwestern Florida, northwestern Indiana, west Michigan and southern Wisconsin and commercial banking offices in Chicago, Denver, Milwaukee, Grand Rapids, Mich., and in key branch banking locations throughout Illinois. Our people are the heart of our business and we are proud to rank consistently as a top place to work. Wintrust is a $66 billion financial institution based in Rosemont, Illinois, and listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “WTFC.” Why Join Us? • An award-winning culture! We are rated a Top Workplace by the Chicago Tribune (past 12 years) and Employee Recommended award by the Globe & Mail (past 6 years) • Competitive pay and annual discretionary bonus eligible • Comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental, vision, life, a 401k plan with a generous company match and tuition reimbursement to name a few • Family-friendly work hours • Promote from within culture The Team Lead Portfolio Management, Commercial Banking manages the administration of a sizable commercial banking portfolio and supports commercial banking teams in new business initiatives, accomplishing these objectives through the supervision of a team of Portfolio Managers and Credit Analysts with varying experience levels. The typical portfolio will consist of all types of commercial loans including lines of credit, term notes, and commercial mortgages with an aggregate portfolio balance of $500MM plus. What You'll Do • Primary responsibilities include assignment, management, and prioritization of ongoing workflow, mentoring Portfolio Managers and Credit Analysts by auditing work products and providing feedback, while contributing to the organizational development of employees through 1:1 interactions, active career planning and mentorship, and delivery of timely and accurate feedback • Serve as the liaison with assigned commercial banking teams assuring new business activities are prioritized while portfolio management responsibilities (renewals, annual reviews, covenant testing, reporting exceptions, documentation exceptions, etc.) are managed in accordance with bank policies • Directly manage a small portfolio of the most complex and important accounts. Direct portfolio management responsibilities include gathering, analyzing and testing all business and personal financial data collected for the purpose of monitoring the loan relationship while performing portfolio management tasks including the underwriting of annual reviews and renewals, completing covenant testing verifications, managing reporting and documentation exceptions, and ensuring the loan portfolio is accurately risk rated • Review credit approval presentations of the Portfolio Managers and Credit Analysts, focusing on the accuracy of the data and analysis, ensuring all risks are identified and mitigated, and ensuring a structure is in place to appropriately govern the credit based on the risk profile • Provide a layer of quality control in the underwriting process by reviewing work and providing feedback to Portfolio Managers and Credit Analysts to ensure underwriting documents are comprehensive and accurate prior to review by their supervisor • Primary point of contact between commercial credit and the lending teams in managing new business pipelines and portfolio management activities. Serve as a credible challenge to the lending teams to ensure lending relationships are structured within the bank’s risk tolerance and all portfolio management expectations are met Qualifications • Bachelor's degree in business, finance or accounting; Master’s degree preferred • Formal credit training from a respected bank, with a strong understanding of general credit and risk principles, mitigates, and banking policies/procedures • 10+ years' financial services experience with a working knowledge of the banking environment, products and all supporting processes and technology; commercial credit experience highly preferred • Prior experience managing a team preferred but not required • Excellent verbal and written communications skills • Strong analytical, organizational and time management skills • Proven ability to manage tasks in a timely and efficient manner • Strong interpersonal skills with a proven ability establishing client relationships and working within a team environment Benefits Medical Insurance • Dental • Vision • Life insurance • Accidental death and dismemberment • Short-term and long-term Disability Insurance • Parental Leave • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) • Traditional and Roth 401(k) with company match • Flexible Spending Account (FSA) • Employee Stock Purchase Plan at 5% discount • Critical Illness Insurance • Accident Insurance • Transportation and Commuting Benefits • Banking Benefits • Pet Insurance Compensation The estimated salary range for this role is $117,000 - $175,000, along with eligibility to earn an annual bonus. Actual salaries may vary based on several factors, such as a candidate’s qualifications, skills and experience. #LI-AC1 From our first day in business, Wintrust has been proud to serve a variety of unique communities and people from all walks of life. To build a company that reflects the communities we serve, we believe that fostering a unique and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed will support our ongoing success. Wintrust Financial Corporation, including community banking and financial services subsidiaries, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories.

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