Small Business Loan Officer

Northwest Access Fund is pleased to announce an opportunity for a full-time Small Business Loan Officer. 

We encourage people who reflect the communities we serve to apply for this position, including individuals with disabilities and people from BIPOC communities.

About Northwest Access Fund

Northwest Access Fund (NWAF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) established by and for people with disabilities. Our mission is to offer people with disabilities in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho customized loans, financial coaching, and other resources to promote access to assistive technology, independence, financial resilience, and life opportunities. We envision a world where all people with disabilities have access to the resources they need to fully participate and thrive in our communities.

Our core operating values are: 

Impact: We are focused and driven to deliver effective services.

Respect: We respond with compassion, creativity, and kindness to reduce barriers while upholding the dignity of those we serve.

Community-driven: We are led by people with disabilities for people with disabilities, and design solutions for diverse communities, perspectives, experiences, and circumstances.

Person-centered: We recognize that everyone has unique circumstances and collaborate with individuals, families, and other organizations to support access to community resources.

Position Summary

The Small Business Loan Officer will support Northwest Access Fund’s mission by evaluating new lending opportunities, conducting financial analysis, preparing credit presentations, and building strong relationships with borrowers.  The Small Business Loan Officer role will have a special focus on financing for Adult Family Home businesses (AFHs) to increase access to safe, community-based housing for people with disabilities and aging adults. 

The Small Business Loan Officer will contribute to NWAF’s mission by: 1) Building a robust and healthy portfolio of Adult Family Home and other business loans; 2) Establishing strong institutional knowledge about regulatory and compliance requirements and construction best practices for AFHs and private construction; 3) Creating community awareness about NWAF’s small business lending program. 

The Small Business Loan Officer will provide 1:1 technical assistance and group training to loan applicants and entrepreneurs to ensure loan readiness. This position will also work collaboratively as a member of the lending team at Northwest Access Fund to package, underwrite, and monitor home modification and other consumer loans, when capacity demands. Working collaboratively with NWAF’s Director of Lending, the Loan Officer will support program and client success by integrating financial readiness and inclusive lending with risk management and organizational stability. 

The person in this role will make recommendations to the Leadership Team about loan policies and prepare periodic updates about lending to AFH and related businesses that will be shared with the Board of Directors and funders. 

The Small Business Loan Officer will support the Director of Outreach & Partnerships in building connections with nonprofits, community lenders, manufacturers, contractors, and local agencies
to establish a strong referral and support network, ensuring families and entrepreneurs have access to trusted, culturally responsive, and technically accurate resources.

This role requires in-depth, ongoing research into regulatory, zoning, and permitting requirements to ensure program compliance and feasibility across jurisdictions. 

Position Responsibilities

Outreach and Community Building (15%)

• Develop and maintain relationships with prospective borrowers, existing clients, referral partners, community organizations, and other stakeholders.  
• Respond to loan inquiries and conduct pre-screening meetings with prospective borrowers.
• Represent Northwest Access Fund at conferences, community meetings, industry events, and networking opportunities. 
  

Credit Analysis and Underwriting (45%)

• Analyze financial statements, tax returns, cash flow projections, operating budgets, collateral information, and other underwriting materials.
• Assess borrower’s repayment capacity, project feasibility, and overall credit risk.
• Recommend loan terms and conditions that meet borrower needs while aligning with organizational risk standards and mission objectives.
• Prepare credit memos, financials analysis, and loan recommendations for internal review and approval.
• Present loan opportunities and transaction structures to the Loan Review Committee. 

Small Business Support and Capacity Building (20%) 

• Guide applications through loan application process, documentation requirements, eligibility guidelines, and lending process. 
• Provide technical assistance and small business coaching to enhance loan readiness.
• Support loan applicants to develop business and feasibility plans and financial projections. 
• Support applicants in understanding business planning, licensing, and operational requirements for AFHs and other small housing enterprises
• Help borrowers prepare for construction and provide ongoing resource recommendations to help launch successful projects
• Identify barriers to accessibility or compliance and recommend solutions to streamline lending processes

Policy, Compliance & Risk Management for Adult Family Home Business Lending (10%)

• Build a compliance framework that aligns with local, state, and federal housing regulations
• Ensure underwriting standards and documentation meet both NWAF and CDFI requirements
• Coordinate with external partners (e.g., local governments, permitting agencies, and contractors) to ensure program feasibility
• Conduct regulatory and permitting research across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho and partner jurisdictions to inform program design
• Develop an organizational knowledge base about construction practices and costs to inform lending procedures

Lending Support and Organizational Support (10%)

• Support packaging and underwriting home modification loans 
• Support success of NWAF’s lending across product lines
• Provide collaborative cross-departmental support to Northwest Access Fund’s lending, financial coaching, outreach, and administrative teams
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working within a CDFI, nonprofit lender, or housing organization
• Understanding of Adult Family Home (AFH) operations
• Understanding of construction practices
• Experience working 1:1 with entrepreneurs to develop and refine business plans
• Experience underwriting small business and microenterprise loans
• Multilingual ability and/or experience working in culturally and linguistically diverse communities
  
  

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• All staff work remotely from home, with in-person meetings and outreach activities as public health allows
• Valid driver’s license preferred, and reliable transportation required
• Primarily works in standard office conditions and climate
• Primarily works at a desk and computer, likely for extended periods of time
• May be required to work occasional evenings to accommodate clients’ schedules
• Occasional travel may be required
  
  

Location

Candidates should be located in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho.

Compensation 

• The Small Business Loan Officer role is a Grade 4. Our Grade 4 range has a minimum salary of $75,000, a mid-point salary of $85,000 and a maximum salary of $95,000. Based on experience candidates can expect an offer between the minimum and mid-point of the grade. To maintain internal equity and ensure that employees have room to grow within their grade, we will not offer higher than the mid-point of the salary grade. We review all ranges on an annual basis and when grades are adjusted (due to cost of living, inflation, and/or role re-benchmarking), so are salaries. If you are interested in learning more about our compensation philosophy and process, we are happy to discuss it during the interview process
• Option of employer-paid health, dental, and vision benefits for the employee, 50% coverage for dependents, Flexible Savings Accounts, and enrollment in SIMPLE IRA (matches up to 3% of salary)
• Paid time off: 18 vacation days, 15 sick days, 10 holidays, and our office is closed from December 24 - January 1.

State Date

• Target start date is November 2026, with flexibility available.

Application Procedure

• Complete the application at nwaccessfund.bamboohr.com/careers
• Applications will be reviewed and assessed as received until the position is filled. Priority will be given to applications received by October 28, 2026.
• Please email Erin Williamson at erin@nwaccessfund.org with any questions