Associate Loan Closing Specialist at Live Oak Bank in Wilmington, NC

Summary: Live Oak Bank is a digital bank that serves small business owners across the country. The Associate Loan Closing Specialist plays a key role in protecting the Bank’s interests while delivering an exceptional customer experience throughout the loan closing process. Responsibilities: - Manage the loan closing process for SBA and Conventional loans from credit approval through funding, with a strong focus on customer experience - Create, distribute, and maintain loan closing checklists to ensure required due diligence items are tracked and completed - Collaborate with borrowers, attorneys, loan officers, underwriters, and third‑party vendors to obtain documentation and information by established closing dates - Lead closing kick‑off calls and serve as the primary point of contact for borrowers and internal partners throughout the closing process - Deliver clear, timely, and professional communication to borrowers, ensuring they understand each step of the loan closing process - Respond to borrower and internal inquiries with urgency, accuracy, and a customer‑first mindset - Review and validate attorney‑prepared closing documents, using independent judgment to ensure compliance with Bank, credit, and regulatory requirements - Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve issues during the closing process, escalating concerns when appropriate - Assemble complete and accurate credit and closing files prior to loan funding - Submit files for review in a timely manner and work closely with the Closing Team Manager to minimize review exceptions - Proactively manage closing timelines, including adjusting closing dates or negotiating extensions when required documentation is delayed or incomplete - Coordinate with Quality Assurance, borrowers, and attorneys to resolve loan exceptions while maintaining a positive customer experience - Maintain clean, organized loan files through research, attention to detail, and problem solving - Adhere to all applicable regulatory and compliance requirements, including BSA, AML, CIP, and OFAC - Follow SBA Standard Operating Procedures and Live Oak Bank policies - Function as an engaged and collaborative team member, recognizing that teamwork is critical to delivering excellent service - Perform other duties as assigned Required Qualifications: - High school diploma or GED - Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) - Demonstrated customer service skills with the ability to communicate professionally and empathetically - Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines - Strong written and verbal communication skills - High attention to detail with a high degree of accuracy - Professional and trustworthy in handling confidential information Preferred Qualifications: - College degree in business, finance, legal studies, or a related field - Experience in customer‑facing roles such as lending, legal, real estate, financial services, operations, or project coordination - Prior experience with SBA or commercial lending is a plus, but not required Required Skills: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, SBA Standard Operating Procedures, BSA Compliance, AML Compliance, CIP Compliance, OFAC Compliance, Loan Closing Process, Credit File Assembly Benefits: Annual bonuses and long-term incentives, subject to various metrics and company policy, Paid sick leave to our employees who reside in states that require employer-paid sick leave, including but not limited to Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington