Director, Account Management & Underwriting

Reporting to the AVP of Specialized Lending Underwriting and Account Management at Manulife Bank, the Director of Account Management and Underwriting plays a key leadership role in overseeing the underwriting and ongoing management of the Bank’s Specialized Lending portfolio. This portfolio represents a significant growth area for the Bank and includes products such as Immediate Financing Arrangements (IFAs), Advisor Lending (including Business Acquisition Loans), and investment loans and lines of credit.

As the Bank continues to scale, its underwriting and account management practices are evolving toward a more efficient and scalable operating model. In this context, the Director will collaborate closely with Sales, Risk Management, and Operations to deliver a best-in-class advisory experience. The role involves managing both new and existing business flows while fostering strong internal partnerships.

This position requires sound judgment and deep expertise in handling complex credit transactions and serving a sophisticated client base:

Key Responsibilities include leading a team of Account Managers and Analysts responsible for Underwriting new credit within the Specialized Lending portfolio, conducting annual reviews and ongoing portfolio monitoring. managing credit fulfillment, including new loans and subsequent draws, overseeing High Risk and accounts on the Watchlist, driving operational excellence and scalability in underwriting and account management processes, partnering with cross-functional teams to enhance client experience and ensure alignment with risk and compliance standards, applying advanced credit knowledge to support high-value, complex lending decisions.

As Director of Account Management & Underwriting you will:

Loan Underwriting

• Leverage your deep expertise in lending, financial analysis, tax and estate planning, and client relationship management to structure, assess, and underwrite complex credit applications.

• Ensure all loan recommendations align with client needs, internal policies, and regulatory standards, while demonstrating a sound risk/reward balance.

• Exercise delegated discretionary lending authority (DLA) to independently approve credit applications in accordance with the Bank’s risk appetite while monitoring and maintaining the highest level of Quality statistics;

• Clearly communicate credit decisions to internal stakeholders, advisors, and clients, ensuring all terms, conditions, and approval requirements are well understood and accepted.

• Lead and mentor a high-performing team of underwriting professionals, providing guidance on deal structuring and acting as an escalation point for complex files.

• Collaborate with field teams to ensure efficient and client-centric credit authorization processes.

Account Management

• Oversee the ongoing monitoring and management of the Specialized Lending portfolio, ensuring timely completion of annual reviews and proactive risk oversight.

• Ensure accurate and timely collection of financial and collateral information to support effective portfolio surveillance and client service.

• Monitor collateral positions and initiate timely actions to address surpluses or deficits, protecting the Bank’s security interests.

• Identify and manage at-risk accounts through enhanced monitoring and timely intervention, including workout and insolvency scenarios, to safeguard the Bank’s position.

Strategy & Operations

• Champion a strong, values-driven culture aligned with Manulife’s commitment to delivering exceptional client outcomes, sound decision-making, and sustainable profitability.

• Serve as a subject matter expert in Specialized Lending, providing strategic guidance and insights to internal stakeholders.

• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of credit policies and standards, ensuring alignment with the Bank’s strategic objectives, risk appetite, and product intent.

• Design, implement, and optimize processes that support efficient underwriting and account management workflows, enabling scalability and operational excellence.

Leadership & Team Development

• Inspire and lead a high-performing team by fostering a culture of engagement, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and performance management to support individual and team success.

• Promote professional growth through career development conversations, mentorship, and learning opportunities.

• Model key leadership behaviors that enhance the client experience and reinforce a collaborative, inclusive work environment.

• Encourage cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing to drive innovation and collective success.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in underwriting and lending, ideally within Private Wealth or lending to privately held businesses.

• Deep expertise in tax and estate planning strategies, with the ability to assess their impact on complex lending structures.

• Proven experience in structuring and managing credit for entrepreneurial and high-net-worth clients.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex financial concepts clearly and effectively.

• Comprehensive knowledge of lending policies, procedures, and regulatory frameworks.

• Strong understanding of insurance products and strategies, including how advisors leverage them in wealth planning.

• Proficient in analyzing financial statements of private businesses, particularly those involving holding companies and complex ownership structures.

• Highly developed relationship management and negotiation skills, with a track record of building trust with clients and internal stakeholders.

Nice to have:

• Fully bilingual (French/English): The successful candidate will be required to communicate in English and French in order to support clients from various jurisdictions outside of Quebec.

When you join our team:

• We’ll empower you to learn and grow the career you want.

• We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words.

• As part of our global team, we’ll support you in shaping the future you want to see.

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact recruitment@manulife.com.

Referenced Salary Location

Salary range is expected to be between

If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact recruitment@manulife.com for the salary range for your location. The actual salary will vary depending on local market conditions, geography and relevant job-related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience, and education/training. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance.

Manulife offers eligible employees a wide array of customizable benefits, including health, dental, mental health, vision, short- and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance coverage, adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits, and employee/family assistance plans. We also offer eligible employees various retirement savings plans (including pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources. Our generous paid time off program in Canada includes holidays, vacation, personal, and sick days, and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence. If you are applying for this role in the U.S., please contact recruitment@manulife.com for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.