Internal Audit Consultant - Commercial Credit & Lending

Overview:

• The Audit Consultant - Commercial Credit & Lending serves as a senior subject matter expert within Internal Audit, providing deep insight, independent challenge, and risk-based assurance over Commercial Banking credit activities. This role is responsible for executing and influencing complex audit engagements focused on commercial loan products, borrower and relationship-level credit risk, portfolio quality, and enterprise risk management practices. The successful candidate brings a comprehensive understanding of commercial banking operations, credit underwriting, portfolio management, collateral valuation, and regulatory expectations, and applies this expertise to assess the effectiveness of internal controls, risk governance, and management practices. This position operates with a high degree of independence and visibility and partners closely with senior audit leaders, business executives, and regulators.

Primary Responsibilities:

Audit Execution & Risk Coverage

• Stay current on evolving industry practices, regulatory guidance, and emerging risks impacting commercial credit and lending; proactively advise audit leadership on risk coverage considerations.
• Execute complex, risk‑focused audit procedures related to commercial credit risk, ensuring strict adherence to internal audit methodology, professional standards (IIA), and regulatory expectations.
• Assess the design and operating effectiveness of credit risk controls through detailed analysis of financial statements, borrower performance, underwriting quality, and collateral documentation.
• Perform independent, risk‑based reviews of commercial loan underwriting, credit approval decisions, risk ratings, covenant structures, collateral adequacy, and ongoing portfolio monitoring practices to assess adherence to internal credit policy and regulatory expectations.
• Evaluate credit quality trends, portfolio concentrations, risk ratings, and loan exposure to support scoping, conclusions, and assurance opinions.
• Analyze audit findings requiring advanced judgment and analytical depth; develop thoughtful, pragmatic, and value‑added recommendations for inclusion in executive‑level audit reports.
• Lead and support validation testing for Internal Audit and regulatory issues requiring commercial credit subject matter expertise.
• Incorporate data analytics, portfolio‑level insights, and trend analysis throughout all phases of the audit lifecycle.
• Deliver assigned audit work on time and within budget, requiring minimal oversight from audit management.

Talent Development & Knowledge Sharing

• Serve as a commercial credit subject matter expert, coaching and mentoring audit team members through formal and informal knowledge sharing.
• Tailor guidance and feedback based on experience level to strengthen team capability and elevate audit quality across the department.

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Adhere to all company policies, risk management frameworks, and regulatory standards applicable to audit and operational risk.
• Support a strong control environment, including timely remediation of internal and external audit issues and regulatory findings.
• Champion an inclusive, collaborative work environment that reflects the M&T Bank brand and values.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Scope & Interaction

• Operates independently within a matrix environment, delivering high‑quality, value‑added audit results across complex Commercial Banking activities.
• Demonstrate deep working knowledge of commercial credit regulatory guidance and examination expectations (e.g., safety and soundness standards, credit concentration risk management, CECL governance, and Shared National Credit concepts, as applicable) and support Internal Audit readiness for regulatory reviews and examinations.
• Produces audit workpapers and reports that meet Audit Committee expectations and regulatory scrutiny.
• Maintains ongoing interaction with Senior, Middle, and Line Management, External Auditors, and periodic engagement with regulatory agencies.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Provides coaching and developmental feedback to audit professionals as requested.
• Does not have direct responsibility for performance management, compensation, or formal people leadership decisions.

Education and Experience Required:

• Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Technology, Risk, or a related field and a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in Commercial Banking credit, lending, or risk, including 2 years of work leadership experience OR

• In lieu of degree, a minimum of 11 years of combined education and work experience, including 7 years of relevant Commercial credit experience and 2 years of work leadership experience

• Demonstrated expertise in commercial credit risk, underwriting, portfolio management, or credit administration.

• Strong project management, analytical, and interpersonal skills with the ability to work independently.

• Proven ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and confidently, both verbally and in writing.

• Effective negotiation skills and the ability to maintain independent viewpoints in senior‑level discussions.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or Master's degree in a related discipline.
• Professional certifications such as CPA, CIA, CISA, or similar.
• Prior experience in Internal Audit, Risk Management, Credit Administration, or Regulatory environments within Financial Services.

M&T Bank is committed to fair, competitive, and market-informed pay for our employees. The pay range for this position is $107,500.00 - $218,500.00 (USD). The successful candidate's particular combination of knowledge, skills, and experience will inform their specific compensation.

Location

Buffalo, New York, United States of America