Closing Team Associate

Job Description

Overview

Bellwether is a global advisory firm that helps businesses solve their most complex challenges and enhance enterprise value. We specialize in formulating and executing dynamic growth strategies through true partnership with our clients. Merging deep industry expertise, advanced analytical capabilities and best-in-class talent, we create value across the business lifecycle, from transaction management to operational transformation. Bellwether specializes in the management, analysis, and reporting of over $40 billion of AUM across a wide range of real estate related assets and corporate platforms in North America, Europe and Asia. Bellwether is privately held and has offices in Los Angeles, Newport Beach, London and Dallas.

The Closing Team Associate will report to the Head of Underwrting and will be responsible for closing all debt and equity investments (including senior loans, mezzanine loans, preferred equity, common equity, and acquisitions) working in tandem with Canyon Partner’s Real Estate originations teams, while working closely with Canyon’s legal counsel, asset management, and treasury departments and third party consultants to complete due diligence and close on commercial real estate investments that the firm is making.

Coordinate review of GMP contracts, design agreements, schedule of values, construction schedule, buyout logs, and contractor financials with consultants, counsel, and the originations team.

Extract and surface real issues such as scope gaps, pricing or escalation risk, schedule concerns, unbalanced SOV, and contractor strength, then drive a resolution path.

Order and coordinate Phase I environmental review, identify recognized environmental conditions, and align mitigants with the Deal Team.

Collect organizational charts and verify control parties and ownership thresholds are complete.

Collect and underwrite guarantor financials to evaluate counterparty risk.

Collaborate with the Canyon Security Team to ensure the background checks are completed in a timely manner.

Maintain the deal budget workbook covering project line items, closing costs, and required reserves and contingencies.

Perform equity reconciliation on costs spent to date.

Build the sources & uses closing statement and ensure the escrow settlement statement ties out.

Track third party fees against budget to prevent surprises near closing.

Support the transition memo and assist Asset Management with cash flow models.

Coordinate servicer onboarding and custodian/note delivery.

Maintain the post-closing tracker for trailing documents, recorded items, final policies, hedge docs, opinions, and ESG items.

Solid understanding of CRE debt structures, including bridge, senior construction, and preferred equity deals.

Familiarity with diligence streams: title/survey, third party reports, construction documents, insurance, environmental, and entitlements.

Financial fluency to build and reconcile budgets, sources/uses, equity spent to date, and settlement statements with precision.

Sound judgment on when to escalate, reserved for matters affecting closing date, risk profile, economics, or client relationship, while bringing solutions, not just problems.

Attention to detail in documentation, reliance language, and economic reconciliation to avoid surprises late in the process.

Proficiency with data room platforms (ShareFile), budget and reconciliation models in Excel, and AM reporting templates (iLevel).

Collaborative working style across Legal, Originations, Accounting/Treasury, and Asset Management throughout the deal lifecycle.

Classification: Exempt

Position Status: Regular / Full Time

Reports To: Head of Underwriting

Direct Reports: No

Must frequently prepare or inspect documents, and convey details or important instructions or ideas accurately, loudly, or quickly.

Ability to work independently, and prioritize duties to ensure timely completion. The ability to collaborate is also imperative.

Requires active listening, critical thinking, making decisions, time management, as well as administration skills.

Ability to interact in a courteous professional manner at all times.

Regular, predictable attendance is required.

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

No hazardous or significantly unpleasant conditions (such as in a typical office).

Moderate noise (i.e., business office with computers, phones, printers and light traffic)

Indoor business office environment with windows; light foot traffic within work areas

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a teammate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Responsibilities

Run the closing process from start to finish once a term sheet is signed, serving as the central process driver across all workstreams.
Draft and continuously maintain the due diligence checklist as the operational tracker for ownership, status, notes, and document location.
Send the kickoff email package and process instructions to the sponsor/borrower team, including data room access and upload conventions.
Facilitate the weekly checklist call and produce internal weekly “Closing Notes” covering top blockers, decisions needed, and critical path actions.
Launch and track third party engagements, including insurance, construction (PCA), environmental, appraisal, zoning, tax, and specialty reports, with scope, reliance language, and delivery dates.
Reviewing the deliverables provided by the third parties in concert with the origination team to identify risks and ensure completeness of the reports.
Introduce the borrower’s broker to the firm’s consultant, serve as an intermediary to negotiate Canyon’s requirements with the Sponsor’s requested coverage levels, and ensure binding is completed.
Secure internal approvals for any deviation from standard requirements and ensure final terms are reflected in transaction documentation and the closing statement.
Orchestrate cash management structure and account setup with sponsor accounting, treasury, and servicers, and confirm legal docs reflect the structure.

Qualifications

Little to no travel requirements.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, and walk.
Must be able to sit at an office workstation for an extended period of time.
May need to reach, stoop, or kneel to access items.
Must be able to talk, hear and use wrists, hands and/or fingers frequently and repetitively to operate a computer, telephone and other office productivity machinery.
Bellwether is an equal-opportunity employer. Bellwether complies with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities, and all other employment laws and regulations. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to an individual's race, color, religion, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, reproductive health decision-making, sex, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), age, sexual orientation, protected veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. All candidates must be able to prove eligibility to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications

Bellwether seeks to hire entrepreneurial individuals who are highly motivated, mature, and intelligent, with demonstrated excellence in prior endeavors. The successful candidate should have:

A minimum of 4 years relevant experience, within a transaction or loan closing, debt originations support, capital markets, or real estate legal function.
Exposure to loan documentation, organizational structure and guarantor review, and cash management or funding mechanics strongly preferred.
Legal experience preferred; client-facing experience working directly with sponsors, borrowers, counsel, and consultants preferred.
Bachelor’s degree required

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