Closing Team Associate

Bellwether is a global advisory firm that helps businesses solve their most complex challenges and enhance enterprise value. The Closing Team Associate will report to the Head of Underwriting 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. Classification: Exempt. Position Status: Regular / Full Time. Direct Reports: No. Travel: Little to no travel requirements.

Responsibilities

Run the closing process from start to finish once a term sheet is signed, serving as the central process driver; Draft and maintain the due diligence checklist as the operational tracker; 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; Launch and track third-party engagements (insurance, construction PCA, environmental, appraisal, zoning, tax, specialty reports); Review third-party deliverables with the origination team to identify risks and ensure completeness; Negotiate insurance requirements with the Sponsor's requested coverage levels and ensure binding is completed; Secure internal approvals for deviations from standard requirements and ensure final terms are reflected in transaction documentation and the closing statement; Coordinate review of GMP contracts, design agreements, schedule of values, construction schedule, buyout logs, and contractor financials; Order and coordinate Phase I environmental review and align mitigants with the Deal Team; Collect organizational charts and verify control parties and ownership thresholds; Collect and underwrite guarantor financials to evaluate counterparty risk; Collaborate with the Canyon Security Team on background checks; Maintain the deal budget workbook; 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; Orchestrate cash management structure and account setup; Coordinate capital call readiness and wire mechanics; Track rate cap / hedging where applicable; 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

Requirements

A minimum of 4 years relevant experience within a transaction or loan closing, debt originations support, capital markets, or real estate legal function; Direct experience closing commercial real estate debt and/or equity transactions, including managing due diligence checklists and critical path timelines from executed term sheet through closing; Demonstrated experience engaging and coordinating third-party diligence providers (title/survey, appraisal, environmental Phase I, property condition/construction, zoning, tax, insurance) through review of deliverables and reliance language; Experience with closing economics, including deal budgets, sources & uses, settlement statements, reserves and contingencies, and equity reconciliation; Bachelor's degree required; Solid understanding of CRE debt structures, including bridge, senior construction, and preferred equity deals; Financial fluency to build and reconcile budgets, sources/uses, equity spent to date, and settlement statements; Proven ability to drive multiple parallel workstreams to a hard deadline; Strong organizational discipline and attention to detail in documentation, reliance language, and economic reconciliation; Proficiency with data room platforms (ShareFile), Excel budget and reconciliation models, and AM reporting templates (iLevel); All candidates must be able to prove eligibility to work in the United States

Nice to have

Exposure to loan documentation, organizational structure and guarantor review, and cash management or funding mechanics; Legal experience; Client-facing experience working directly with sponsors, borrowers, counsel, and consultants; Entrepreneurial, highly motivated, mature, and intelligent, with demonstrated excellence in prior endeavors; Familiarity with diligence streams including title/survey, third-party reports, construction documents, insurance, environmental, and entitlements

Benefits

Employer-paid Medical, Dental & Vision, with buy-up options; Flexible Spending Account; Health Savings Account; Carrot Fertility Benefit ($10,000 lifetime benefit); 401k company match 4%, immediately vested; Generous PTO; 11 Paid Company Holidays and Paid Holiday Office Closure; 14 weeks Maternity Leave and 12 weeks Parental Leave; Wellbeing program offerings; Cell phone reimbursement; Engaging team events and holiday parties