SBA Manager

At Community Financial System, Inc. (CFSI), we are dedicated to providing our customers with friendly, personalized, high-quality financial services and products. Our retail division, Community Bank, N.A., operates more than 200 customer facilities across Upstate New York, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Vermont and Western Massachusetts. Beyond retail banking, we also offer commercial banking, wealth management, investment management, insurance and risk management, and benefit plan administration.

Just as our employees are committed to helping our customers manage their finances, we're committed to our employees. After all, they make it happen for our customers every day.

To ensure our people can enjoy long and successful careers here at CFSI, we offer competitive compensation, great benefits, and professional development and advancement opportunities. As an equal-opportunity workplace and affirmative-action employer, we celebrate and support a diverse workplace for the benefit of all: our employees, customers and communities.

The location of this role can be flexible, and it can be based out of one of our major site locations.

Responsible to lead and manage the Bank's SBA Lending Operations in order to meet the goals of the Business Banking Department's strategic plan. This includes the origination, underwriting, processing, closing and servicing of SBA loans. The individual will work to expand our utilization of SBA guaranteed loan programs. Ensure staff is making sound loan underwriting decisions that comply with established Bank and SBA operating policies and procedures; communicating effectively with appropriate personnel; and maintaining appropriate files and documentation. Responsible for maintaining the Bank's delegated SBA Lending authority and assist with any future enhancements of SBA status.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage Business Banking SBA team by ensuring adherence to:
• • SBA SOP, 13 CFR 120 and Bank loan policy, procedures and compliance with all laws and regulations
  • SBA underwriting standards for the various types of SBA guarantees
  • Proper loan decisioning rationale
  • Appropriate risk ratings
  • Pertinent file documentation
• Keep up to date with changes in the SBA guidelines and ensure timely implementation and communication to appropriate bank personnel.
• Independently underwrite and decision renewals, new money requests, modification requests within your lending authority.
• Process and approve all servicing requests for SBA guaranteed loans to include extensions, loan modifications, collateral and or guarantee release requests under Unilateral or Delegated Authority and or via submission to the SBA CLCS.
• Coordinate the SBA underwriting workflow to ensure timely turnaround of loan requests.
• Develop a workflow to include the use of SBA processing within Baker Hill's NG platform.
• Assist in and coordinate SBA training for Underwriters, Branch Managers, Business Banking Champions, Business and Middle Market Bankers in regards to the SBA programs, process and the SBA SOP.
• Develop and maintain SBA Management reports to track SBA originations and related turn times and offer solutions for improvement.
• Oversee all internal and external audits as related to the SBA portfolio; SBA Risk Based Reviews; Renewal of delegated authority and administration of all programs required and or utilized for SBA loan processing (SAMS annual renewal / Authorizing Official for CAFS, IVES, etc.) and address findings.
• Build and maintain positive communication and professional relationships with SBA district offices and other regulatory bodies.
• Maintain professional communication with CBNA Commercial and Retail Bankers along with other Bank personnel in providing quality customer service.
• Collaborate with Director of Business Banking, Underwriting Manager, Operations Manager and Portfolio Manager to ensure overall departmental goals are met.
• Assist in the development and execution of strategic plans to grow SBA loan volume.
• Work independently with minimal oversight.
• Maintain proficient knowledge of, and demonstrate ongoing compliance with all laws and regulations applicable to this position, ensure ongoing adherence to policies, procedures, and internal controls, and meet all training requirements in a timely manner

Ancillary Duties:

As an integral member of the Business Banking Department, this position is also responsible to provide assistance wherever necessary to help the Bank in achieving annual goals. Other duties as assigned.

Education, Training and Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in Business or a related field of study (Finance, Management, Economics, or Accounting).
• All applicants must be 18 years of age or older.

Skills:

• Proficient reading, writing, grammar and mathematics skills; effective interpersonal and communication skills (both verbal and written). Thorough knowledge of commercial lending, advanced credit analysis, loan structuring and loan documentation requirements. Ability to make sound loan approval decisions and properly risk rate loans. Proficient at working in a face-paced, deadline-driven environment requiring multitasking and attention to detail. Strong training and mentoring skills. PC proficiency including Microsoft Word and Excel. Knowledge of NextGen is a plus.

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of commercial banking/credit analysis experience with prior lending authority. Minimum SBA lending experience of 5 years.
• Minimum of 3 years management experience.

Compensation: Commensurate with experience plus potential for annual merit increase. In addition to your competitive salary, you will be rewarded benefits including: 11 paid holidays, paid vacation, Medical, Vision & Dental insurance, 401K with generous match, Pension, Tuition Reimbursement, Banking discounts and the list goes on!

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to stand, walk or sit. Use hands and fingers, handle or feel, reach with hands or arms, and speak and hear. The employee may occasionally be required to lift and or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and the ability to focus.

The Company is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

The Company will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with a disability. If you have a physical or mental impairment and would like to request an accommodation with respect to the application process, please contact the Human Resources Department.