Senior Manager, Special Accounts Management Unit Operations

Lever, Inc.; Toronto; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive discretionary bonus

Market-leading RRSP match

Medical, dental, vision, life

Employee Share Purchase Plan

Career development program

Job summary

EQ Bank in Toronto, Ontario seeks a Senior Manager for the Special Accounts Management Unit Operations to design and lead scalable SAMU processes across defaulted and high-risk lending. You will collaborate with Credit Risk, Finance, Legal, and Operations to ensure robust controls and enterprise-wide governance.

Lead workflow design, escalation models, and cross-functional coordination, delivering insights and strategic recommendations for long-term risk management and capital protection.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years in commercial mortgage lending, credit risk, or restructuring.
• Business degree or related discipline.
• Strong knowledge of mortgage enforcement and foreclosure in Canada.
• Proficient financial modeling and credit analysis.

Responsibilities

• Design and refine SAMU operational workflows, controls, and reporting.
• Provide senior operational oversight across SAMU portfolios.
• Establish governance routines for escalation and decision-making.
• Oversee complex legal actions with external counsel and internal partners.

Job description

Join a Challenger

At EQ, we're remaking banking so every Canadian gets ahead, every day. Serving nearly 4 million Canadians from coast to coast, we offer a wide variety of financial services from banking and lending, to trust and credit union solutions. We've been at this since 1970, challenging the conventions of traditional banking with smarter, faster, and more connected financial experiences. If you're driven to help reshape how banking works for Canadians and the businesses that power our economy, this could be your next big opportunity. We can’t wait to get to know you!

The Work

The Senior Manager, Special Accounts Management Unit Operations is accountable for designing, leading, and continuously improving the operational framework, controls, and governance model supporting the Bank’s Special Accounts Management Unit (SAMU). This role provides senior operational leadership across defaulted and high‑risk commercial lending portfolios, ensuring that SAMU operations are scalable, well‑controlled, and aligned with the Bank’s broader credit risk, regulatory, and capital protection objectives.

The role goes beyond day‑to‑day execution to shape how SAMU operates, including workflow design, governance routines, escalation models, and cross‑functional coordination. The incumbent acts as a key partner to senior leaders across Credit Risk, Finance, Legal, and Operations, bringing forward insights, recommendations, and decisions with longer‑term and enterprise‑level implications.

The Core Responsibilities

Portfolio & Operational Management

• Lead the design and ongoing refinement of SAMU operational workflows, controls, and reporting frameworks to support effective management of defaulted and higher‑risk commercial lending exposures.
• Provide senior operational oversight across SAMU portfolios, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and scalability in account onboarding, tracking, classification, and remediation processes.
• Establish and maintain governance routines that enable timely escalation, informed decision‑making, and alignment across internal and external stakeholders.
• Oversee complex legal action and enforcement files, setting standards for coordination with external counsel and internal partners, and ensuring appropriate use of remedies and authorities.

Credit Risk & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure SAMU operational practices support accurate credit classification, impairment recognition, and default reporting in accordance with IFRS 9 and applicable regulatory guidance.
• Proactively identify operational, regulatory, and control risks within SAMU processes, assessing downstream impacts to capital, financial reporting, and regulatory compliance.
• Partner with Risk, Finance, and Compliance teams to strengthen control environments, documentation standards, and audit readiness across SAMU activities.

Policy, Controls & Continuous Improvement

• Own the operational interpretation and implementation of SAMU‑related credit, remedial, and restructuring policies, ensuring consistent application across the portfolio.
• Identify systemic gaps, inefficiencies, or control weaknesses and lead the development of sustainable, longer‑term solutions, rather than point fixes.
• Use data, trend analysis, and portfolio insights to recommend enhancements to processes, governance models, and reporting structures.

Stakeholder Leadership & Influence

• Act as a senior operational advisor and escalation point for SAMU operations, supporting informed decision‑making by senior leadership.
• Lead cross‑functional collaboration with Relationship Management, Credit Risk, Legal, Finance, and Operations to align objectives, clarify accountabilities, and resolve complex operational issues.
• Translate complex operational and risk considerations into clear, actionable insights for senior stakeholders.

Let’s Talk About You

• Have a minimum of 5-7 years of commercial mortgage lending, credit risk, or restructuring.
• Business degree or a related discipline or similar professional designation or equivalent work experience.
• Strong working knowledge of mortgage enforcement remedies and foreclosure processes across Canada.
• Proficient credit analysis, financial modeling, and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to assess complex and incomplete information.
• Technical understanding of secured lending, commercial real estate markets, and end‑to‑end credit processes.
• Developed organizational and time‑management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities under tight timelines.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced, high‑intensity, and evolving environment.
• Proven self‑starter with the ability to work independently while exercising sound judgment and accountability.
• Excellent presentation skills and ability to professionally communicate with Senior Management and other stakeholders (both internal and external).
• Proficient in MS Office.

What we offer [For full-time permanent roles]

• Competitive discretionary bonus
• Market leading RRSP match program
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability benefits
• Employee Share Purchase Plan
• Maternity/Parental top-up while you care for your little one
• Generous vacation policy and personal days
• Virtual events to connect with your fellow colleagues
• Professional development and comprehensive Career Development program
• A fulfilling opportunity to join one of the top FinTechs and help create a new kind of banking experience

The incumbent will be working hybrid and in office time will be spent working from EQ Bank’s additional office space located at 2200-25 Ontario Street, Toronto, ON.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

EQ is committed to building an inclusive, accessible environment where every employee feels valued, respected, and supported. We believe our organization is stronger — and our people thrive — when we honour and celebrate diverse experiences, identities, and perspectives. We’re equally committed to supporting your growth, both professionally and personally.

We provide a barrier‑free recruitment process and work environment. If you require accommodations at any stage, we will work with you to ensure you can bring your best self to the process and beyond.

As part of our recruitment process, EQ uses AI to help screen, assess, and/or select applicants for this position. All AI-enabled outputs are reviewed and validated by our talent team. All candidates considered for hire must successfully complete a criminal background check and credit check. While we appreciate every application, an EQ recruiter will contact only those whose skills and experience most closely match the requirements of the role.

EQB Inc. (TSX: EQB) is the parent company of Equitable Bank, the country's seventh-largest Schedule I bank by assets, which operates EQ Bank, Canada's Challenger Bank. EQB Inc. serves nearly 4 million Canadians and manages approximately $150 billion in combined assets under management and administration.

To learn more, visit eqb.investorroom.com and eqbank.ca.