Business Banking Lead Relationship Liaison

M&T Bank; Bridgeport (CT); On-site; USD 44,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

M&T Bank in Bridgeport, CT seeks a senior team-leader in portfolio and risk management within the Business Banking Sales Division. You will guide loan accounting practices, ensure policy compliance, and coordinate across underwriting, legal, and documentation teams to close loans efficiently.

You will mentor staff, manage escalations, and work with relationship managers on portfolio priorities and new loan requests, while upholding risk standards and fostering a collaborative environment across

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required; or minimum 3 years of banking/financial industry experience in lieu of degree.
• Demonstrated leadership and mentoring abilities with coaching mindset.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills across multiple teams and stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively in fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee development and enhancement of team expertise in loan accounting systems and internal policies.
• Provide strategic oversight of compliance with credit policy and loan documentation.
• Lead communication among underwriting, legal, and documentation teams to close loans.
• Mentor team members and drive issue escalation and process improvement.
• Conduct regular meetings with Relationship Managers to prioritize portfolio management and new loan requests.
• Manage client-facing transaction requests, documentation, fraud support, and escalations.
• Research client issues and propose solutions with risk mitigants.
• Monitor portfolio assets and covenant compliance for proactive risk management.
• delegate tasks to improve workflow and efficiency.
• Lead training and onboarding of new team members and drive efficiency projects.
• Ensure adherence to risk and regulatory standards and escalate issues to senior management.
• Maintain internal controls and address audit points and regulator findings.

Skills

Leadership

Mentorship

Communication

Teamwork

Risk management

Time management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Adobe DC

Salesforce

Microsoft Word

Excel

Banking systems

Job description

Overview

Part of a team of professionals assigned to portfolio and risk management, service and sales support activities associated with the Business Banking Sales Division. Serve as a strong leader to both operational and sales partners, facilitating seamless communication and collaboration between teams for enhanced synergy and efficiency. Achieve operational expertise and serve as a subject matter expert for M&T’s policies and procedures. Provide coaching and mentorship to team members, enhancing their skillsets.

Primary Responsibilities

• Oversees the development and enhancement of team expertise in loan accounting systems, internal policies, procedures, and systems/applications, applicable regulatory guidelines, and ensuring comprehensive issue resolution.

• Provides strategic oversight of compliance with M&T Credit Policy, business financial documents, business banking loans, and additional legal documentation to ensure robust asset management.

• Leads the communication efforts among credit underwriting, external attorneys, internal legal, document preparation departments, and others as may be needed to facilitate timely loan closing and proactively resolve complex issues.

• Mentors and coaches team members, fostering collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to address discrepancies/issues found during due diligence, loan documentation, loan closing and review processes. Drives escalation of significant issues as appropriate. Partners with sales leadership to evaluate and process exception requests, guiding deviations from standard business practices.

• Lead regular one-on-one meetings with Relationship Manager(s) to prioritize and strategize ongoing portfolio management activities and new loan requests, while facilitating cross-business line cluster meetings.

• Play a key role in the client facing team by overseeing transaction requests, documentation collection, fraud support, error resolution, and managing escalations.

• Conduct thorough research on client and bank issues, proposing comprehensive solutions and evaluating potential trade-offs while identifying risks and presenting effective mitigants.

• Monitor and manage the portfolio’s outstanding assets, such as, but not limited to maturing loans, exception pricing, annual reviews, and covenant compliance, ensuring proactive oversight.

• Delegate tasks to ensure uninterrupted workflow and enhance team efficiency.

• Provide coaching and mentorship to team members, enhancing their skills in risk identification and mitigation alongside the relationship team, fostering a collaborative environment.

• Assume additional responsibilities as needed, including leading the training and mentoring of new team members, identifying opportunities for process improvements, and driving projects aimed at enhancing efficiency.

• Ensure comprehensive understanding and adherence to the Company’s risk and regulatory standards, policies, and controls in accordance with the Company’s Risk Appetite. Proactively identify and elevate risk-related issues to senior management.

• Maintain and strengthen M&T internal control standards by overseeing the timely implementation of internal and external audit points together with any issues raised by external regulators and ensuring compliance.

• Promote an environment that supports belonging and reflects the M&T Bank brand.

• Undertake additional related duties as assigned, providing strategic oversight and guidance as necessary.

Education and Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree

• In lieu of a bachelor’s degree, minimum of 3 years of banking/financial industry experience.

Education and Experience Preferred

• Ability to work as a team member with tact and diplomacy.

• Thrives in a fast-paced environment, excels in time sensitive situations, and has the ability to deliver results with tight deadlines for various assignments.

• Proficient personal computer skills, including Adobe DC, Sales force, Microsoft Word, and Excel.

• Proficient in banking systems, policies, procedures, regulation along with broad knowledge of state and courthouse filings.

• Experienced in lending operations to include business banking loan approvals, financial statements, and loan documentation.

Physical Requirements

M&T Bank is committed to fair, competitive, and market-informed pay for our employees. The pay range for this position is $31.72 - $52.86 Hourly (USD). The successful candidate’s particular combination of knowledge, skills, and experience will inform their specific compensation.

Location

Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States of America

M&T Bank Corporation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, including disabilities and veterans.