Business Banking Relationship Manager

Community Bank, N.A.; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 80,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

11 paid holidays

Paid vacation

Medical insurance

Vision & Dental insurance

401K with generous match

Pension

Tuition Reimbursement

Banking discounts

Job summary

Community Financial System, Inc. (CFSI) is seeking a Business Banking Relationship Manager to acquire and grow a portfolio of commercial clients with lending, deposit, and treasury solutions.

You will deliver tailored financial strategies and maintain strong client relationships through proactive service. The role requires 3–7+ years in commercial banking, knowledge of lending, cash flow analysis, and strong communication.

Qualifications

• 3–7+ years of commercial or business banking experience, including credit underwriting or portfolio management exposure.
• Strong knowledge of commercial lending, cash flow analysis, and loan structuring for businesses under $25 million in revenue.
• Proven track record of business development success and portfolio growth.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to interpret and analyze complex financial statements.

Responsibilities

• Portfolio Management & Business Development: Develop and manage a portfolio of business banking clients, ensuring strong relationship retention and growth.
• Credit & Financial Analysis: Conduct thorough financial analysis of business clients, including review of financial statements, tax returns, projections, and collateral.
• Client Advisory & Relationship Building: Serve as the primary contact for business clients, delivering consultative guidance on banking, lending, cash flow strategies, and capital needs.
• Risk Management & Compliance: Maintain compliance with regulatory, legal, and internal policy requirements.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or related field

Job description

Overview

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.

Responsibilities

The Business Banking Relationship Manager is responsible for acquiring, growing, and managing a portfolio of business clients with credit needs typically ranging from $250,000 to $3,000,000 and annual company revenues generally below $25 million. This role focuses on delivering tailored lending, deposit, and treasury solutions that help business owners achieve their financial and operational objectives. The Relationship Manager serves as a trusted advisor, developing strong relationships through proactive engagement, financial insight, and exceptional service.

Essential Duties

Portfolio Management & Business Development

• Develop and manage a portfolio of business banking clients, ensuring strong relationship retention and growth.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities through prospecting, networking, COI development, and targeted calling efforts.
• Analyze industry trends, local market conditions, and client needs to recommend appropriate banking solutions.
• Meet or exceed annual production goals for loans, deposits, and fee-based products.

Credit & Financial Analysis

• Conduct thorough financial analysis of business clients, including review of financial statements, tax returns, projections, and collateral.
• Structure credit facilities aligned with customer needs while ensuring compliance with bank credit policy and risk appetite.
• Prepare and present credit packages in partnership with credit underwriting teams.
• Monitor portfolio credit quality, manage renewals, and proactively identify early warning indicators.

Client Advisory & Relationship Building

• Serve as the primary point of contact for business clients, delivering consultative guidance on banking, lending, cash flow strategies, and capital needs.
• Partner with internal specialists (treasury, merchant services, wealth management, etc.) to deepen client relationships and deliver comprehensive solutions.
• Conduct onsite client visits to maintain awareness of operational changes and provide strategic financial insights.
• Provide timely and responsive service to ensure exceptional client satisfaction.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Maintain compliance with all regulatory, legal, and internal policy requirements.
• Ensure proper documentation, portfolio management, and adherence to KYC/AML standards.
• Manage risk through proactive monitoring of covenant compliance, collateral conditions, and borrower performance.
• 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.

Qualifications

Education, Training, Experience, and Skill Requirements

Required

• 3–7+ years of commercial or business banking experience, including credit underwriting or portfolio management exposure.
• Strong knowledge of commercial lending, cash flow analysis, and loan structuring for businesses under $25 million in revenue.
• Proven track record of business development success and portfolio growth.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to interpret and analyze complex financial statements.
• All applicants must be 18 years of age or older.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or related field.
• Experience with SBA lending programs (7(a), 504) and alternative financing solutions.
• Established network of COIs in the local business community.

Core Competencies

• Financial & Credit Acumen

Other Job Information

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 Affinitative 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.

Minimum

USD $80,000.00/Yr.

Maximum

USD $139,633.00/Yr.