Lead Deposit Operations Specialist

Stearns Bank N.A.; Saint Cloud (MN); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP & 401k

Healthcare benefits

Parental & Medical Leave

Family Care Reimbursement

PTO & carryover

Sick leave

Holidays

Self Allowance Time

Tuition Assistance

Job summary

Stearns Bank is seeking a Lead Deposit Operations Specialist in Minnesota for a hybrid role with in-office rotation at the St. Cloud branch.

You will lead and coordinate multiple Deposit Operations functions, drive process improvements and ensure accurate daily processing, with a focus on compliance and customer service. The role requires strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, plus familiarity with banking operations and relevant regulatory guidelines.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or equivalent from a two-year college or technical school.
• 2+ years of banking operations experience strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of ITI preferred.
• Familiarity with basic accounting principles.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Flexible.

Responsibilities

• Operate as the team Lead by supporting multiple areas of Deposit Operations.
• Provide guidance and assistance to team members and help ensure daily processes are completed accurately and efficiently.
• Identify and lead process improvements and changes.
• Maintain a strong working knowledge of Deposit Operations and stay current on operational, regulatory, and industry trends and requirements.
• Assist with daily operational activities, including account maintenance and verification, IRA support, stop payments, NSF processing, debit card functions, controlled account activity, and other deposit-related processes.
• Perform daily, weekly, and monthly reconciliations and reviews of DDA, savings, general ledger, and controlled accounts, including researching and resolving discrepancies and exception items.
• Process and resolve non-post items, invalid ACH transactions, ACH and check returns, adjustments, and other operational exceptions.
• Support wire operations, including wire verification, processing, reporting, adjustments, logs, and related cash and clearing activities.
• Assist with Operations Funding activities, including monitoring required reserve positions, maintaining correspondent bank balances, processing Fed stock dividends, and coordinating borrowing and repayment of funds as needed.
• Support Positive Pay, Backup Withholding, Garnishments, and other specialized deposit and operational functions.
• Provide account verifications and assist with research, documentation, and legal requests, including Summons and Subpoenas, as needed.
• Participate in the in-office rotation and provide support for branch and operational activities such as chargebacks, accounts payable checks, statements, CD maturity notices, and related functions.
• Assist with training and ongoing education for team members and demonstrate strong time management, problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and leadership skills.
• Ensure procedures and documentation remain current and accessible, and maintain compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies; perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Time management

Problem-solving

Teamwork

Flexibility

Education

Associate degree or equivalent

Tools

ITI

Job description

At Stearns Bank, we’re helping people, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and local communities nationwide reach their full financial potential. Sound like something you want to be a part of? If so, we’re currently looking for a Lead Deposit Operations Specialist. This is a hybrid position with an in-office rotation to our St. Cloud branch location.

Come see how we’re doing business unusual and charting our own path to reimagine a more inclusive financial services and banking ecosystem for all.

BENEFITS

Stearns Bank understands and respects that everyone is managing unique career, family, and wellness needs. That’s why we offer industry-leading benefits to employees to help them live healthy lives and bring their full selves to work every day. Benefits may vary for part-time positions. Some of those benefits include:

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan & 401k Plan
• Healthcare (Medical, Dental, Vision, Telehealth, Life insurance)
• 12-week Paid Parental Leave and Medical Leave: With a cap of 20 weeks for eligible team members who qualify for both Medical and Parental Leave related to the birth of a child.
• $5,000 Family Care Reimbursement: Childcare, Elder Care, Student Loan Debt, Pet expenses, Down Payment Assistance
• PTO from 13 to 23 days depending on tenure. Cashout and Carryover options
• 10 Days Sick Time
• 11 Paid Holidays
• 2 Days Self Allowance Time
• Tuition Assistance

For this position, we anticipate a salary range between $70,000 - $80,000. Final employment offers will be dependent upon the selected candidate’s relevant qualifications and experience.

JOB SUMMARY

The Lead Deposit Operations Specialist thrives in a fast-paced environment and provides support across multiple areas of the Deposit Operations department, helping ensure departmental functions run smoothly, efficiently, and effectively. The position requires leadership, flexibility, and proficiency in all areas of the Deposit Operations department, managing tasks and projects as business needs dictate. They must communicate effectively at all levels and be eager to learn and understand all responsibilities of the department. This is a hybrid position and requires an in-office rotation.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Operate as the team Lead by supporting multiple areas of Deposit Operations.
• Provide guidance and assistance to team members and help ensure daily processes are completed accurately and efficiently.
• Identify and lead process improvements and changes.
• Maintain a strong working knowledge of Deposit Operations and stay current on operational, regulatory, and industry trends and requirements.
• Assist with daily operational activities, including account maintenance and verification, IRA support, stop payments, NSF processing, debit card functions, controlled account activity, and other deposit-related processes.
• Perform daily, weekly, and monthly reconciliations and reviews of DDA, savings, general ledger, and controlled accounts, including researching and resolving discrepancies and exception items.
• Process and resolve non-post items, invalid ACH transactions, ACH and check returns, adjustments, and other operational exceptions.
• Support wire operations, including wire verification, processing, reporting, adjustments, logs, and related cash and clearing activities.
• Assist with Operations Funding activities, including monitoring required reserve positions, maintaining correspondent bank balances, processing Fed stock dividends, and coordinating borrowing and repayment of funds as needed.
• Support Positive Pay, Backup Withholding, Garnishments, and other specialized deposit and operational functions.
• Provide account verifications and assist with research, documentation, and legal requests, including Summons and Subpoenas, as needed.
• Participate in the in-office rotation and provide support for branch and operational activities such as chargebacks, accounts payable checks, statements, CD maturity notices, and related functions.
• Assist with training and ongoing education for team members and demonstrate strong time management, problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and leadership skills.
• Ensure procedures and documentation remain current and accessible, and maintain compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies; perform other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS

• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 lbs.
• Literacy in English.
• Ability to sit for extended periods of time, twist, bend, sit, walk use hands to twist, handle or feel objects, tools or controls, such as computer mouse, computer keyboard, calculator, stapler, telephone, staple puller, etc., reach with hands and arms, balance, stoop, kneel, talk or hear.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate degree or equivalent from a two-year college or technical school; or one to two years related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2+ years of banking operations experience strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of ITI preferred.
• Familiarity with basic accounting principles.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Flexible.

THE COMPANY

Founded in 1912, Stearns Financial Services Inc. (SFSI) is a $3.2 billion, independently owned financial institution with locations in Minnesota, Florida and Arizona, and over 35,000 small business customers nationwide. Specializing in affordable housing financing, USDA and SBA lending, and small business and equipment financing, Stearns Bank is regularly recognized as one of the country’s top-performing banks and “Best Banks to Work For” by American Banker.

As a Star Tribune Top Workplaces award recipient and an award recipient of the Minnesota Business Magazine 100 Best Places to Work in Minnesota, Stearns takes pride in their team and holds their employees in extremely high regard. We offer a competitive salary and benefit package including our Employee Stock Ownership Program‑one of the best long-term incentive programs in the nation. To learn more about Stearns Bank, visit www.StearnsBank.com

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER /AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLAN

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, or creed, religion, sex, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran’s status, status with regard to public assistance, or any other class protected by Federal, State, local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.