Manager-LEAF Operations

Manages multiple teams within LEAF (LEAF Commercial Capital) Operations, overseeing a staff including Operations Managers to drive strategy and maintain high standards of operational excellence in direct correlation with business focus and new program specifications.  Works with other managers regarding servicing, compliance, and risk to identify and resolve operational issues.  Ensures superior service with dealers to build and grow these relationships to support attaining projected sales volumes. 

Oversee, train, and evaluate teams responsible for reconciling and resolving all customer requests, inquiries, and discrepancies as they arise, including issues related to the portfolio serviced by, and for, third-party lenders.

Implement procedures to ensure the customer and/or vendor program is receiving the best possible service.

Develop innovative initiatives to enhance internal efficiency and effectiveness; establish departmental goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures and foster, through mentoring and leadership, critical and independent thinking skills and behaviors in staff to ensure their potential is maximized and utilized as a resource pool for other areas of the organization.

Serve as escalation point for management to resolve issues; provide advice and guidance to staff members on all aspects of team management pre- and post-booking.

Manage preparation of amendment, modification, assignment, and assumption agreements including UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) amendments and partial releases, as well as related changes to the system.

Monitor skill development of team members, set department goals and objectives, measure, and incent accordingly.

Approve funding on all transactions within assigned authority; review and approve departmental work to ensure compliance with credit approval and loan closing conditions.

Execute loans, leases, assignments and/or related documentation on behalf of the organization.

Utilize understanding of requirements to purchase third-party paper as needed.

Develop and maintain relationships with sales and management as required to promote lease products to vendors and end users.

Provide support for projects identified by upper management.

Evaluate procedures and policies on a regular basis and drive changes to increase operational efficiency, maximize resources, and minimize expenditures.

Act on behalf of assigned managers as required by absence.

Exercise usual authority of a manager concerning staffing, performance appraisals, promotions, salary recommendations, performance management and terminations.

Understand and adhere to the Company’s risk and regulatory standards, policies, and controls in accordance with the Company’s Risk Appetite.  Design, implement, maintain, and enhance internal controls to mitigate risk on an ongoing basis.  Identify risk-related issues needing escalation to management.

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

Maintain M&T internal control standards, including timely implementation of internal and external audit points together with any issues raised by external regulators as applicable.

Complete other related duties as assigned.

LEAF is a leasing company focused on providing superior dealer/customer service while attaining projected sales volumes.  This position is responsible for managing multiple operational teams and portfolio of responsibilities with a significant amount of complexity.  The position works with internal contacts, including upper management, and external contacts, including customers, vendors, and outside agencies.

No. of Staff – 40 - 60

Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 7 years’ related experience, or in lieu of a degree, a combined minimum of 11 years’ higher education and/or work experience, including a minimum of 7 years’ related experience

Minimum of 2 years’ managerial, supervisory, and/or work leadership experience

Strong knowledge of the leasing industry including concepts, contract types, and terminology

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Strong customer service skills

Strong motivational skills

Strong interpersonal skills

Proficiency with personal computers as well as pertinent word processing, spreadsheet, and industry-specific software

Strong organizational skills

Strong prioritization skills

Strong ability to inform, educate, and influence employees to support corporate goals and objectives

Minimum of 4 years’ managerial experience

Experience managing large and complex teams

Prior leadership experience at a customer-centered organization

N/A