VP of Operations, Fintech Partnerships

Celtic Bank is a premier banking partner for financial technology (fintech) companies. Our partners are some of the nation’s largest and most innovative fintechs and specialty finance companies.  Through these relationships, the Strategic Lending Partnerships (SLP) Team at Celtic supports a diverse array of consumer and small business financing solutions.  Over the last decade, the Celtic SLP team has cultivated a proven reputation as a capable and collaborative bank-partner, and has set a high standard for robust yet thoughtful oversight.    To help maintain and grow this standard in a safe and sustainable manner, we’re seeking an experienced operations manager to oversee and standardize daily and ongoing activities. The ideal candidate will have a sharp business mind and proven success in managing multiple challenges for maximum productivity. 

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate, and support a team within a time-sensitive and demanding environment, including career development plans for direct reports and problem resolution. 
• Enhance team organizational structure to promote efficiency, accountability and risk management principles
• Analyze, assess, and identify areas for process improvement, and provide recommendations to senior management on existing operational processes.
• Model best practice program execution and promote standardization and consistency across the SLP organization.
• Evaluate workload/staffing needs and make recommendations to senior management.
• Evaluate new and existing technology tools to promote efficiency and enhance risk controls.
• Maintain and manage the tracking and resolution of issues, opportunities for improvement, and best practice enhancements.
• Evaluate product-level performance and tracking reports supplied by the fintech partners on a periodic basis. Produce summary reporting and distribute to management for review and input.
• Support Bank management during regulatory exams or internal audits.
• Support and advise Program Managers through the Due Diligence and Implementation process for new fintech partners.
• Participate in ongoing training and educational opportunities to ensure relevant skills are maintained.
• Serve as initial escalation point for fintech partner issues.
• Create and document written processes to promote consistency across partnerships.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 7 years of banking, finance, or equivalent relevant operations experience.
• Excellent people-management and interpersonal skills including the ability to train, manage, and mentor a team of direct reports.
• Proficiency in negotiation to resolve conflicts, reach consensus, and manage expectations.
• Problem solving to address challenges and obstacles that arise during implementation, identifying solutions and making informed decisions.
• Decision making - decisive & data driven to provide clear guidance and alignment.
• Adaptability: Ability to navigate the team through ambiguity and embrace change.
• Assertive self-starter, with exceptional professional verbal/written skills, who is highly organized and able to work independently to finish assigned projects.
• Excellent ability to analyze complex issues and identify suitable solutions.
• Ability to interface effectively with other departments and operate in a fast paced environment with minimal supervision.
• Ability to recognize and focus on critical issues. Flexibility to balance and respond to competing needs within the organization.
• Strong knowledge of the current banking regulatory environment is a plus.  Experience working with regulators (FDIC, Utah Department of Financial Institutions) is highly desired.
• Experience with Salesforce and a solid working knowledge of various computer systems, software and changing technology.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision
• 401(k) with employer match
• Life and long-term disability coverage
• HSA and FSA plans
• Holidays and paid time off requests
• Employee Recognition Program
• Robust wellness program (we’re talking catered meals three times a weeks, lunch and learns, and onsite gym.)

Headquartered in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, Celtic Bank was named a top SBA lender in the nation in 2023! Celtic Bank is a leading nationwide lender specializing in SBA 7(a), SBA 504, USDA B&I, express loans, asset-based loans, commercial real estate loans and commercial construction loans.

Celtic Bank is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state and local fair employment practices laws.

Physical and Other Requirements

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. The demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Stationary Work: The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to type, handle documents, and perform other office related duties. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
• Mobility: The employee in this position needs to occasionally move between work sites and inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
• Communicate: The employee is regularly required to talk or hear and will frequently communicate with others. Must be able to read, write and understand fluent English.

• Work Model: The employee in this position will work either a fully Onsite or Hybrid work model. All employees, regardless of location, may be required to travel to the Salt Lake City office for mandatory company meetings, events, or related occasions.
• Utah-based employees: Hybrid work schedule available after initial training period in our Salt Lake City, Utah office – department and job requirements will determine eligibility.