Operations Manager

About Bankwell Bankwell is a commercial bank with more than $3 billion in assets that serves the banking needs of businesses and individuals. At Bankwell, we pride ourselves on our unique ability to bring you high touch, high quality banking with the expertise and dedication of our experienced team of professionals. When it comes to business, our deep industry knowledge, flexibility and innovative treasury and financing services enable us to find the right solutions for our business and commercial clients. We’re passionate about giving back and are actively involved with many not-for-profit organizations that help shape and improve the lives of others. We’re dedicated to giving our time and talent to support the communities we serve. More about Bankwell can be found at Summary of Position The First Vice President, Operations Manager is a senior leadership role reporting to the Senior Vice President, Head of Operations. The Operations Manager will lead an organization of six (6) direct reports and a total organization of 13 people. This role is responsible for overseeing daily deposit, payment and retail operations activities of the bank, ensuring efficient, compliant and client-focused processes. In addition to managing operations, this role provides support to internal clients, drives process improvements, and ensures adherence to regulatory requirements and internal control narratives. The ideal candidate is a strong leader, is experienced at coaching and managing a team, has an innovative mindset, is an analytical thinker who brings a broad and deep knowledge of banking operations. Responsibilities Oversee day-to-day banking operations, including deposits, garnishments and levies, escheatment, deposit products, exception items, new account review, payments (ACH, wire, fraud reviews), remote deposit capture, and branch operations (cash, ATMs), reconciliations Responsible for monitoring and remediating data quality issues related to the core deposit system and other integrated applications Ensure operational processes comply with all regulatory requirements and internal policies Monitor and improve operational efficiency, identifying opportunities for automation and cost reduction Manage and mentor operations staff, including hiring, training, performance management and development Establish and maintain formal departmental training program Collaborate with departments such as Retail Banking, Private Banking, Treasury Management, Risk, Compliance, Finance, Lending and IT to ensure seamless operations Develop and maintain standard operating procedures and internal controls narratives Responsible for issue management tracking and remediation, including self-identified issues, audit issues, and regulatory issues Develop and maintain ACH, Wire and Electronic Banking policies Develop, analyze and maintain operational metrics (KRIs and KPIs), including ACH return ratios; prepare reports for senior leadership Lead initiatives related to process improvement, system upgrades, and digital transformation Handle escalations related to operational issues and customer complaints Ensure business continuity planning and risk mitigation strategies are in place and tested Manage audit and regulatory exam responses Manage vendor relationships, including core banking, online banking, and payments vendors. Requirements Experience 5-10 years of direct experience in bank operations 3+ years of operations management experience 2 -4 years of direct team management experience Skills and Competencies Strong knowledge of banking operations, regulations and compliance requirements Leadership and team management and development skills Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills Experience with core and online banking systems Strong communication and interpersonal skills Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment Strong Project Management Skills Familiarity with regulatory frameworks such as BSA/AML, KYC, FDIC, FFIEC guidelines Experience with core banking platforms and digital transformation initiatives NCP, AAP, APRP and/or APRP certification(s) a plus Equal Employment Opportunity Bankwell is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, marital status, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws. Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the terms of Americans with Disabilities Act and certain other state or local laws. Please inform Bankwell’s Human Resources representative if you need assistance completing any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process. #J-18808-Ljbffr