Junior Finance Manager / Desk Manager Automotive Dealership

Job Description

Job Description

Location: Cook County, IL

Job Type: Full-time

Compensation: [$80,000 - $110,000+ expected total earnings | Salary + Monthly Commissions & Bonuses]

About the Role

We are seeking an energetic, driven Junior Finance Manager / Desk Manager to join our fast-paced dealership sales floor. This hybrid role bridges sales desk management and financial services—working directly with sales reps to structure deals, run customer credit, present financing options, and step in as F&I backup when needed. It is the ideal growth path for a strong senior sales consultant or assistant desk manager looking to transition into full-time F&I management.

Compensation & Commission Pay Plan Structure

This position features a balanced compensation package designed to provide income stability while offering strong commission upsides tied to front-end sales volume and back-end F&I profit.

• Base Salary Draw: $3,000 - $4,000 / month ($36,000 - $48,000 annual base salary)

• Sales Desk Commission (Front-End):
  
  
  • $25 per unit delivered off the desk where you assisted in working or closing the deal.

  • Volume Tier Multiplier: Bumps to $40 per unit once the dealership reaches 80+ total units sold in a calendar month (retroactive to unit one).

• F&I Backup Commission (Back-End):
  
  
  • 10% of total back-end gross profit generated on any deal turn where you directly run the menu, turn the customer, and print/fund the deal.

  • Product Flat Bonus: $50 bonus for every Vehicle Service Contract (VSC) or GAP policy sold during backup turns.

• Monthly Performance Bonuses:
  
  
  • Store Volume Bonus: $500 bonus if the dealership hits its total monthly sales target.

  • CIT / Funding Speed Bonus: $300 monthly bonus if contracts in transit (CIT) under your management are funded within an average of 4 business days.

Key Responsibilities

• Deal Structuring & Desking: Work alongside the Sales Manager to structure car deals, set payments, evaluate trade-ins, and calculate initial lease/purchase quotes.

• Credit & Lender Submission: Review customer credit applications, analyze credit bureau reports, and submit deal files to prime and subprime lenders for approval.

• F&I Backup & Desk Turnover: Step in to present financial product menus (warranties, GAP, maintenance packages) and print/sign funding contracts when the primary F&I desk is backed up.

• Customer Interaction: Meet directly with prospective buyers on the floor to work through payment objections, discuss financing terms, and close sales.

• Compliance & Paperwork: Ensure all deal jackets contain accurate credit applications, privacy notices, buyer’s orders, and initial lender stipulations prior to final contract signing.

Qualifications & Skills

• Experience: 2–4 years of high-performing automotive sales experience, with exposure to desking deals or acting as an F&I secondary/backup manager.

• Dealership Software: Hands-on experience with Dealer Management Systems (CDK Global, DealerTrack, Auto soft, or VAuto).

• Credit & Banking Knowledge: Solid understanding of credit tiers, debt-to-income (DTI), loan-to-value (LTV), and lender advance guidelines.

• Communication: Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build immediate rapport with customers and maintain control of the sales process.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k) with company match

• Paid time off (PTO) and holiday pay

• Clear career progression track toward Senior F&I Manager or Sales Manager