Operations Specialist - Asset-Based Lending

Milestone Bank is seeking an Operations Specialist to serve as the first dedicated operations resource for our growing Asset-Based Lending (ABL) team. Working in close partnership with the ABL and Bank Operations teams, this person will build the operational backbone of the ABL business from the ground up — largely on their own judgment, with little precedent or established playbook to fall back on. This is a foundational, high-visibility role for someone who is energized by building and deciding, not simply executing a checklist. A core focus of this role is supporting the ABL team and general Bank’s transition to our new Jack Henry core banking platform. Hands-on Jack Henry experience is required, as this person will independently evaluate how ABL and related Bank products and workflows should be configured on the new core, make recommendations with significant weight, and lead the team through the resulting change. Because this is a first-of-its-kind role on this team, the person in this seat will regularly be asked to make judgment calls using their own analysis and experience to determine the right course of action and then owning the outcome. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: The essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following: Independently establish and own the day-to-day operational framework for ABL, deciding how workflows, controls, and documentation should be structured for a line of business that has never had a dedicated operations resource, with only general direction from other members of the ABL team. Collaborate with other members of the ABL team to design and determine the content of ABL operating procedures and desk-top procedures (loan boarding, advances and paydowns, borrowing base certificate processing, collateral monitoring, covenant tracking, and participations), exercising independent judgment on how work should be performed. Act as the ABL team’s specialist in the build-out of ABL-specific workflows within the new Jack Henry core, making and defending configuration and design decisions with the core conversion team and weighing in with authority on how ABL requirements should be met. Evaluate borrowing base certificates, collateral positions, covenant compliance, and other credit-support documentation, using independent analysis to determine appropriate handling of exceptions, unusual items, and escalations rather than applying a fixed checklist. Work side-by-side with other members of the ABL team throughout the deal lifecycle, exercising discretion over how loans and related Bank products are onboarded and serviced and providing an operational perspective that materially shapes those decisions. Identify gaps or inefficiencies in current processes on their own initiative and decide on, recommend, and implement practical improvements, with significant latitude over how the ABL operating model evolves as the team scales. Lead, not just support, change management for the core conversion and evolving procedures: deciding how change should be sequenced and communicated, developing training materials, and managing the team through transitions with minimal oversight. Maintain organized, audit-ready records to support internal control testing, audits, and regulatory exams, using judgment to determine what documentation standards are appropriate. Interpret how bank policy and applicable regulatory requirements apply to ABL-specific operational scenarios, making independent determinations and escalating only novel or high-risk questions to compliance or management. Performs other duties as assigned. Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities) Bachelor’s Degree in a business-related field preferred or equivalent coursework and experience. Hands-on experience with the Jack Henry core banking platform is required. Candidates without direct Jack Henry experience will not be considered for this role. Demonstrated ability to make sound, independent decisions with little guidance or established precedent, and to be accountable for the outcome of those decisions, this role will not have a detailed playbook to follow. Prior experience in commercial banking operations; experience supporting asset-based lending, factoring, commercial, or specialty lending strongly preferred. Demonstrated experience independently building, writing, or overhauling operational procedures and documentation from scratch, rather than maintaining an existing process. Experience in implementing and monitoring diverse collateral types on the Jack Henry core platform Sound judgment and analytical ability to evaluate collateral, borrowing base, and covenant information and determine appropriate action without step-by-step direction. Comfort working in a fluid, evolving environment; ability to adapt to changing systems and processes and lead others through that change. Strong collaboration and influencing skills, with the ability to work as a peer-level partner to senior leadership, underwriting, and portfolio management and to shape decisions rather than simply carry them out. Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills, and time management. Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to document procedures and justify decisions to a non-technical audience. Location This is a hybrid position reporting to our Salt Lake City, UT or Troy, MI office three days a week (Tues. Wed. Thurs). Due to business and compliance requirements, this position is not open to candidates residing in certain states or jurisdictions. At this time, we are unable to consider applicants who reside in California, Washington State, Washington, D.C., Massachusetts, Oregon, Maine, New York, Connecticut, Illinois, Montana, or Colorado. Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate. Professional office setting, primarily sedentary position requiring long periods of time working at a computer. Note: This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship. E-Verify Milestone participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program in all facilities located in the United States and certain U.S. territories. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, drug free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable. #J-18808-Ljbffr Milestone Bank