Indirect Business Development Officer

At Community Bank System, Inc. (CBSI), we are dedicated to providing our customers with friendly, personalized, high-quality financial services and products. Our retail division, Community Bank, N.A., operates more than 200 customer facilities across Upstate New York, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Vermont and Western Massachusetts. Beyond retail banking, we also offer wealth management, investment management, insurance and risk management, and benefit plan administration.

Just as our employees are committed to helping our customers manage their finances, we're committed to our employees. After all, they make it happen for our customers every day.

To ensure our people can enjoy long and successful careers here at CBSI, we offer competitive compensation, great benefits, and professional development and advancement opportunities. As an equal-opportunity workplace and affirmative-action employer, we celebrate and support a diverse workplace for the benefit of all: our employees, customers and communities.

General Responsibilities:

As a Business Development Officer, this position solicits, develops, investigates and activates new clients to generate business; has lending authority-and will purchase credits in a timely, effective manner, and will communicate the credit decisions to dealers in a professional manner. This position is responsible to continually maintain a healthy bank/dealer relationship through consistent contact (field calls) with the ability to travel, and at times have extended stays from home. A BDO will attend dealer shows and special events; resolve dealer problems and complaints in person; brief the Indirect Business Development Manager as to the competitive environment and dealer relationships, and will provide a smooth workflow of credit applications, i.e. approvals, conditions, declines or pending items.

Essential Duties:

• Activates new dealerships - serves as the primary developer of new indirect business for an assigned/designated territory through frequent sales calls on automobile, RV, marine, and sport utility dealerships
• Provides step-up authority to employees with lesser lending authority
• In conjunction with the Department Manager, will support and make recommendations pertaining to the competitive climate and relevant indirect programs
  • Will assist with the other BDOs with the development of new programs to be marketed to new and existing dealerships - i.e. flat fee programs, dealer reserves, lease programs, dealership promotional events, by-downs, etc.
  • Personally present and communicate/educate these programs to dealers
• Jointly establish annual quantitative customer service and sales objectives with the Indirect Business Development Manager; this activity is to be integrated with the department's annual operating plan
• Provide quality service to customers, whether internal or external
• Maintain appropriate records and reports in order to evaluate individual dealer relationships
• Investigate and resolve dealer inadequacies in an effort to protect the Bank's assets
• Comply with established operating policies and procedures in order to maintain adequate controls and to support the Bank's adherence to outside regulatory agencies
• Other duties as assigned or directed
• Maintain proficient knowledge of, and demonstrate ongoing compliance with all laws and regulations applicable to this position, ensure ongoing adherence to pertinent policies, procedures, and internal controls, and meet all job-specific training requirements in a timely fashion

Ancillary Duties:

• Performs floor plan checks as necessary

Education, Training and Requirements:

• Associates Degree required
• B.S. or B.A. degree in a related field of study preferred
• History of specialized training in sales and/or marketing
• This position requires approximately 75% travel in an assigned territory

Skills:

• Strong sales and interpersonal skills
• Thorough knowledge of the features and benefits of all bank indirect loan products and services
• Proficient reading, writing, grammar and mathematics skills
• Proficient interpersonal relations and communicative skills
• General knowledge of current lending regulations
• Moderate computer skills
• Working knowledge of bank operating services
• Valid driver's license
• Must be able to consistently demonstrate the Company's core values: a strong work ethic, integrity, respect for others, responsibility, transparency and humility

Experience:

• Minimum of two (2) years experience in a related lending, dealer services field or equivalent education normally required.

Compensation: Commensurate with experience plus potential for annual merit increase. In addition to your competitive salary, you will be rewarded benefits including: 11 paid holidays, paid vacation, Medical, Vision & Dental insurance, 401K with generous match, Pension, Tuition Reimbursement, Banking discounts and the list goes on!

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to stand, walk or sit. Use hands and fingers, handle or feel, reach with hands or arms, and speak and hear. The employee may occasionally be required to lift and or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and the ability to focus.

An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.