Job Description
Join a Challenger
Being a traditional bank just isn’t our thing, so we challenge ourselves to get creative in providing innovative banking solutions for Canadians.
How do we get there? With a talented team of inquisitive and agile challengers that break through the status quo. So, if you’re passionate about redefining the future of banking—while having fun—this could be your next big opportunity.
Our company continues to grow, and today we serve more than 780,000 customers across Canada through Equitable Bank, Canada’s Challenger Bank™, and have been around for more than 50 years. Equitable Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Concentra Bank, supports credit unions across Canada that serve more than six million members. Together we have over $138 billion in combined assets under management and administration, with a clear mandate to drive change in Canadian banking to enrich people’s lives. Our customers have named our EQ Bank digital platform (eqbank.ca) one of the top banks in Canada on the Forbes World’s Best Banks list since 2021.
The Work
The Senior Manager, Special Accounts Management Unit Operations is accountable for designing, leading, and continuously improving the operational framework, controls, and governance model supporting the Bank’s Special Accounts Management Unit (SAMU). This role provides senior operational leadership across defaulted and high‑risk commercial lending portfolios, ensuring that SAMU operations are scalable, well‑controlled, and aligned with the Bank’s broader credit risk, regulatory, and capital protection objectives.
The role goes beyond day‑to‑day execution to shape how SAMU operates, including workflow design, governance routines, escalation models, and cross‑functional coordination. The incumbent acts as a key partner to senior leaders across Credit Risk, Finance, Legal, and Operations, bringing forward insights, recommendations, and decisions with longer‑term and enterprise‑level implications.
The core parts of your role would be to:
- Portfolio & Operational Management
- Lead the design and ongoing refinement of SAMU operational workflows, controls, and reporting frameworks to support effective management of defaulted and higher‑risk commercial lending exposures.
- Provide senior operational oversight across SAMU portfolios, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and scalability in account onboarding, tracking, classification, and remediation processes.
- Establish and maintain governance routines that enable timely escalation, informed decision‑making, and alignment across internal and external stakeholders.
- Oversee complex legal action and enforcement files, setting standards for coordination with external counsel and internal partners, and ensuring appropriate use of remedies and authorities.
Credit Risk & Regulatory Compliance
- Ensure SAMU operational practices support accurate credit classification, impairment recognition, and default reporting in accordance with IFRS 9 and applicable regulatory guidance.
- Proactively identify operational, regulatory, and control risks within SAMU processes, assessing downstream impacts to capital, financial reporting, and regulatory compliance.
- Partner with Risk, Finance, and Compliance teams to strengthen control environments, documentation standards, and audit readiness across SAMU activities.
Policy, Controls & Continuous Improvement
Own the operational interpretation and implementation of SAMU‑related credit, remedial, and restructuring policies, ensuring consistent application across the portfolio.
Identify systemic gaps, inefficiencies, or control weaknesses and lead the development of sustainable, longer‑term solutions, rather than point fixes.
Use data, trend analysis, and portfolio insights to recommend enhancements to processes, governance models, and reporting structures.
Stakeholder Leadership & Influence
Act as a senior operational advisor and escalation point for SAMU operations, supporting informed decision‑making by senior leadership.
Lead cross‑functional collaboration with Relationship Management, Credit Risk, Legal, Finance, and Operations to align objectives, clarify accountabilities, and resolve complex operational issues.
Translate complex operational and risk considerations into clear, actionable insights for senior stakeholders.
Let’s Talk About You!
- Have a minimum of 5-7 years of commercial mortgage lending, credit risk, or restructuring.
- Business degree or a related discipline or similar professional designation or equivalent work experience.
- Strong working knowledge of mortgage enforcement remedies and foreclosure processes across Canada.
- Proficient credit analysis, financial modeling, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex and incomplete information.
- Technical understanding of secured lending, commercial real estate markets, and end-to-end credit processes.
- Developed organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities under tight timelines.
- Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-intensity, and evolving environment.
- Proven self-starter with the ability to work independently while exercising sound judgment and accountability.
- Excellent presentation skills and ability to professionally communicate with Senior Management and other stakeholders (both internal and external).
- Proficient in MS Office.
Job Complexities/Thinking Challenges
The incumbent shall possess strong cognitive and professional judgement upon which they can rely in the ongoing management of their portfolio. The incumbent is required to follow corporate policies, procedures and regulatory requirements to work through files and rationalize the recommendations or decisions made.
The position demands strategic thinking, market awareness, and resilience, as well as the ability to manage multiple tasks concurrently. Success in the role depends on the incumbent’s ability to synthesize information quickly and execute efficiently.
What we offer [For full-time permanent roles]
💰 Competitive discretionary bonus
✨ Market leading RRSP match program
🩺 Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability benefits
📝 Employee Share Purchase Plan
👶🏽 Maternity/Parental top-up while you care for your little one
🏝 Generous vacation policy and personal days
🖥 Virtual events to connect with your fellow colleagues
🎓 Professional development and comprehensive Career Development program
💛 A fulfilling opportunity to join one of the top FinTechs and help create a new kind of banking experience
The incumbent will be working hybrid and in office time will be spent working from Equitable Bank’s additional office space located at 2200-25 Ontario Street, Toronto, ON.
Equitable Bank is deeply committed to inclusion. Our organization is stronger and our employees thrive when we honour and celebrate everyone’s diverse experiences and perspectives. In tandem with that commitment, we support and encourage our staff to grow not just in their career path, but personally as well.
We commit to providing a barrier-free recruitment process and work environment for all applicants. Please let us know of any accommodations needed so that you can bring your best self to the application process and beyond. All candidates considered for hire must successfully pass a criminal background check and credit check to qualify for hire. While we appreciate your interest in applying, an Equitable recruiter will only contact leading candidates whose skills and qualifications closely match the requirements of the position.
We can’t wait to get to know you!
