Funding Operations Manager

WATERCRESS FINANCIAL GROUP LLC•West Des Moines, IA

About The Position

The Funding Operations Manager is responsible for leading the end-to-end funding process to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant disbursement of funds. This position plays a critical role in operational excellence, managing a team of funding specialists, developing process improvements, and ensuring all funding activities align with company policies, contractual obligations, and regulatory requirements. The Funding Operations Manager acts as both a strategic leader and hands-on problem solver, working closely with cross-functional partners in finance, compliance, sales, technology, and customer support to ensure a seamless funding experience for clients and internal stakeholders.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in finance, business administration, operations management, or related field (equivalent work experience considered).
Minimum 5 years of experience in funding, lending operations, financial services, or related operational role.
Strong working knowledge of loan management systems, funding platforms, and financial transaction processing.
Demonstrated success in managing process improvement initiatives and operational efficiency projects.
Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire, coach, and hold team members accountable.
Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
Analytical mindset with the ability to use data to drive decision-making.
Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization.
High level of integrity and attention to detail in all financial transactions.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with CRM and ERP platforms.

Responsibilities

Directly manage and mentor the funding operations team, setting clear expectations, goals, and performance metrics.
Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, team huddles, and performance reviews to ensure alignment with business objectives.
Foster a collaborative, solutions-oriented team culture focused on accountability, efficiency, and continuous improvement.
Provide training and development opportunities to build team expertise in funding processes, systems, and compliance requirements.
Oversee daily funding workflow, ensuring funds are disbursed accurately, on schedule, and in accordance with established protocols.
Monitor work queues and adjust staffing/resources to meet fluctuating volume and critical deadlines.
Manage exception handling for complex or unusual funding scenarios, ensuring issues are resolved quickly and effectively.
Ensure proper quality control and accuracy in funding documentation, approvals, and financial records.
Evaluate current processes to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and risk areas; develop and implement streamlined procedures.
Maintain and update funding policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and training guides to reflect regulatory changes and best practices.
Partner with compliance and legal teams to ensure all funding activities meet federal, state, and industry-specific requirements.
Ensure audit readiness by maintaining complete, accurate, and easily accessible documentation for all transactions.
Act as the primary escalation point for internal and external stakeholders regarding funding-related issues.
Collaborate with the finance team to ensure reconciliation of funded amounts and resolution of discrepancies.
Partner with the technology team to implement system enhancements, automation initiatives, and data validation tools.
Work closely with sales and account management teams to set clear expectations with clients regarding funding timelines and requirements.
Monitor funding metrics and service level agreements (SLAs), producing regular performance reports for senior leadership.
Analyze operational data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
Provide recommendations to leadership on staffing needs, resource allocation, and system investments.