Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer, US Equipment Finance

Bank of Montreal • Milwaukee, WI

2d

About The Position

The Chief Operating Officer is a member of the senior leadership team responsible for the operational, financial, technology, governance, and control framework supporting BMO Equipment Finance. The COO provides strategic and operational leadership across accounting, tax, pricing, business application development, technology infrastructure, internal controls, and business transformation. The role ensures the integrity of financial and operational processes, oversees regulatory and tax compliance, directs technology modernization, and drives continuous process improvement. The COO partners with the President and senior bank leaders to advance business growth, operational excellence, risk management, and customer service.

The COO leads day-to-day operations and establishes priorities aligned with business strategy. The role directs accounting and tax functions, maintains financial reporting and internal controls, supports audits, and ensures pricing supports profitability and risk-adjusted objectives. It also oversees tax compliance and external tax-advisor relationships, proprietary business applications and systems integration, and modernization of the equipment finance lease accounting platform.

The position leads multidisciplinary teams across accounting, tax, pricing, development, and technology; assigns resources to strategic initiatives; and builds a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. The COO also maintains partnerships with Finance, Tax, Technology, Legal, Compliance, and Audit teams across BMO Financial Group.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• At least 15 years of progressive leadership experience within equipment finance, commercial finance, banking, leasing, or related financial services industries.
• Deep expertise in lease and loan accounting, pricing, financial controls, and operational management.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, IRS regulations, state and local tax compliance requirements, and internal control frameworks.
• Demonstrated success leading major system implementations and business transformation initiatives.
• Experience managing accounting, tax, technology, pricing, and operational teams.
• Proven ability to work effectively with executive leadership, regulators, auditors, and external service providers.

Nice To Haves

• CPA, CMA, CIA, or comparable professional designation.
• MBA or graduate degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business.
• Experience serving on a corporate board or subsidiary governance committee.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operational functions supporting the equipment finance business and establish priorities aligned with strategic objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement and enhance efficiency, scalability, service quality, profitability, workflows, and controls.
• Direct the Accounting Group and ensure compliance with U.S. and international GAAP requirements.
• Maintain and improve the internal control environment and partner with Internal Audit and Finance leadership on audits and remediation.
• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial reporting and accounting operations.
• Ensure pricing disciplines support profitability, return objectives, and risk-adjusted performance targets.
• Lead the Tax Group and ensure compliance with IRS, state, and local tax regulations.
• Oversee property tax reporting and filings across multiple jurisdictions and manage relationships with external tax advisors.
• Monitor tax exposures and implement controls to protect the bank's interests.
• Oversee development, maintenance, and enhancement of proprietary business applications.
• Lead application development, systems integration, and business technology support teams.
• Ensure compatibility between internally developed applications and core accounting systems.
• Provide executive oversight of replacement and modernization of the equipment finance lease accounting platform.
• Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams across accounting, tax, pricing, development, and technology.
• Assign resources to strategic projects and operational initiatives, and foster accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Build and maintain partnerships with Finance, Tax, Technology, Legal, Compliance, and Audit teams across BMO Financial Group.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Accident and life insurance
• Retirement savings plans
• Performance-based incentives and discretionary bonuses may be included in the total compensation package.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive