Specialty Lending Operations Specialist

First Mid Bank & Trust•Mattoon, IL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Delivers troubleshooting and quality assurance support for Specialty Lending Operations, promoting accuracy, consistency, and process integrity across First Mid’s Specialty Lending portfolio, including Merchant Financing, Floor Plan Lending, and Warehouse Lending.

Requirements

Associates Degree preferred.
1+ years banking, clerical or loan processing experience preferred.
Proficient in Microsoft Office.
Must be able to multitask with a significant amount of detailed information in an accurate, timely and confident manner.
Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage high-volume transactional workloads while maintaining accuracy.
High level of interpersonal skills to interact with Merchants, peers and other internal departments in a professional manner.
Ability to identify process gaps and support implementation of operational improvements.
Strong analytical ability and problem-solving mindset.

Responsibilities

Supports merchant communications by addressing inquiries, resolving issues, and providing timely, accurate updates to ensure a high level of service.
Performs quality assurance reviews to ensure data accuracy, proper loan setup, and adherence to established procedures and controls.
Troubleshoots operational, system, and merchant-related issues, identifying root causes and implementing timely resolutions in a fast-paced environment.
Ensures adherence to Service Level Agreements (SLAs) by effectively prioritizing tasks and meeting required processing timelines.
Assists in resolving discrepancies between merchant requests and internal records, including research and documentation to support accurate outcomes.
Processes daily operational transactions, including batch funding files, loan advances, payments, and refunds, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
Prepares and transmits funding and payment files to merchants, verifying completeness and compliance with established requirements.
Supports onboarding and setup of Merchant Financing, Floor Plan Lending, and Warehouse loans, ensuring accuracy from initial booking through system integration.
Collaborates with cross-functional teams (e.g., Risk, Credit, and Operations) to resolve issues, improve processes, and maintain portfolio integrity.
Maintains proper documentation and record retention in accordance with internal policies and regulatory requirements.
Identifies opportunities for process improvement and contributes to the development of procedures, checklists, and training materials.
Coordinates daily operational workflows, ensuring timely processing of transactions, file maintenance, and adherence to established procedures.
Executes and supports end-to-end loan servicing activities, including funding, payments, and system updates, to maintain accurate and efficient operations.
Cross-sells bank products and services in a professional and customer-focused manner.
Completes all required training and stays current on system updates, procedures, and compliance requirements.
Performs other related duties as assigned.