Job Specifications
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 Associate Director, Special Accounts Management Unit, primarily has accountability for the strategic management, resolution, and recovery of complex commercial default files and high-risk commercial loans. This includes large-balance and complex credit exposures (including conventional and construction facilities), managed in accordance with the Bank’s underwriting standards, risk appetite, and internal policies and procedures.
Acting with a high degree of professional judgment and autonomy, the incumbent leads the development and execution of customized workout and recovery strategies, enforces contractual and security rights as appropriate, and proactively mitigates loss exposure while seeking commercially pragmatic outcomes. The role requires balancing legal, financial, reputational, and relationship considerations, with a strong focus on loss mitigation.
The Associate Director serves as a trusted subject-matter expert and key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, including Senior Management, legal counsel, real estate professionals, and other business partners. The incumbent represents the Bank in the professional community and ensures complex transactions and resolutions are advanced efficiently, transparently, and in alignment with the Bank’s strategic objectives. This role will also serve to support training and development for others in the Special Accounts Management Unit group. The incumbent will assist with completing site inspections as required for portfolio management purposes and/or default loans.
Additionally, the role will support contributing to portfolio oversight, credit risk analysis, management reporting, regulatory deliverables, and special initiatives, while exercising influence without direct authority.
The Core Parts Of Your Role Would Be To
Portfolio & Default Management
Independently manage and resolve a portfolio of complex, high-value delinquent and non-performing commercial mortgage loans, applying advanced credit judgment and risk assessment to protect the Bank’s interests.
Lead full financial, credit, and collateral reviews on defaulted and problem accounts, identifying key risk drivers and recommending and executing tailored workout, restructuring, or enforcement strategies.
Determine, recommend, and oversee legal action for non-payment events (including past maturities, tax arrears, insurance lapses, bankruptcies, liens, and covenant breaches), ensuring enforcement actions are commercially sound, timely, and compliant with internal policies.
Actively manage legal action files, coordinating with external counsel and internal partners, and enforcing remedies and conditions as warranted.
Underwriting, Risk & Credit Oversight
Perform and/or critically review all aspects of underwriting for defaulted and problem loans, including collateral valuation, market analysis, and borrower capacity assessment.
Ensure heightened risk elements are appropriately identified, documented, mitigated, and escalated, as applicable.
Maintain accurate and timely risk ratings for default and watchlist loans, ensuring alignment with internal credit standards and reporting requirements.
Stakeholder Management & Negotiation
Serve as the primary relationship lead on assigned files, liaising with internal stakeholders (Credit, Mortgage Services, Risk, Finance, Legal) and external parties to negotiate and execute successful resolutions.
Lead complex negotiations with borrowers, guarantors, and third parties, balancing firmness in enforcement with pragmatic restructuring where appropriate.
Provide clear, concise, and well-reasoned recommendations and updates to Senior Management and other stakeholders.
Reporting, Governance & Regulatory Support
Ensure the timely preparation, accuracy, and integrity of management, Board, and regulatory reporting, including:
Quarterly Problem Loan Reports
Monthly classified and watchlist reporting
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