Lending Operations Quality Assurance Lead Vice President

Job Description/Background:

Global Lending Operations (GLO) serves as the foundation of Citi Loan Servicing, specializing in the execution of loan closings, servicing, and compliance. This team ensures meticulous management of the loan portfolio from initiation through maturity, reinforcing the bank’s commitment to delivering customized financial solutions to clients. The Lending Ops Group is instrumental in upholding Citi's reputation for reliability and financial integrity.

Lending Operations Quality Assurance Lead Vice President is focused on enhancing the quality of loan operations processes. The team is responsible for conducting quality assurance reviews of loan operations across various Citi businesses which includes reviewing approved loan transactions / processes and measuring timeliness, correctness, completeness & consistency of the loan transaction/processes/documentation. The program engages stakeholders and provides formalized defect reporting and feedback on a regular frequency to senior management/stakeholders involved in the Loan operations process.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Comprehensive QA Testing: Perform and ensure timely execution of comprehensive QA testing/reviews across all High-Risk Processes, delivering results and metrics to Lending Operations senior management. Ensure loan transactions are accurately processed and authorized within stipulated Service Level Agreement
• Stakeholder Management: Function as primary point of contact for assigned cluster (NAM) and develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including senior leadership, product teams, and external partners to ensure alignments and drive quality initiatives. 
• Policy Adherence:  Ensure loan documentation adheres to internal policies, guidelines, procedures, and compliance regulations.
• Defect Management: Report deficiencies promptly to Loan operations stakeholders/management, engage with Stakeholders/Senior management and ensure timely feedback loop, and conduct root cause analysis for common defects, issues, and themes.
• Continuous Improvement: Continuously assess and improve existing quality assurance processes identifying areas for optimization and implementing changes to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance.
• Project & Risk Management: Manage remediation projects/initiatives, report on progress, assist or lead departmental projects, and ensure timely escalation of operational risk incidents. Respond to queries received from Operations Control (OC), Internal Audit, ORM, etc.
• Team Leadership & Development:  Lead a team of quality assurance professionals incl coaching and training new hires, for applying in-depth disciplinary knowledge to perform QA reviews, develop new techniques and improve existing processes.

Knowledge/Experience:

• 6-9 years relevant experience and knowledge of end-to-end Institutional banking loan cycle and solid understanding of direct/indirect lending products and practices
• Expert in identifying, mitigating, managing, resolving, and escalating risks and issues.
• Knowledge of lending platforms like Flexcube, Loan IQ, AFS, etc.
• Exposure in reviewing credit agreements / Payments and reconciliation cycle experience
• Regulatory concepts and other key areas of risk within the operations and data environments
• Knowledge of policies, procedures, and compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations
• Ability to leads teams and perform reviews or processes and identify issues/ gaps.

Skills:

• Exhibit good written and verbal communication skills.
• Possess the ability to collaborate with various Stakeholders and build and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to manage team level processes and deliver presentations.
• Ability to proficiently use MS Office products, particularly Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Excellent analytical skills for filtering, prioritizing, and validating complex information from multiple sources.
• Effective communication and diplomacy skills.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher with at least 6-9 years’ experience in relevant domain
• Further risk related qualifications would be beneficial.

Competencies:

• Ability to multi-task and work independently
• Ability to work to tight deadlines as part of a team.
• Exhibit good attention to detail while focused on delivery.
• Ability to work on several initiatives concurrently and cope with changes in priorities.
• Proactive and “no surprises” approach in communicating issues and strength in sustaining independent views.