SVP, Synchrony Ventures

Job Description:

Role Summary/Purpose:

The SVP, Synchrony Ventures, is responsible for the company’s capital investing, portfolio management, organization and ecosystem development. This role leads the investment team that sources equity investments and leads due diligence efforts and will be responsible for monitoring and supporting Synchrony’s portfolio of investments and strategic partnerships.

Our Way of Working

We’re proud to offer you choice and flexibility. At Synchrony, our way of working allows you to have the option to work from home, near one of our Hubs or come into one of our offices. Occasionally you may be required to commute to our nearest office for in person engagement activities such as business or team meetings, training and culture events.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Partner with the Business Platform CEOs and the Executive Leadership Team to define and determine investment priorities for the business and drive growth initiatives, within the defined risk appetite.

• Collaborate cross functionally to influence and ensure senior leadership buy-in on Equity investment/JV opportunities.

• Source new investments, including meeting with founders and entrepreneurs, attending relevant networking events and evaluating new prospects.

• Build relationships with investors, corporations and other strategic networks to monitor the activity in the FinTech Investor community.

• Lead the investment team and manage the investment pipeline reporting to keep Senior Management and the Executive Leadership Team informed on activities and opportunities.

• Analyze investment opportunities/sectors. Formulate and present investment cases to the investment committee and the Synchrony Management Committee.

• Lead all aspects of equity investment transactions including: sourcing, due diligence, analysis, financial modeling, structuring, negotiation and documentation.

• Develop detailed operating and financial models to support investment decisions; model capital structure scenarios, perform sensitivity analysis and assess investment return scenarios.

• Monitor financial/operational conditions and industry dynamics of portfolio companies, and facilitate quarterly reviews with management team.

• Proactively work with portfolio companies to execute growth and operational improvement strategies in order to maximize value of investments. 

• Provide leadership to ensure adherence with all external and internal Compliance and Regulatory requirements. Maintain rigorous oversight of investment and commercial partnership processes; ensure compliance through the development of and adherence to risk control mechanisms.

• Develop and maintain excellent working relationship with all internal and external key stakeholders

• Perform other duties and/or special projects as assigned.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree and 10+ years of relevant work experience in the Financial Services field. Or in lieu of a degree, High School Diploma or GED and 14+ years of relevant work experience in the Financial Services field.

• Minimum 5 years of experience originating, leading and executing equity investments or venture capital transactions.

• Minimum of 5 years negotiation experience

• Minimum of 5 years team leadership experience in financial services or venture capital industry

• Minimum of 3 years of experience with a corporate venture group, venture capital fund, or private equity firm, or as an entrepreneur.

• Strong network of contacts in the venture capital industry and entrepreneurs in the fintech and payments ecosystems

• In-depth knowledge of corporate venture capital groups integrate within the business unit and of direct competitors (products/services).

• Skilled communicator who influences and negotiates with great latitude on outcomes.

• Experience developing high-end presentations and delivering them to a C-Level Suite in a company as well as to a large audience

• Ability to manage a high-performing team as well as influence manage indirectly others across the organization.

• Superior Financial Acumen and Modeling Capabilities

• Must be willing to travel up to 50% of the time.

Desired Characteristics:

• MBA

• Prior consumer finance, payments, or fintech experience.

• Demonstrated strong attention to detail and analytical skills.