Headquartered in Boston, Forward Financing has been recognized as a Best Place to Work by the Boston Business Journal and Built In Boston and is certified as a Great Place to Work. At Forward, we believe every business deserves financial opportunity. Thats why we provide fast, flexible capital to small businesses that have often been underserved by traditional financing options. Our mission is to build a world-class fintech company so our customers and people can reach their full potential. Were investing in our employees, technology, and customer experience with long-term success in mind every step of the way.
As a Manager of Operational Strategy in the Underwriting Department, you will be a strategic partner to Underwriting leadership, responsible for analytics and reporting to help drive success for the department. You will be investigating, understanding, and executing opportunities to increase department productivity, funding volume, and overall profit of Forward Financings advance portfolio. This role frequently partners with other functions in the business including Sales, Finance, and Analytics. The ideal candidate is able to develop efficient solutions to unique problems.
In this role you will:
- Serve as a strategic leader in the Underwriting department offering insights related to operational and reporting improvements, while managing a small team.
- Analyze monthly Underwriting operational and financial results, understand key data points, identify trends and patterns in the data, and provide actionable insights to UW leadership.
- Make recommendations, derived from data, to department and company leadership on process or system improvements, and own implementation of projects.
- Proactively partner with cross functional stakeholders (Sales, Accounts Servicing) to derive insights and make recommendations.
- Demonstrate excellent project management skills (clear communication, ability to generate buy-in for a solution, ability to prioritize, work with various stakeholders across the firm, and take ownership and responsibility).
- Develop/design incentive compensation plans, and own monthly calculation of variable Underwriting compensation.
- Assist with the creation, development, and maintenance of UW team dashboards to organize data, report results, and drive future growth.
- Own daily/weekly/monthly/yearly operational reporting and executive dashboards.
- Partner with relevant stakeholders to maintain and improve UW systems and the quality of the data in these programs.
Requirements:
(Even if you dont check every box, but see yourself contributing, please apply.)
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in finance, consulting, or analytics domain.
- Experience evaluating unique problems, collaboratively creating solutions, drafting project plans and delivering effective new business processes.
- Strong attention to detail and an ability to apply your analytical mind to solving problems.
- Bachelors degree required.
- Advanced skills with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and other related tools.
- Familiarity with analytics/data visualization tools such as Tableau (Preferred).
Forward Financing Core Values:
- Drive the Mission - We believe in financial opportunity for underserved small businesses. We say yes when others say no.
- Keep It Real - We value direct communication, candid feedback, and authenticity. We are an open book.
- Act With Kindness - We create an environment where caring is cool and helping is the norm. We do the right thing.
- Shoot for Extraordinary - We are inspired by innovative thinking and continuous improvement. We never settle for yesterdays best.
About Us:
Forward Financing is a fintech company headquartered in Boston that provides fast, flexible, and reliable capital to small businesses nationwide. Since 2012, Forward has provided over $1.9 billion in financing to more than 45,000 small businesses. Forward has been consistently named by the Boston Business Journal and Built In Boston (and more!) as one of the best places to work in Massachusetts.
Forward actively promotes a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in all we do. We encourage a workplace where trust and respect are paramount and all employees feel valued, heard, and accepted. By accepting diversity of thought, background, and identity, we will continue to become a stronger team and a better organization.
Our diverse and driven group of over 500 people, with more than 250 based in the U.S., and 250 internationally, is a 100% employee-owned company. Our employees come to work (or log on virtually!) knowing they are helping thousands of small businesses while advancing their own careers. If this sounds exciting to you, learn more about our leadership team and our open opportunities.
Perks & Benefits:
At Forward, our team members are at the heart of our company, and we are committed to taking care of them as people, not just employees. We offer a comprehensive benefits package including but not limited to: medical, dental, vision, and commuter benefits, a flexible time-off policy, 401k match, wellness reimbursement, paid volunteering days, annual professional development budget, and charitable donation match.
The health and safety of our colleagues is our top priority, which is why we will continue to follow the latest CDC guidelines on COVID-19 in our office. We have also implemented an Employee Choice policy, so that team members can work where they feel most comfortable.
At Forward, employee choice means each individual gets to decide where they work. Almost all team members have the choice of where to live and where to work. As a business, we are focused on impact; we are more concerned with your contributions to the success of the company than where you get your work done. If face-to-face time is desired, people managers are empowered to find a cadence that works for their team.
When we arent collaborating to drive business and support our customers, were finding virtual and in-person ways to get to know our colleagues, celebrate team wins, and have fun together!
