A growing captive finance organization is seeking an accomplished Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead operations and drive its next stage of expansion. The company provides innovative financing and leasing solutions—floor-plan, retail, and vendor programs—that enable dealers and customers to grow across North America. This executive role partners with the CEO and Board to oversee end-to-end operations, strengthen performance, and scale a high-impact business at the intersection of industry and finance.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic and Operational Leadership
- Partner with the CEO and executive team to refine and execute the company’s long-term strategic plan, ensuring alignment with corporate vision and financial objectives.
- Lead and manage all aspects of operational performance, including credit and underwriting, documentation and funding, portfolio management, servicing, collections, and asset disposition.
- Ensure operational scalability through process optimization, automation, and technology enablement.
- Serve as a key contributor to enterprise-level initiatives, including M&A integration, product expansion, and digital transformation.
- Drive the successful execution of retail transactions and floor plan programs through close communication and collaboration with the OEM Manufacture.
Performance and Financial Management
- Drive operational efficiency, cost control, and productivity improvements while maintaining strong risk-adjusted returns.
- Collaborate with the CFO to establish annual budgets, performance metrics, and forecasting processes.
- Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure operational excellence and continuous improvement across all business units.
Risk and Compliance
- Maintain robust operational risk management frameworks in alignment with corporate governance and regulatory standards.
- Ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations, including UCC, AML/BSA, and data privacy laws.
- Partner with Risk, Audit, and Compliance teams to ensure operational integrity and sound credit practices.
People and Culture
- Provide executive leadership and direction to a large, multi-disciplinary operations organization.
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and professional excellence.
- Develop and mentor senior operational leaders, ensuring strong succession planning and leadership continuity.
Customer and Partner Experience
- Enhance the customer experience through streamlined processes, efficient service delivery, and proactive relationship management.
- Strengthen strategic relationships with vendors, brokers, and institutional partners to support growth and retention.
- Drive customer-centric initiatives that differentiate the company as a premier equipment finance provider.
Qualifications
- 15+ years of leadership experience within commercial equipment finance, leasing, or financial services.
- Proven success managing large-scale operations within a regulated financial environment.
- Strong understanding of credit, underwriting, funding, and asset management processes.
- Demonstrated ability to lead complex transformation initiatives and drive operational efficiency.
- Exceptional analytical, strategic, and communication skills, with a track record of influencing at the executive and board levels.
- Experience implementing technology solutions (e.g., lease origination systems, CRM, workflow automation) to improve scalability and performance.
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, or related field required; MBA preferred.
Ideal Profile
- Strategic thinker with operational discipline and a focus on execution.
- Data-driven decision maker with a commitment to excellence and continuous improvement.
- Inspiring leader with high integrity, emotional intelligence, and a collaborative mindset.
- Strong business acumen and ability to balance innovation with risk management.
