Central Operations Specialist I

Summary: Perform all areas of the back-office operations for the bank. Assist clients, bank, and branch staff with operational inquiries/issues and address them accordingly. In addition, work with the Federal Reserve, Fiserv applications, supporting vendors, and correspondent banks that affect the bank operations area. Cross-train with Central Operations staff as directed by the Deputy Central Operations Manager.

Salary Range: The salary range in CA for this role is $44,600 to $58,300 and represents the Company's good faith minimum and maximum range for this role at the time of posting. The actual compensation offered to a candidate may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, experience, and location.

The Company also offers a full range of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and 401K match. Other rewards may include annual performance-based bonuses and wellness days.

Applicants must have current work authorization when accepting a First Foundation Inc. position. Currently, we are unable to sponsor or take over the sponsorship of an Employment Visa.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Understands and complies with the requirements of all laws and regulations applicable to the position.
• Adhere to company policies as defined.
• Performs all areas of back-office operations for the Bank.
• Assists Branches with operational inquiries.
• Identifies and solves operations issues.
• Works with the Federal Reserve, Fiserv, and other supporting vendors and correspondent banks that affect the bank operations area.
• Daily process: non-post, stops suspects, NSF returns, exception returns, check chargeback items, large-item review and proof corrections, ATM and Debit Card maintenance.
• Reviews and reconciles daily reports including ACH, ATM/Debit Card Maintenance, and Settlement.
• Reconciles Bank negotiable instruments, and bank control accounts, and perform callbacks as required, and department general ledger accounts.
• Receives and processes all types of legal processing: levies, garnishments, subpoenas, IRS summons, etc.
• Prepares monthly certifications as required.
• Processes branch cash orders, ACH returns, and cash letter adjustments through FRB and Fiserv, and any Fed adjustments.
• Review and process IRAs, including new account setups, contributions, distributions, transfers, rollovers, RMDs, and all tax reporting.
• Review and process Reg E claims
• Reviews Inactive and Dormant reports and contacts customers regarding status; prepares escheatment to the appropriate States on an annual basis.
• Prepares monthly reports for State Bar (IOLTA), Reg D violations, and Reg O reporting and other reports as required.
• May assist in sending outgoing wires and verifying incoming wires.
• Assist in supporting and processing Lockbox payments, and support customer inquiries.
• Assist and support centralized scanning of documents into the company digital archive system.
• Responsible for daily volume tracking of tasks and archiving records for Central Operations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:

• High School Diploma and some college required; aptitude to comprehend the legal documentation and regulatory requirements.
• Minimum of one year (1) branch experience and three (3) years of back-office experience in all operational functions.
• Minimum of three (3) years working with ACH, ATM, ATM/Debit Cards, IRA Processing, and FedLine transactions. Knowledge of the bank's computer system. Working knowledge of the bank's products and services. Knowledge of legal documentation and regulatory issues. Thorough knowledge of related bank operations and procedures. Good organizational skills. Good personal computer, math, communication, and documentation skills are required. Good interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills. Ability to recognize problem situations if they occur.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for long periods; use hands to operate controls on a computer; reach with hands and arms for phone and computer work; and communicate on the phone wearing a headset for extended periods. The employee is occasionally required to walk to other departments. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, some color vision, and the ability to adjust focus for close computer work.

First Foundation is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, status as a qualified individual with a disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.