Are you a seasoned leader with extensive experience in corporate banking, eager to take ownership of critical client-facing operations? Natixis is seeking a dynamic Head of Agency and Servicing (A&S) to lead our administrative agency function. In this pivotal role, you will serve as a key liaison between our Originators, Syndicators, and Relationship Managers, directly shaping the client experience. You will be instrumental in executing established client management processes, proactively addressing and resolving servicing issues, and escalating complex matters to management when necessary.
This position also encompasses a significant strategic initiative: the integration of all Middle Office functions pertinent to Natixis' role as a Lender in A&S-agented transactions.
As the Head of A&S, you will manage and mentor a team of ten highly autonomous Administrative Agency Officers. You will be a visible "face" of Natixis' Administrative Agency, driving direct customer engagement and upholding the bank's reputation. This senior leadership role involves managing a primary portfolio of some of the bank's most complex and high-profile agency mandates. Specifically, you will oversee all agency and servicing responsibilities for Natixis New York Branch Agency mandates within the Corporate Financing (Strategic Sectors & Distribution, Americas & Finance) and Investment Banking (Global Markets and Investment Banking) lending products. You will also provide essential backup support to the point person for the Real Estate and Hospitality (REH) Business Unit. We encourage an entrepreneurial approach to supporting key client relationships while rigorously protecting Natixis' economic interests.
What You'll Do
- Mentor and develop your team, sharing your deep business experience to elevate overall team professionalism and expertise.
- Cultivate and manage strong relationships with our outsourcing partners, ensuring seamless operational integration.
- Contribute to the design and evolution of the A&S "Servicing" platform, including the development of new systems and enhancements to existing ones.
- Spearhead strategic planning and presentations to highlight A&S's value creation, fostering critical internal and external awareness and securing resources for continued organic growth.
- Support Business Units (BUs) in deal pricing, pitching, and originating mandates, providing expertise to optimize deal structures and mitigate operational and reputational risks.
- Assist BUs with compliance-related matters and the lender onboarding process, including the Administrative Questionnaire and KYC documentation.
- Thoroughly review draft legal documentation, offering valuable advice and feedback to BUs and/or lenders' counsel.
- Initiate Agency booking memos to accurately convey all relevant transaction terms, ensuring compliance with lending documentation and credit approvals.
- Provide comprehensive agency support and services to internal and external clients throughout the legal and operational closing of transactions, meticulously managing conditions precedent and subsequent.
- Execute all core A&S functions, including but not limited to covenant monitoring, internal and external deadline management, and facilitating the timely receipt, review, and dissemination of borrower documentation to all stakeholders.
- Proactively respond to and resolve stakeholder requests for information and documentation, ensuring accurate and efficient communication.
- Instruct Data Management for the setup of payment instructions and coordinate the processing of audit confirmations.
- Ensure the proper registration and renewal of UCC filings.
- Liaise with and instruct Loan and Payment Services and Letter of Credit teams to manage lender L/C, borrowing and repayment activity, notifications, and rate settings.
- Maintain and update KYC and AML documentation in collaboration with the Compliance department, staying current with all relevant regulatory and compliance requirements and completing all mandatory Natixis training.
- Execute internal and external legal documents on behalf of Natixis Agency in accordance with granted signature authorities.
- Manage the distribution of waivers and amendments to financing documentation and facilitate lenders' voting requirements.
- Oversee all aspects of the process for assignments, sales, and secondary trades.
- Demonstrate a strong command of legal documentation, skillfully analyzing, interpreting, and acting upon its provisions, consulting with internal and external Legal Counsel on complex or interpretive matters.
- Drive strategic planning and presentations to ensure sustained recognition of A&S's value and to secure necessary resources for organic growth.
Your Impact as a Leader
- Lead and supervise the Agency team responsible for Natixis Loan Agency commercial lending closing activities for Natixis Americas Business Unit syndications.
- Direct the team's day-to-day operations, ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and compliance of all transactions with policies, procedures, and regulations.
- Leverage your technical expertise to guide team members, manage escalations, and make informed decisions on complex transactions.
- Collaborate with the Head of Americas Financing Operations Manager to develop and implement policies and procedures aligned with Global Process Owner (GPO) guidelines.
- Establish clear team and individual goals, drive performance, and foster a culture of accountability.
- Effectively manage workflow, implement quality control measures for Loan Admin servicing activities, and foster a continuous improvement mindset.
- Oversee the hiring and training process, ensuring the team possesses the necessary skillsets to support evolving portfolio needs.
- Conduct standard employee management activities, including performance reviews and staffing and planning forecasts.
- Champion leadership initiatives and represent the department in strategic projects.
What You'll Bring
- Bachelor's degree in Finance or a related field is required; an MBA is a significant plus.
- A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in corporate banking, with a strong background in areas such as syndicated lending, project finance, leveraged finance, structured finance, aviation structures, and asset-based lending.
- A deep and practical understanding of banking activities and products, including various lending types, letters of credit, borrowing base transactions, and complex interest and fee calculations.
- Proven proficiency in analyzing corporate financial statements and calculating financial ratios and other key analytics.
- Demonstrated experience with legal documentation specific to lending transactions and agency engagements, with a keen ability to identify and escalate complex interpretive issues.
- Exceptional proficiency in MS Office applications, with a particular emphasis on advanced Excel skills, including the use of macros.
- Familiarity with banking systems, such as LIQ, is highly desirable.
- A highly motivated and self-directed individual with a natural inclination to proactively identify, analyze, and solve problems with viable solutions.
- Outstanding organizational skills, with a proven ability to lead a team in meeting demanding deadlines and to manage and prioritize multiple concurrent tasks to successful and timely completion.
- A collaborative spirit, with the ability to work effectively within a team environment and in partnership with various departments, business lines, and international jurisdictions.
- Articulate and persuasive verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly and succinctly convey complex information in an organized and compelling manner
Natixis is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a workplace free of discrimination. Natixis will not tolerate any form of discrimination based on age, color, mental or physical handicap or disability, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, alienage, ancestry or citizenship status, race, religion, sex (including sex stereotyping, gender identity, gender expression or transgender status), veteran status, creed, genetic information or carrier status, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.
Respect for all means that we deal with each person as an individual and not as a member of any group. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. Management is expected to provide leadership in supporting the firms EEO program by taking steps to promote EEO in all facets of employment including recruitment, hiring, retention, promotion, performance assessment, and career-development opportunities.
The salary range for this position will be between $210,000 - $235,000. Natixis is required by law to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. Actual base salary will vary and will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, education, skills set, applicable licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. Base salary is only one component of our total rewards package. Natixis also offers a generous benefits package, and you may be eligible for a discretionary incentive award depending on company and individual performance.
