Fraud Manager

At Community Financial System, Inc. (CFSI), we are dedicated to providing our customers with friendly, personalized, high-quality financial services and products. Our retail division, Community Bank, N.A., operates more than 200 customer facilities across Upstate New York, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Vermont and Western Massachusetts. Beyond retail banking, we also offer wealth management, investment management, insurance and risk management, and benefit plan administration.

Just as our employees are committed to helping our customers manage their finances, we're committed to our employees. After all, they make it happen for our customers every day.

To ensure our people can enjoy long and successful careers here at CFSI, we offer competitive compensation, great benefits, and professional development and advancement opportunities. As an equal-opportunity workplace and affirmative-action employer, we celebrate and support a diverse workplace for the benefit of all: our employees, customers and communities.

A manager responsible for developing, implementing, and administering the Bank's Fraud Programs. This position oversees the process for investigation and reporting of fraudulent, illegal, or improper activities by employees and/or customers and the prevention and recovery of losses caused by such activities. Oversight of fraud will include, but is not limited to deposit, check, and account fraud as well as identify theft. Major responsibilities include assisting Security management in the overall supervision of fraud staff, fraud detection systems, and evolving trends in fraud/financial crime.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Assist with reviewing, drafting, and preparing of FinCEN filings, including suspicious activity reports (SARs).
• Complies with, and stays informed of, all policies and procedures, federal and state laws applicable to the job.
• Maintains proficient knowledge of banking rules and regulations, including but not limited to, the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), USA Patriot Act, and OFAC.
• Effectively manages all incoming communications regarding fraudulent or potentially fraudulent activity received via multiple channels from internal departments, customers, law enforcement and banks.
• Reviews fraudulent activity for the prevention and detection of potential fraud utilizing multiple systems in the areas of; Wires, ACH, Card, Check and Online Banking Takeover events.
• Responsible for recruiting, maintaining, and developing the fraud team
• Maintains close liaison with law enforcement, other financial institution investigators to expedite exchange of information and elicit their assistance
• Lead the fraud management process with the right balance of customer and risk focus with a goal of mitigating bank losses while not losing sight of unnecessary customer friction.
• Develops, updates, and implements, as appropriate, fraud mitigation and investigation procedures and educational materials for internal and external customers.
• Responsible for the Bank's fraud monitoring, reporting and KPI's to meet the required Board and Management oversight expectations.
• Proactively identifies researches and recommends policies and procedures changes to reduce costs, streamline operations and/or increase efficiency.
• Tracks financial industry fraud trends, adapts accordingly, and recommends mitigating solutions.
• Prepares written fraud trends, investigations, and loss reports.
• Acts as the escalation point of contact for fraud mitigation issues, problems, questions directly related to fraud mitigation and services.
• Assist Systems Administrator with ongoing evaluation and improvement of BSA/AML/Fraud monitoring system to increase efficiency and productivity.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Maintain proficient knowledge of, and demonstrate ongoing compliance with all laws and regulations applicable to this position, ensure ongoing adherence to pertinent policies, procedures, and internal controls, and meet all job-specific training requirements in a timely fashion.

Education, Training and Requirements:

• BS or BA degree with course work in fraud/financial crime preferred or related professional work experience and degree.
• All applicants must be 18 years of age or older.

Skills:

• Strong leadership, management, organizational and communications skills.
• Ability to clearly communicate verbally and in writing.
• Sound analytical skills, including the ability to proactively research and understand new and existing regulations and guidance, UCC, and legal cases.
• An ability to use technology to manage function, including strong PC skills, utilization of Fraud/AML software, and other fraud software solutions.
• An ability to work independently while supporting a team environment.
• Experience working in an environment that requires confidentiality, proper handling of sensitive information and the ability to work independently.
• Some travel and a valid driver's license are required for this position.
• A desire to stay current with industry and fraud environment and seek out developmental opportunities.

Experience:

• Five or more years of experience in financial crime/fraud investigations, some management/supervisory experience preferred.
• Check fraud mitigation and collection experience is preferred.
• Experience with financial crime management software is a must, Verafin FRAML experience a plus.

Compensation: Commensurate with experience plus potential for annual merit increase. In addition to your competitive salary, you will be rewarded benefits including: 11 paid holidays, paid vacation, Medical, Vision & Dental insurance, 401K with generous match, Pension, Tuition Reimbursement, Banking discounts and the list goes on!

Physical Requirements:

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 the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to stand, walk or sit. Use hands and fingers, handle or feel, reach with hands or arms, and speak and hear. The employee may occasionally be required to lift and or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and the ability to focus.

The Company is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

The Company will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with a disability. If you have a physical or mental impairment and would like to request an accommodation with respect to the application process, please contact the Human Resources Department.