Escalation Manager Fintech Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Full Time Regular Senior Management California, CA, US

12 days ago Requisition ID: 1221

Salary Range: $185,000.00 To $250,000.00 Annually

Director of Fintech Banking

Location: California
Job Type: Full-Time | Exempt | Hybrid/Remote Eligible
Salary Range:$185,000 – $250,000 per year

About Commercial Bank of California

Commercial Bank of California (CBC) is the largest Latino-owned bank in California and a certified Minority Depository Institution (MDI). Headquartered in Irvine and founded in 2003, CBC is one of the largest privately held banks in the state, with over $3.5 billion in assets as of December 2025.

We are a purpose-driven financial institution committed to building long-term relationships and delivering innovative, personalized banking solutions. Our leadership reflects the diverse communities we serve, and our mission is rooted in empowering entrepreneurs, business owners, and community leaders to thrive.

As a certified MDI, CBC is proud to play a vital role in advancing financial inclusion and economic opportunity. We believe in a higher vision for banking—one that prioritizes trust, collaboration, and community impact. Join us and be part of a team that’s redefining what it means to be a community-focused, relationship-driven bank that puts people over profits.

Job Summary

The Director of Fintech Banking provides strategic leadership, oversight, and direction for the Bank's fintech and embedded banking portfolio. This position is responsible for driving the growth, performance, and governance of fintech partnerships while ensuring alignment with the Bank's strategic objectives, risk appetite, and regulatory requirements.

As the primary business leader for fintech partner relationships, the Director oversees the development, implementation, and ongoing management of partner programs, fostering strong relationships that support sustainable growth and operational excellence. The role serves as a key liaison between fintech partners and internal stakeholders, ensuring partnerships operate in accordance with contractual obligations, regulatory expectations, and the Bank's risk management framework.

Working closely with executive leadership and cross-functional teams, the Director identifies and evaluates new market opportunities, leads partnership initiatives, and advances the Bank's fintech strategy. This individual plays a critical role in expanding the Bank's presence in the fintech sector, enhancing partnership performance, and delivering innovative banking solutions that contribute to the Bank's long‑term growth and profitability.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the Bank's fintech banking, Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS), and embedded banking strategy.
• Develop and execute growth initiatives to increase partnership revenue, deposits, payment volumes, and customer acquisition.
• Identify emerging market opportunities, industry trends, and competitive developments impacting fintech banking and embedded finance.
• Participate in strategic planning and business development efforts related to fintech partnerships and programs.
• Present portfolio performance, strategic recommendations, and business insights to executive leadership and committees.

Partnership & Relationship Management

• Serve as the senior relationship manager for fintech and embedded banking partners.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with partner executives and key stakeholders.
• Conduct regular business reviews and strategic planning sessions with partners.
• Negotiate business terms, pricing, service expectations, and commercial agreements in collaboration with internal teams.
• Monitor partner performance against contractual, operational, financial, compliance, and risk management expectations.
• Identify and escalation covenant violations, emerging risks, or signs of financial deterioration, and support risk rating reviews as needed.

Partnership Oversight & Governance

• Oversee the full fintech partner lifecycle, including evaluation, due diligence, onboarding, implementation, monitoring, and renewal.
• Coordinate annual reviews and ongoing due diligence requirements.
• Ensure partner programs operate in accordance with Bank policies, regulatory guidance, and third‑party risk management standards.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), risk metrics, service level agreements (SLAs), profitability, and overall program performance.
• Escalate significant operational, financial, compliance, or reputational concerns to executive management.

Business Development

• Identify, evaluate, and pursue new fintech partnership opportunities aligned with the Bank's strategic objectives.
• Lead business case development, financial modeling, and opportunity assessments.
• Partner with Compliance, Risk, Legal, Operations, and Technology teams throughout the due diligence process.
• Support contract negotiations and implementation planning for new partnerships.
• Develop strategies to enhance profitability and expand existing partner relationships.
• Serve as the primary business liaison between fintech partners and internal Product, Technology, Operations, Digital Banking, and Information Security teams.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to identify business requirements, service enhancements, product improvements, and new solution opportunities.
• Translate partner and client needs into actionable business cases, product requirements, implementation priorities, and operational workflows.
• Support the evaluation, design, launch, and enhancement of fintech, embedded banking, BaaS, sponsor banking, payments, treasury management, and digital banking solutions.
• Coordinate partner onboarding, system integrations, testing, implementation planning, launch readiness, and post‑implementation reviews.
• Partner with stakeholders on API integrations, data exchange requirements, implementation timelines, service expectations, and operational dependencies.
• Support the evaluation, design, launch, and enhancement of fintech, embedded banking, BaaS, sponsor banking, payments, treasury management, and digital banking solutions.

Risk & Regulatory Management

• Partner with Enterprise Risk Management, Compliance, BSA/AML, Fraud, Information Security, and Internal Audit teams to support effective oversight of fintech activities.
• Ensure partner programs operate within established risk tolerances and governance frameworks.
• Support regulatory examinations, audits, and independent reviews involving fintech partnerships.
• Coordinate responses to regulatory and audit requests.
• Promote a culture of compliance, accountability, and risk awareness.

Financial Performance Management

• Manage profitability, revenue growth, deposit generation, and fee income objectives across the fintech portfolio.
• Develop forecasts, budgets, and business plans to support portfolio growth.
• Analyze financial performance and identify opportunities to improve revenue generation and operational efficiency.
• Monitor partner financial health and long‑term sustainability.
• Lead, mentor, and develop fintech banking team members.
• Foster collaboration across business lines and support functions.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on fintech partnerships, embedded banking, BaaS, and payments‑related activities.
• Support enterprise initiatives involving digital banking, treasury management, payments, and emerging financial technologies.

Additional Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with Customer Identification Program (CIP), Customer Due Diligence (CDD), and other applicable regulatory requirements.
• Exercise sound judgment and decision-making consistent with Bank policies, procedures, and approval authorities.
• Respond to and resolve inquiries from customers, partners, and internal stakeholders, ensuring appropriate follow‑through.
• Demonstrate professionalism, integrity, accountability, and respect in all interactions.
• Champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and adherence to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) principles.
• Maintain compliance with workplace safety standards and applicable OSHA requirements.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

These specifications are general guidelines based on the minimum experience normally considered essential to the satisfactory performance of this position. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required to perform the position in a satisfactory manner. Individual abilities may result in some deviation from these guidelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, or related field preferred
• Minimum of 8-10 years of banking, payments, fintech, commercial banking, treasury management, risk management, or financial services experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of leadership or relationship management experience.
• Experience managing strategic partnerships and complex client relationships.
• Experience partnering with Product, Technology, Operations, and Risk teams to develop and implement fintech, payments, embedded banking, or digital banking solutions.
• Familiarity with APIs, third-Party integrations, fintech technology platforms, and digital banking ecosystems.
• Experience managing complex implementation projects involving multiple internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Familiarity with fintech, Banking‑as‑a‑Service (BaaS), embedded finance, sponsor banking, payments ecosystems, and digital banking models preferred.
• Experience working with regulatory, compliance, audit, and risk management functions.

Abilities:

• Thorough understanding of banking regulations, third-party risk management principles, and fintech oversight expectations.
• Strong knowledge of deposit products, payments, treasury services, ACH, RTP, FedNow, card programs, and related banking services.
• Understanding of fintech business models, embedded banking structures, and partnership frameworks.
• Exceptional relationship management and negotiation skills.
• Strong financial analysis and business planning capabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to influence senior leaders and drive cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong project management and organizational abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to balance innovation, growth, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
• Research and analysis techniques to resolve issues
• Ability to work effectively in a team or independently
• Working knowledge of API-enabled banking, data integrations, fintech technology platforms, and digital banking ecosystems.
• Ability to translate technical concepts into business-focused recommendations for executive leadership and Bank stakeholders.
• Understanding of implementation lifecycle management, including requirements gathering, testing, launch readiness, and post-production support.
• Ability to balance customer needs, operational capabilities, technology requirements, risk considerations, and regulatory expectations when evaluating partnership opportunities.
• Strong ability to lead cross‑functional initiatives involving Technology, Operations, Product Management, Compliance, Risk Management, and external fintech partners.
• Ability to effectively and appropriately utilize AI in tasks .
• Competitive employer contribution to medical, dental and vision coverage
• 401k plan with employer match
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Dependent Care Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employer provided Calm subscription
• Employer provided mental health benefits through Teladoc
• Life, AD&D and disability insurance
• Minimum 15 Days of Vacation, 11 Paid Federal Holidays, Paid Time off to Volunteer

Equal Employment Opportunity & Accommodations

Commercial Bank of California is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. All qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

We evaluate applicants fairly and equitably, including those with criminal histories, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Commercial Bank of California is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact us at hrrecruiting@cbcal.com with the nature of your request and your contact information.

Recruitment Policy

Commercial Bank of California does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to CBC, either directly or indirectly, will be considered the property of Commercial Bank of California.

We will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. To submit candidates for consideration, recruiting agencies must have a valid, written, and fully executed agreement with Commercial Bank of California. Without such an agreement in place, no agency submissions will be accepted or compensated.