Financial Associate

Position Summary:
Financial Associates are responsible for supporting Business and Financial Advisors in enhancing existing relationships and developing new business opportunities. Financial Associates are part of the team of financial experts assisting clients in their selection of Alerus products and services to ensure the client successfully achieves their financial wellness goals. This position is responsible for ensuring the support and fulfillment of the selected products and services happens seamlessly.

Essential Responsibilities:
Job Function 1: Client Experience, Service and Retention - 50%

• Work closely with financial advisors, business advisors, product specialists, and others as necessary to fulfill client’s financial needs.
• Ability to manage account opening, fulfillment, and processing for consumer and commercial depository accounts, consumer and commercial lending products, and basic investment products.
• Update CRM software to capture client activity, schedule required follow-up actions, and effectively onboard clients.
• Responsible to coordinate and participate, as needed, in client meetings with advisors and product specialists.
• Prepare materials for client meetings as requested by the Advisor.
• Responsible to understand and assist in the onboarding process for new clients and what is needed to meet the minimum client delivery expectations going forward.
• Provide effective communication to inquiries from external and internal clients accurately and timely, tracking in the CRM and keeping the advisor informed as necessary.
• Maintain a continuing relationship with existing clients to retain their goodwill and develop additional business.
• Keep client team informed of sensitive client issues and client requests.
• Assist in preparing formal proposals for individual and business prospects.
• Ensure appropriate fees are charged and billed for extraordinary services.
• Terminate accounts when requested or necessary.
• Coordinate personal touches for clients and mailings.

Job Function 2: Account Compliance, Documentation, and Marketing - 30%

• Review daily tickler reports and documentation errors and act on necessary items, following up with document gathering and reporting for resolution.
• Review daily overdrafts for advisors, taking action and making client contacts as appropriate.
• Complete account opening documentation, open accounts when necessary and coordinate with other product specialists when needed.
• Help coordinate and prepare loan documents for loan closing, providing amortization schedules and payoff quotes from other financial institutions.
• Package and send closed loan package to appropriate areas.
• Maintain beneficial ownership documentation, such as articles, bylaws, member control agreements, and other supporting documentation for compliance purposes.
• Follow up on documents, and send additional documentation if needed.
• Handle day-to-day activities of Advisor accounts.
• Handle routine requests for transfers of cash to/from other accounts and client loan advances.
• Document activities in the CRM. Maintain client information and portfolio management systems.
• Act as back up to the teller line for offices with minimal staff and coverage.

Job Function 3: Professional & Personal Development - 20%

• Develop and maintain a basic level of knowledge encompassing the financial services industry, stay current on trends that impact Alerus’ relevancy in its competitive space.
• Maintain a general understanding of basic financial planning concepts including loans, depository products, investments, and insurance protection planning.
• Ability to execute on some but still learning all Alerus solutions for the consumer and business clients.
• Assume responsibility for career growth and development. Actively pursue continuing education, reading, and self-development to enhance skills.
• Build solid working relationships with team members, acting as a resource for others.

Position Requirements:
Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance or related field or equivalent work experience required.
• Minimum 3 years of financial services experience.
• Previous experience utilizing CRM software to track and manage sales opportunities.
• Demonstrated record of proven sales ability and client service abilities.
• Proven written and verbal communication skills.
• Established interpersonal and negotiating skills.
• Basic math proficiency.

Personal Characteristics:

• Self-motivated with demonstrated initiative, creativity and enthusiasm to develop sales strategy, prospects and client relationships.
• Effective communication skills and willingness to work with a team.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple phases of the sales process.
• Passionate about serving clients to positive impact their financial wellness.
• Proven problem-solver.
• Ability to manage the stressful nature of work and maintain professional composure, attitude, and behavior at all events.

Physical Demands - Must be met with or without a reasonable accommodation:

• Extended periods of time at a desk and using office equipment.
• Ability to operate a personal computer/laptop for approximately 8 hours per day.
• Extended time is spent reviewing physical and electronic documents.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
• Periodically, may also do light lifting of supplies and materials which weighs in at approximately 50 lbs.
• Will spend most of time in an indoor environment.
• Ability to travel as needed to other markets and locations.

Alerus Financial is an Equal Opportunity Employer of women, minorities, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)