Bank Operations Lead Specialist (Checks Team)

Canandaigua National Bank

Location: Canandaigua, NY

What does a Bank Operations Lead Specialist at Canandaigua National Bank do?

The Bank Operations Lead Specialist leads the check operations team and serves as the bank’s main expert on how checks move through the payment system. This includes understanding processing steps, risk-mitigation practices, fraud detection, exception handling, and all regulatory requirements. The role manages daily workflow, ensures accurate data entry in the bank’s operation systems, and maintains consistent service-level performance.

This position provides steady guidance to the team, supports problem-solving, and helps employees build stronger operational knowledge. The Lead Specialist coordinates tasks, monitors quality, and ensures items are processed correctly and on time. They also contribute to department planning by identifying process improvements, supporting bank-wide initiatives, and offering input on future priorities.

The Lead Specialist models Canandaigua National Bank’s core values through open communication, collaboration, and professional conduct. They encourage teamwork, adaptability, accountability, and help maintain a positive, motivated environment where employees can grow and respond effectively to changes in workload or procedures.

What is needed to be successful in this role?

Associate’s degree or equivalent experience in Business, Accounting, or a related field required; Bachelor’s degree preferred.
Three to five years of banking operations experience in related positions (e.g., banking operations deposit and check processing, lead teller).
Strong people leadership, mentoring, and training capabilities.
Working knowledge of Bank Operations controls, processes, and regulatory requirements.
Excellent communication, prioritization, and problem‑solving skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and financial industry systems.
Experience with TRIPS system and Deluxe are highly desired.
Professional certifications (NCP, AAP, APRP) highly desired.

What does a successful first year in this position look like?

Performs a variety of functions across the Bank Operations department and is expertly versed in check processing and functions. Recommends improvements as a subject matter in checks.
Responsible for the daily incoming, outgoing, and in-clearing of checks.
Develops and implements recommended changes in collaboration with the department leadership team.
Conducts timely review and response to inquiries, disputes, and requests received by the department.
Reviews and resolves through the appropriate line of business high-risk check items such as forged signatures, stop payments, non-sufficient funds, uncollected funds, and altered amounts.
Provides leadership, mentorship, onboarding, and on-the-job training for team members on check and other bank operations procedures.
Develops, updates, and maintains procedure manuals (i.e., Knowledge Articles) to reflect new and changing processes within the Bank Operations Department.
Leads reconcilement duties as directed, including but not limited to identifying and correcting balance differences, ensuring team completes all balancing tasks timely and accurately, and acts as the subject matter expert in the balancing function for others to learn from and ask questions.

What makes working at Canandaigua National Bank different?

Our Core Values guide how we serve, lead, and grow alongside our community. By working wholeheartedly, feeling empowered, acting with courage, being authentic, and serving with a noble spirit, WE CAN fortify healthy lives by doing what's right for our customers and the community.

Our culture nurtures passionate employees and offers great rewards including:

Medical, dental, vision, FSA, HSA options for both part-time and full-time employees. Medical coverage is also offered for domestic partners.
Paid holidays, vacation, and sick time.
Retirement benefits that include a 401(k), Profit Sharing, and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
Training & development opportunities.
Tuition assistance.
Community focused volunteer opportunities.
Award winning wellness program that promotes a solid work/life balance.
Banking perks and discount programs.

Our goal is to ensure that our bank, employees, and our community thrive and grow, now and for the next 135 years. We're in it for the long haul. What truly sets us apart from other financial institutions is the quality and commitment of our employees. We've assembled a diverse team of people who share a primary focus: to provide exceptional service for our customers.

As an organization, we are committed to hiring, training, developing, promoting, and celebrating employees from historically disadvantaged groups. At Canandaigua National Bank, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, religion, disability, sexual orientation, education, and culture.

Canandaigua National Bank remains an independent community bank. If you want to be a part of something special, join us today!

Canandaigua National Corporation and its subsidiaries encourage diversity in the workplace; we are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Minority/Female/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Disability/Veteran.

Compensation range: $23.25 - $25.50/hr.
The actual salary offered within the range is dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, qualifications, skills, level offered, and performance expectations.

Learn more about this Employer on their Career Site

Lead Bank Operations Specialist