Hybrid Manager, Asset Recovery at Sunward

Description

Job Summary:

The Asset Recovery Manager oversees the strategic and technical operations of the Asset Recovery department, ensuring effective charge-off management, recovery efforts, and legal compliance. This position plays a critical role in minimizing financial loss and ensuring alignment with the Credit Union’s charge-off forecast. The Asset Recovery Manager collaborates closely with the Portfolio Analytics Manager to ensure data accuracy, drives operational improvements, and maintains oversight of third-party vendors, including legal firms, collection agencies, and auction partners. This role also represents the Credit Union in litigation matters and is accountable for recovery performance across charged-off portfolios.

Requirements

Essential Job Duties:

Leadership:

• Liaise with HR and OD to recruit, onboard, develop, and retain high-quality staff.
• Oversees the daily workflow of the department.
• Provides constructive and timely one-on-ones and performance evaluations.  
• Effectively coaches, mentors, motivates, and manages the staff to ensure delivery of communications to employees in a timely and accurate manner while maintaining the Credit Union’s high standard of quality.
• Ensures that the department fosters a productive, rewarding work environment that provides for the development of employees; meets all established goals and metrics; and operates within the Credit Union’s core values. 

Main responsibilities:

• Strategic & Financial Oversight

· Lead the execution of recovery strategies to support forecasted charge-offs, collections performance, and loss mitigation goals.

· Reconcile monthly charge-offs and recoveries, ensuring accuracy and consistency with accounting and forecast models.

· Partner with the Portfolio Analytics Manager to validate the integrity of recovery data, charge-off trends, and static pool performance.

· Prepare and present recovery insights, trends, and performance reports to the VP of Special Assets and senior leadership.

• Leadership & Department Management

· Hire, train, and lead the Asset Recovery team, including supervisors, specialists, and legal support staff.

· Create, update, and maintain job descriptions to ensure as we grow the department the positions are aligned to the expectations.

· Foster a high-performance culture focuses on efficiency, compliance, and cross-functional alignment.

· Develop departmental structure, roles, and employee development plans to support evolving organizational needs.

· Ensure full cross-training of staff on complex topics, including legal claims, liens, garnishments, judgments, and asset disposition.

• Vendor & Legal Relationship Management

· Conduct regular site visits and performance evaluations for third-party vendors, including law firms, recovery agencies, skip tracing partners, and auto auctions.

· Approve legal billing, review contracts, and oversee vendor compliance with service-level expectations.

· Represent the Credit Union in court proceedings related to legal recovery cases, including litigation challenges, garnishments, and debt collection disputes.

· Serve as primary liaison with internal and external legal counsel for escalated legal recovery matters.

• Systems & Technical Process Management

· In partnership with the Portfolio analytics manager, develop recovery-related systems (e.g., AKUVO) to ensure efficient, accurate, and automated workflows.

· Collaborate with IT and Portfolio Analytics to identify and implement enhancements in recovery processes and reporting which in dashboards to help visualize data and trends.

· Monitor data entry, automation rules, and exception handling to ensure accuracy in all recovery actions and communications.

• Compliance & Operational Integrity

· Ensure adherence to all applicable laws and regulations (FDCPA, FCRA, UCC, TCPA, bankruptcy codes, etc.).

· Oversee the preparation and accuracy of IRS Form 1099-Cs, credit bureau reporting, and court-required documentation.

· Manage audits related to charged-off accounts, repossessions, and recovery processes.

· Maintain internal controls and uphold data privacy, documentation retention, and security protocols.

· Supports all audit and regulatory exams by researching, validating, and communicating requests. They must also participate in the corrections of any findings for special assets.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration

· Partner with Loss Mitigation, Lending, Loan Servicing, Legal, Audit, and Member Experience teams to ensure end-to-end alignment in recovery strategy.

· Participate in workout committees, audit reviews, and policy discussions that impact financial recoveries and risk management.

· Contribute to the design and implementation of recovery policies, procedures, and training materials.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong organizational skills in managing multiple initiatives.   
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.  
• Strong adaptability with technology, including digital communication tools and evolving software platforms.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen with the ability to interpret and act on complex data sets.
• Effective leadership, team-building, and mentoring abilities.
• Clear and persuasive communication skills—verbal, written, and interpersonal.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and recovery platforms (e.g., AKUVO or equivalent).
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and independent judgment.
• Ability to manage conflict, resolve escalations, and perform under pressure in legal or regulatory settings.

Knowledge:

• Strong working knowledge of financial forecasting, recovery reconciliations, and performance analytics.
• Expertise in recovery laws and legal processes, including court procedures, bankruptcy, litigation, and asset seizure.
• Experience with third-party vendor management and recovery contract oversight.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.  

Education and Experience:

• Minimum 6 years of experience in collections, asset recovery, repossession management, or legal recovery.
• At least 3 years in a leadership or strategic supervisory role with budget, reporting, or legal oversight responsibilities.
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, legal studies, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and extensive experience.

Physical Requirements: 

Occasional court appearances required to represent the Credit Union in litigation or recovery challenges.

Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

Periodic travel for vendor site visits and legal proceedings.

Must be able to lift 20 pounds at times.