Commercial Banking Portfolio Manager

Overview

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 commercial banking, 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.

Responsibilities

The Portfolio Manager (PM) supports Relationship Managers (RMs) in managing their client portfolios. The PM plays a key role in ongoing client servicing, credit risk monitoring, and portfolio-level reporting, allowing RMs to focus on business development and relationship strategy. PMs serve as the primary contact for smaller clients, assist with credit processes, and help ensure regulatory and policy compliance across the portfolio.

Key Responsibilities:

Client and Relationship Support

• Serve as the primary point of contact for lower-risk, lower-touch clients, handling inquiries and routine servicing.
• Conduct client-facing activities such as annual review meetings, information gathering, customer service check-ins, and closings.
• Periodically join RMs on client calls.

Credit Monitoring and Analysis

• Collect, track, and review ongoing financial reporting requirements for assigned clients.
• Perform covenant testing and flag any exceptions or trends for review.
• Recommend appropriate risk ratings based on financial performance and creditworthiness.

Deal and Renewal Support

• Prepare or assist with credit memos for renewals, modifications, and new money requests.
• Support deal screens and early-stage evaluations of new and existing credit opportunities.
• Coordinate with Sr. Credit Underwriters for the underwriting of complex credits.
• Participate in credit presentations to the Regional Credit Officer (RCO) and Loan Committee.

Documentation and Process Management

• Review and verify loan documentation and support the closing process for assigned relationships.
• Work with Credit and Operations to ensure compliance with internal policies and loan conditions.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Work directly with RM when deeper expertise is required to support the client.
• Collaborate with bank partners to identify and follow through on cross-sell opportunities.

Qualifications

Education/Training/Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a related field.
• All applicants must be 18 years of age or older.

Skills:

• Strong understanding of loan structuring, documentation, and credit policy.
• Knowledge of accounting and lending principles.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, proficient in business writing.
• Skilled at researching and interpreting financial data and trends.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple tasks under pressure.
• Comfortable with client-facing interactions.

Experience:

• 4–6+ years of experience in commercial banking, credit analysis and underwriting, with at least 2 years in a dedicated portfolio management or underwriting role.