Joseph Nowak Email & Phone Number

Buffalo, New York, United States

Cash Operations and Collections Directed a 9-person staff in the Finance Department. Managed the daily activities of the bank reconciliation, payment processing, billing and collection activities of the organization. Ensured that all actions completed by the staff were accurately completed and compliant with all regulatory agencies. Developed and refined the current policies and procedures to work towards SAS70 compliance. Mentored and worked on development of all employees to ensure employee growth and job satisfaction were increased. Interviewed and hired employees to fill open staffing positions. Redefined and developed policy/procedures for the Finance Department. Successfully negotiated with outside Collection Agencies to reduce per account collection costs and expenses by 25%. Implemented a check imaging process for returned Company and Personal checks to increase efficiencies and comply with the company's paperless initiatives. Initiated a change in lockbox payment processing banks to improve efficiencies and reduce staffing requirements needed. This change would allow imaging of all processed checks, eliminate the need to maintain and store the actual processed checks, allow all on-line payments to be processed electronically, reduce labor and increase cash flow. Worked with all New York State agencies to have all payments send electronically, further increasing cash flow and operating efficiencies. Selected for and an active member of numerous process improvement and system implementation projects and initiatives. Established and further refined existing metrics for the monitoring and review of all staff actions and activities. Established employee recognition program for the Finance Department to reward employee's efforts for outstanding Customer Service. Selected as a facilitator for the Companies Employee Rewards Program.

Oversaw a $54 million indirect lending portfolio. Assisted in the formation of a full service Consumer Lending area. Operated as a Business Development Manager to solicit, enroll and nurture relationships with new and existing dealerships. As a start-up operation, all aspects of indirect automotive lending were constructed and worked for consistent, month-over month growth Established policy/procedures for the servicing and support of indirect/direct lending products. Grew overall Consumer Loan portfolio to $114 million or 443% in less than 4 years.Helped form an indirect automotive lending program consisting of 65 franchised automotive dealers that grew to $54 million in less than 4 years. Realized a 22% year-over-year July 2007 net increase with 33 new dealers were added in 2007. Produced a total of $108 million in loans.Established collection unit and maintained delinquency under 1.6% and charge offs under .002%. Assisted in the development of SOX404 control standards; recognized for having the only business unit to pass new standards for effective controls in first round testing. Helped implement a customer contact program for late charge collections which yielded $64,000 representing a 135% increase year-over-year.

Provided daily decision-making on up to $1 million of automotive credit requests. Established lines of credit for commercial/business consumers based on financial strengths and anticipated vehicle needs. Utilized financial analysis to prepare automotive dealer credit requests/reviews for loans, wholesale and retail lines. Trained, coached, and counseled new analysts resulting in reduced break-in time, better process consistency, and fewer errors.

Bachelors Of Science, Business Administration

Bachelor Of Science, Business Management & Administration