Analyst, Residential Lending - Continuous Improvement

Who we are: Fairstone Bank and its family of brands are united in delivering innovative, accessible and reliable financial solutions that enable Canadians to reach their goals. Over the years, our brand family has grown. In 2024, Home Trust Company, Home Bank and Oaken Financial became part of the Fairstone Bank family of brands, alongside Fairstone, Eden Park and Fig. Together, we are the leading alternative lending bank in Canada. We have the collective experience and expertise to better serve our customers and foster our partners’ growth. With a diverse suite of products—residential and commercial mortgages, consumer deposits and GICs, credit cards, retail and automobile financing, personal loans and digital lending—we offer financial solutions tailored to all Canadians, including newcomers, small-business owners, smart investors and savvy consumers. Backed by nearly a century of lending experience through its legacy companies, Fairstone Bank and its brand family are proud to be Canada’s leading alternative lending bank. ​ Home Trust: Home Trust Company has developed a track record of success as Canada’s leading alternative lender, employing nearly 800 people in our Toronto headquarters and branches across the country. Building on the demonstrated strength of its core residential mortgage lending business, the Company also offers complementary lending services, as well as highly competitive deposit investment products, through Oaken Financial. Our culture has been shaped by the passion and integrity of our people. Join Home Trust as an Analyst, Residential Lending - Continuous Improvement , reporting to Manager, Residential Lending - Continuous Improvement , and be part of our talented and growing team! About the role: The Analyst, Residential Lending Continuous Improvement acts as a subject matter expert (SME) for Residential Lending on large projects and initiatives, and for owning the completion of smaller initiatives and process improvements in an agile environment. This includes supporting product strategy, contributing to roadmap development, and helping create features that align with company strategy and Risk and Compliance frameworks. The incumbent will work with business analysts, stakeholders, product and development teams to provide business requirements for projects and system enhancements, and drive test scenario creation with IT Quality Assurance for all testing cycles. The role is responsible for completing user acceptance testing, identifying and raising any issues to QA and leadership for resolution. The incumbent will identify patterns and trends via reporting and data analysis, proposing solutions for continuous improvement and driving these changes to completion with guidance from the Manager, Residential Lending Continuous Improvement. Key responsibilities: Process Support / Data Quality Manage day-to-day incident ticket resolution to ensure lending business continuity Manage Delegated Lending Authority approvals, onboarding, and control reporting Analysis and closure of loan data quality tickets to support regulatory reporting and/or audits Provides enhancement recommendations to improve data quality monitoring and issue prevention Document and update appropriate repositories with evidence of the activity’s completion and review Projects & Other Initiatives Act as a Business Subject Matter Expert (SME) on assigned projects and initiatives for RESL, which includes: providing business requirements, draft test scenarios, complete user acceptance testing and business validation of system and process changes prior to rollout with management support Ownership of assigned tasks and small initiatives designed to ensure business processes are optimized while risks are appropriately mitigated through documented change management activities Work closely with business team members and other stakeholders to document and analyze current and future state processes and identify areas for improvement that look to optimize the end-to-end lending process while understanding the impact of initiatives to loan quality, speed and efficiency while considering compliance, regulatory and quality factors Document and present project rollout and change management plan for small to medium initiatives to management and stakeholders Assist in the creation of and monitor control reporting to review process adherence and identify gaps post-rollout of initiatives Continuous Improvement Identify patterns/trends in issues that are occurring and recommend solutions to management to put longer term solutions in place to address repeating issues. Provide recommendations to management, feedback, and opinions to resolve problems and strengthen the client and employee experience across our secured lending processes. Manage day-to-day intake of enhancement request and ensure proper capture within enhancement backlog. Take ownership of assigned activities to ensure continuous improvement initiatives satisfy business objectives, support strategic projects while aligning to the Company’s risk appetite. Partner with IT and Quality Assurance team to deliver on regular release of enhancements based on prioritized backlog, including providing business requirements (per stakeholder discussions) and completing user acceptance testing What we’re looking for: Post-secondary degree or diploma in related area or discipline or equivalent work experience 3+ years related experience within a regulated Canadian Financial Institution Takes initiative to work effectively within established timelines. Strong process documentation, process mapping, and analytical skills. Identifies areas for continuous improvement and offers new perspectives or ideas Strong organizational skills, time management, and attention to detail. Excellent written / verbal communication and comprehension skills Interpersonal skills to foster relationships with team members and stakeholders Able to multi-task and flourish in a fast-paced, deadline-driven work environment. What you’ll love about working here: Award-Winning Culture: We’re proud to be recognized as a Great Place to Work Canada 2025 and one of Montreal’s Top Employers 2025 by Canada’s Top 100 Employers. Work-Life Balance: Enjoy flexibility with our hybrid work model designed to support your lifestyle. Time to Recharge: Generous vacation based on your role, statutory holidays, plus 6 wellness days to prioritize your well-being. Compensation Package: Competitive base salary plus an annual incentive bonus tied to performance. Comprehensive Benefits: Robust health and dental coverage through Manulife, as well as virtual healthcare through Dialogue. Future-Ready Savings: Group Retirement Savings Plan with up to 7% employer match. Exclusive Perks: Discounts from top retailers via WorkPerks, plus location-based perks like gym memberships and Toronto Bike Share. On-Site Fitness: Gym access at our London and Montreal offices. Continuous Growth: Education Assistance Program and Fairstone Academy for training and skill development. Family Support: Parental leave top-up program to help you during life’s big moments. Community Impact: One paid volunteer day to give back to causes that matter to you. For more information on who we are as an employer click here. What you can expect - pay & process: Expected base salary range is $70,000 - $80,000 per year, plus the opportunity to earn an annual incentive bonus tied to performance. This posting is for an existing vacancy within our organization. Artificial intelligence may be used in parts of the recruitment process. All candidates considered for hire must successfully pass a criminal background check, credit check, and validation of their work experience to qualify for hire. If what you read excites you, we’d like to hear from you! Please submit your application and we’ll contact you if you become selected for first stages of the interview process. Learn more: Follow us on LinkedIn: If you have a preferred language for communication, please kindly inform us whether you prefer French or English on your application. Fairstone is an equal opportunity employer. Accordingly, we will make reasonable accommodations to respond to the needs of people with disabilities. Individuals who view themselves as Aboriginals, members of visible minorities, and disabled are encouraged to apply in confidence. Time Type: Full time Job Type: Permanent