Start or grow a meaningful career at Pursuit
Who We Are
Pursuit is a community-focused lender that provides small businesses with affordable loans and resources so that they can reach higher, transform and grow. That transformation may start with an individual borrower, but ultimately extends into the broader community, taking shape as new employment opportunities, economic development and positive change.
What We Do
For more than 65 years, we have been 100% invested in the success of our clients. Pursuit offers a suite of innovative financing products designed to expand access to capital for small businesses. Our range of loans and lines of credit range from $10,000 to $5.5 million for businesses ready to make their next big investment. We have designed our application processes and loan terms with more flexibility than traditional banks. Our signature loan programs include commercial real estate financing, general business funding, and fast business funding through a digital platform. We leverage deep, long-term relationships with banks and community partners to serve clients in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
What We Offer
A collaborative environment of mission-focused professionals dedicated to helping communities and economies grow through business lending. We seek individuals who want to blend a career in financial services with a career serving others. Pursuit extends its employees competitive salaries and a range of benefits including, including but not limited to:
- Health Insurance, generous employer premium contribution
- Fully paid Dental, Vision and Life Insurance
- Generous 401(k) match
- Flexible spending account
- Holiday and Paid Time Off
- Educational assistance after two years of employment
- Summer work hours
How We Help
We believe that when local businesses thrive, they provide good, stable jobs, recycling the money they spend back into the community to help it grow. Our loans are offered with affordable rates to ensure that our clients can continue growing and positively impacting their neighborhoods. While compelling founders’ stories are what drive us every day, we are proud to work with small businesses at scale:
- $4+ billion lent, $1.2 billion in the last 5 years
- $2 billion portfolio of small business loans
- 70,000+ jobs created
- 10,000+ loans to small businesses
- 10,000+ hours of advisory and educational services
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws regarding nondiscrimination.
To apply for an open role, please email a resume and cover letter to [email protected]. For general employment inquiries please contact Toniann Datello, human resources director, at [email protected].
Openings
Location: Albany
Job Type: Employee – Full Time
About the Job:
As a member of the accounting team, the Accounting Professional is responsible for completing assigned accounting tasks to meet Pursuit’s operational, compliance, and financial reporting objectives.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Performing daily Accounting tasks, including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and Depository activity
- Managing funding sources to meet near-term funding obligations and reduce cost of funds
- Reconciling accounts and preparing related journal entries
- Promptly addressing questions and requests from funding sources and borrowers
- Preparing and completing various financial documents to demonstrate compliance with regulations/ program reporting requirements
- Ensuring legal documents are up to date protect company interests
- Performing other duties as assigned
Position Specifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, finance or related field required
- 2+ years of practical Accounting and/or Finance experience
- Covid-19 vaccination required
- Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and accounting software
- Attention to detail
- Able to meet deadlines and prioritize tasks
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Highly organized, able to balance various projects and responsibilities at once, especially in a fast-paced environment
- Final candidates must be able to pass all pre-employment screenings, including a background, criminal and credit check, and drug testing
We will give consideration to and provide training for veterans interested in an administrative career provided that the applicant has completed at least two years of college with an accredited institution.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding nondiscrimination.
Location: Albany, NY
Job Type: Employee – Full Time
About the Job:
The Collection and Litigation Paralegal is responsible for providing assistance to the Pursuit Community Finance and Legal departments in the closing and post-closing process, to support rapidly expanding community development loan programs.
Tasks include:
- Providing legal & administrative support with the Community Finance loan portfolio, specializing in loans up to $100,000 to underserved communities and special initiatives.
- Draft, issue, and ensure accuracy of loan documents issued to clients in a time-sensitive manner to ensure the Community Brand promise of funding within 2 weeks of application is maintained.
- File and perfect collateral interests.
- Maintain detailed timeline records of contacts, file activities and follow up items, including UCC security interest updates, file maintenance, & record-keeping.
- Ensure compliance with Pursuit Community Finance credit policy and policies of special initiative programs in which Pursuit participates.
- Retain and manage outside counsel through litigation and collection proceedings.
- Order site inspections, appraisals, broker price opinion and foreclosure reports.
- Assistance in servicing, liquidating, and collections may be required.
- Support PCF Chief Lending Officer & Pursuit’s in-house counsel as-needed.
Position Specifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Covid-19 vaccination required.
- Final candidates must be able to pass all pre-employment screenings, including a background, criminal and credit check, and drug testing.
- Familiarity with laws governing debt collection practices and/or contract enforcement a plus.
- Interest in banking, community development, economic development, and non-profit work.
- Ability to work across departments and synthesize and collect information from multiple sources.
- Self-motivated and detail oriented.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- SBA Lending/Collection Knowledge a plus.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Ability to respond appropriately under pressure.
- Sound judgment and excellent problem-solving skills.
- A positive attitude and the ability to build relationships with customers
- Ability to work independently as well as collaborate with others.
- Ability to negotiate a fast-paced environment and handle many responsibilities simultaneously.
We will give consideration to and provide training for veterans interested in an administrative career provided that the applicant has completed at least two years of college with an accredited institution.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding nondiscrimination.
Location: Long Island, NY
Job Type: Employee – Full Time
About the Job:
Pursuit is a looking for a highly competent and intelligent professional to join our Long Island Lending Team as a Commercial Lender. The Commercial Lender will be responsible for marketing loan programs, originating loan applications, presenting recommendations to senior management for approval, and working the loan through the closing process.
Position Specifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required – preferably in accounting/finance or related field of study.
- Covid-19 vaccination required.
- Final candidates must be able to pass all pre-employment screenings, including a background, criminal and credit check, and drug testing.
- Prior experience in banking, commercial lending, or commercial credit underwriting, preferred.
- Business development and sales experience desired.
- Experience with SBA 504 and 7(a) lending is a plus.
- Candidates should have a good credit background and understanding.
- Superior technical, analytical, and writing skills.
- Excellent communication & interpersonal skills.
- Superior organizational and time management skills, including the ability to set, manage and meet expectations and deadlines.
- Ability to travel throughout the Long Island, with sustainable means of travel.
We will give consideration to and provide training for veterans interested in an administrative career provided that the applicant has completed at least two years of college with an accredited institution.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding nondiscrimination.
Location: Albany, NY
Job Type: Employee – Full Time
About the Job:
We seek to hire a Financial Analyst in our Albany, NY office. The Financial Analyst is responsible for performing document risk management on loan requests, evaluating and verifying collateral on all secured loans, and preparing reports and findings.
Position Specifications:
- Associates degree in a related field, required
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Candidates must be detailed oriented and be able to multi-task in a fast-paced environment
- SBA loan experience and commercial underwriting experience preferred
- Prior banking experience desired
- Covid-19 vaccination required.
- Final candidates must be able to pass all pre-employment screenings, including a background, criminal and credit check, and drug testing
We will give preference to and provide training for veterans interested in a career in finance/banking provided that the applicant has completed at least two years of college with a concentration in finance
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding nondiscrimination. We provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital sexual orientation, citizenship status, or protected veteran status.
Location: Albany, NY
Job Type: Employee – Full Time
About the Job:
Loan Processing Analyst will work in partnership with Relationship Managers, Underwriters, and Closing to successfully package, approve, and fund small business loans. The Loan Processing Analyst is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the file and ensuring that all fundamental parameters are met in accordance with specific internal and program guidelines.
Essential Functions:
1) Loan File Processing:
- Develop and send a client checklist of items required to complete the loan file for purposes of underwriting and approval
- Work directly with the appropriate party/parties to receive all checklist items in a timely manner
- Review application documents, including tax returns, financial statements, and other business documentation to review loan eligibility and creditworthiness of loan applicants
- Organize and maintain documentation in loan application files, including review of application documents for accuracy and completeness
- Ensure IRS and character evaluations are complete, when necessary, per loan program requirements
- Maintain accurate and complete virtual loan file throughout loan process
- Proactively work on loan files to ensure that all applicable deadlines are met
2) Technology:
- Utilize internal and external technology systems to review, process, track, and submit loans for approval
- Maintain accurate and complete loan file database throughout the loan approval process
- Coordinate checklist management with Relationship Manager, Underwriters, and loan applicants through loan management software
- Assist management in improving technological processes by providing feedback on loan systems and potential efficiencies that can be gained in loan processing
3) Coordination and Communication:
- Communicate both verbally and via email with borrowers, lenders, brokers, attorneys, and internal staff as necessary to move loan file through process in a timely manner
- Coordinate underwriting and approval of loan files with Relationship Managers and Underwriters
- Review loan approval documents for consistency and accuracy as well as compliance with all internal and program guidelines
- Review and submit management agreements, appraisal, and environmental reports for approval when necessary
4) Other miscellaneous duties as required by Credit Manager.
Position Specifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree required.
- Proficiency with MS Office applications.
- Ability to prioritize, multi-task, and remain organized.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Agile and open to change.
- Covid-19 vaccination required.
- Final candidates must be able to pass all pre-employment screenings, including a background, criminal and credit check, and drug testing.
We will give consideration to and provide training for veterans interested in an administrative career provided that the applicant has completed at least two years of college with an accredited institution.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding nondiscrimination.
Location: Albany, NY
Job Type: Employee – Full Time
About the Job:
The Loan Processor position for the Pursuit Community Finance team (a non-profit, Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) focused on underserved communities) will work in partnership with the Chief Lending Officer and lending operations team to successfully package, approve and fund PCF loan products (SmartLoan, Microloan, and Line of Credit). The Loan Processor is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the file and ensuring that all fundamental file parameters are met in accordance with the PCF Credit Policy, SBA Microloan SOP, and prudent lending practices.
Essential Functions:
1) Loan File Processing:
- Organize and package loan application documents as gathered from Pursuit’s online application platform
- Perform data entry and maintenance into multiple database and software platforms to track application volume, status, and processing timelines
- Organize and maintain documentation in loan application files
- Review all application documents received for accuracy and completeness
- Ensure IRS and character evaluations are complete when necessary, per loan program requirements
- Maintain accurate and complete loan file in internal network throughout loan process
- Collaborate with Pursuit’s underwriters/analysts, Chief Lending Officer, and customer-facing loan officers, to efficiently process applications to maintain a 2-day decision timeframe
2) Database Input:
- Input required data into Ventures+ & Microsoft Dynamics CRM database for all loan files
- Generate loan application forms as applicable to loan file and loan program
- Update Ventures+ & Microsoft Dynamics CRM database with any changes as they occur throughout the loan process
3) Coordination and Communication:
- Communicate both verbally and via email with borrowers, lenders, and internal staff as necessary to move loan file through process in a timely manner
- Submit loan file to PCF Underwriting Department and monitor progress
4) Other miscellaneous duties as required by Chief Lending Officer.
Position Specifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree required.
- Minimum of 1 year of experience in commercial loan processing or two years of experience in customer service.
- Proficiency with MS Office applications.
- Ability to prioritize, multi-task, and remain organized.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Agile and open to change.
- Covid-19 vaccination required.
- Final candidates must be able to pass all pre-employment screenings, including a background, criminal and credit check, and drug testing.
We will give consideration to and provide training for veterans interested in an administrative career provided that the applicant has completed at least two years of college with an accredited institution.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding nondiscrimination.
Location: Flexible
Industries: Financial Services
Job Type: Employee – Full Time
Title: Vice President/ Senior Business Development Officer for Nonprofit Small Business Lender
About the Position:
The Senior Business Development Officer is responsible for working directly with banks, business service organizations, associations, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, professional service firms, lending organizations or marketplaces, and others to secure client referrals and acquire loan customers. The geographic focus for the position is Pennsylvania and/or New Jersey – specifically the Philadelphia or Pittsburgh metropolitan area. However, deals can come from anywhere in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Maintain expert familiarity with Pursuit Community Finance products and those of its affiliates.
- Maintain a network of bankers and referral partners, and secure new channels for client acquisition.
- Engage in strategic networking to develop new partners and clients.
- Quickly understand business conditions, conduct business assessments and be able to provide feedback and guidance to potential clients on the appropriateness of various products.
- Nurture and advise clients to help resolve access to capital barriers, with a focus on loan readiness, loan packaging, and addressing challenges to accessing capital.
- Conduct follow-up assessments and check-ins with clients.
- Coordinate with partners such as banks, accountants, and other small business service providers.
- Develop manuals, processes and procedures; establish benchmarks and track progress against goals. Manage reports and IT systems related to tracking and reporting on business development.
- Support efforts related to new grant proposals and reporting to funders, including monitoring and measuring program outcomes as needed
- Additional position-related duties and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor.
Position Specifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Master’s degree in business administration, public administration, or related field preferred.
- Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in banking and small business lending/credit, or business development in the financial services industry.
- Demonstrated deal production and contacts of bankers and centers of influence.
- Clear communication, sales, presentation & interpersonal skills.
- Strategic & organizational competence—i.e. exercising leadership to improve business development strategy, the ability to set and manage timelines, commitments, and deadlines with ease.
- Covid-19 vaccination required.
- Final candidates must be able to pass all pre-employment screenings, including a background, criminal and credit check, and drug testing.
Essential Functions:
- Ability to communicate effectively.
- Ability to travel throughout NY, NJ, and PA.
- Experience and comfort with public speaking.
We will give consideration to and provide training for veterans interested in an administrative career provided that the applicant has completed at least two years of college with an accredited institution.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding nondiscrimination.
Location: Hartford, CT (flexible)
Industries: Financial Services
Job Type: Employee – Full Time
About the Position:
The AVP Senior Community Engagement Associate/ Small Business Lending is responsible for working directly with business service organizations, associations, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, professional service firms, lending organizations or marketplaces, and others to develop ongoing relationships throughout the state. Connecticut will be new territory for Pursuit. The ideal candidate will be someone with experience working within the Connecticut ecosystem, especially with organizations serving in areas with a high concentration of mission-aligned small businesses. Candidates throughout CT and adjoining states will be considered.
Responsibilities include:
- Cultivating relationships with a network of community organizations and potential referral partners.
- Engaging in strategic networking, including organizing meetings, attending events, and doing direct outreach, to develop new partners and clients.
- Quickly understanding the organizational ecosystem across multiple Connecticut geographies.
- Organizing events, technical assistance/educational offers, and other initiatives to introduce Pursuit to the Connecticut small business marketplace.
- Maintaining expert familiarity with Pursuit Community Finance products and those of its affiliates.
- When referred by community organizations, nurturing and advising clients to help them access capital.
- Conduct regular check-ins with partners, and keep them informed of Pursuit’s educational and lending offerings.
- Managing reports and IT systems related to tracking and reporting on business development.
- Supporting efforts related to new grant proposals and reporting to funders, including monitoring and measuring program outcomes as needed.
- Additional position-related duties and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor.
Position Specifications
- Associate’s degree required.
- Minimum of three (3) years experience with community organizing, economic development, small business lending, outreach or business development.
- Covid-19 vaccination required.
- Final candidates must be able to pass all pre-employment screenings, including background, criminal and credit check, and drug testing.
- Demonstrated banking relationships and knowledge of the Connecticut small business ecosystem.
- Clear communication, sales, presentation & interpersonal skills.
- Strategic & organizational competence—i.e. exercising leadership to improve processes, and the ability to set and manage timelines, commitments, and deadlines with ease.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding nondiscrimination.
Location: CT
Job Type: Employee – Full Time
About the Position:
The Senior Business Advisory Consultant is responsible for building strong relationships with clients and understand our value proposition, mission, and services. The ideal candidate should be assertive, highly motivated, confident, analytical, and an excellent salesperson.
Responsibilities include:
- Develop new ways to engage clients in consulting services and business advisory offerings.
- Identify prospective customers from an existing pipeline and proactively reach out to and maintain close contact with a roster of small business clients, understanding their business needs and ensuring they are connecting with a variety of valuable resources.
- Be able to provide knowledge and guidance on different strategies for business clients when faced with challenges or growth opportunities.
- Review business and managerial plans, credit reports, and others as appropriate to determine business immediate needs.
- Analyze financial statements to identify any trends in the financial operations to identify weaknesses & strengths and determine growth opportunities.
- Manage connections to consulting services to ensure quality service and work, together with other staff, to ensure that all Pursuit goals and funder goals are met or exceeded.
- Analyze learnings from consultant engagements to make changes and propose services that would help customers grow, including managing new programs and offerings.
- Design and lead outreach strategies, including event organization.
- Manage reports and IT systems related to tracking and reporting on consulting engagements.
- Work collaboratively with other staff to develop content that provides value to small business owners, especially Pursuit borrowers.
- Contribute to the creation of tools to enhance advisory interactions with clients and train team members on the use of such tools.
Position Specifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree in business administration, public administration, or related field preferred.
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience working with small businesses or in a related field.
- Superior presentation/training, technical and writing skills.
- Clear communication & interpersonal skills.
- Ability to speak multiple languages is a plus.
- Commitment to the mission of supporting small businesses, especially those in disadvantaged economic areas.
- Covid-19 vaccination required.
- Final candidates must be able to pass all pre-employment screenings, including a background, criminal and credit check, and drug testing.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding nondiscrimination.
Location: CT
Job Type: Employee – Full Time
About the Position:
The Business Advisory Associate is responsible for building relationships with clients and understand our value proposition, mission, and services. The ideal candidate should be assertive, highly motivated, confident, and analytical.
Responsibilities include:
- Proactively reach out to and maintain close contact with an existing roster of small business clients, understanding their business needs and ensuring they are connecting with valuable resources.
- Provide direct service to clients, helping them to identify their needs and create concrete deliverables aligned with their business growth.
- Provide administrative support to our consulting team.
- Pair businesses with services to help them with services to help them grow and monitor these engagements to ensure quality service and work, ensuring that all Pursuit goals and funder goals are met or exceeded.
- Record work and progress on IT systems related to tracking and reporting on consulting engagements.
- Work with other staff to develop content that provides value to small business owners, especially Pursuit borrowers.
- Potentially manage a portfolio of projects and programs for advisory services.
- Assist in event organization and strategy for outreach.
Position Specifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Clear communication & interpersonal skills.
- Ability to speak other languages is a plus.
- Commitment to the mission of supporting small businesses, especially businesses in disadvantaged economic areas.
- Covid-19 vaccination required.
- Final candidates must be able to pass all pre-employment screenings, including a background, criminal and credit check, and drug testing.
Essential Functions:
- Ability to communicate effectively.
- Ability to manage deliverables and goals effectively.
- Ability to travel and visit clients in different areas of the state of Connecticut.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding nondiscrimination.
Location: Albany, NY / Long Island, NY
Industries: Financial Services
Title: Special Assets Associate – Special Assets Department
About the Position:
We seek to hire a Special Assets Associate, working within the team, providing analysis and support in the administration of the special assets portfolio. Responsibilities will include, but not be limited to, completing analytical reporting and research-related functions required in the servicing, liquidation, and restructuring of problem loan relationships. Maintain documentation control and credit files for transmittal to appropriate agency. Responsible for correspondence to borrower, loan payment collection, extension processing and required items needed to preserve collateral. As well as creating, compiling and maintaining required document packages for submission to government entities. Responsibilities may also be administrative in nature and may also include the preparation of reports to be transmitted to appropriate boards and bankers. Qualified candidates will be self-motivated and have excellent organizational and administrative skills.
Position Specifications:
- Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent work experience, required.
- Prior administrative, lending/ banking experience, preferred.
- Covid-19 vaccination required.
- Final candidates must be able to pass all pre-employment screenings, including a background, criminal and credit check, and drug testing.
We will give consideration to and provide training for veterans interested in an administrative career provided that the applicant has completed at least two years of college with an accredited institution.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding nondiscrimination.
Location: Connecticut
Job Type: Employee – Full Time
About the Job:
The Vice President / Senior Business Development Officer- Small Business Lending is responsible for working directly with banks, business service organizations, associations, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, professional service firms, lending organizations or marketplaces, and others to secure client referrals and acquire loan customers. Connecticut will be new territory for Pursuit. The ideal candidate will be someone with deep experience in the state, especially in areas with a high concentration of mission-aligned small businesses. Candidates throughout CT and adjoining states will be considered.
Responsibilities include:
- Maintaining a network of bankers and referral partners, and securing new deal channels.
- Engaging in strategic networking to develop new partners and clients.
- Quickly understanding business conditions, conducting business assessments and providing feedback and guidance to potential clients on the appropriateness of various products.
- Maintaining expert familiarity with Pursuit Community Finance products and those of its affiliates.
- Nurturing and advising clients to help resolve access to capital barriers, with a focus on loan readiness, loan packaging, and addressing challenges to accessing capital.
- Conducting follow-up assessments and check-ins with clients.
- Managing reports and IT systems related to tracking and reporting on business development.
- Supporting efforts related to new grant proposals and reporting to funders, including monitoring and measuring program outcomes as needed.
- Additional position-related duties and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor.
Position Specifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Minimum of five (5) years experience with banking, small business lending, or business development in the financial services industry.
- Covid-19 vaccination required.
- Final candidates must be able to pass all pre-employment screenings, including a background, criminal and credit check, and drug testing.
- Demonstrated banking relationships within Connecticut.
- Demonstrated deal production and contacts with bankers and COIs.
- Clear communication, sales, presentation & interpersonal skills.
- Strategic & organizational competence—i.e. exercising leadership to improve sales strategy, and the ability to set and manage timelines, commitments, and deadlines with ease.
What We Offer
A collaborative environment of mission-focused professionals dedicated to helping communities and economies grow through business lending. We seek individuals who want to blend a career in financial services with a career serving others. Pursuit extends its employees competitive salaries and a range of benefits, including but not limited to:
- Health Insurance, generous employer premium contribution
- Fully paid Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
- Generous 401(k) match
- Flexible spending account
- Holiday and Paid Time Off
- Educational assistance after two years of employment
- Summer work hours
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws regarding nondiscrimination.
