Due to an upcoming retirement, Smith & Wilkinson has been retained by Merrimack Valley Credit Union (MVCU) to manage the search for the credit union’s next SVP, Commercial Lending Manager. Founded in 1955, MVCU has grown from humble beginnings to become one of the five largest credit unions in Massachusetts. With the recent merger between MVCU and RTN FCU, they now manage over $2.4B in assets, with over 116,000 members spread across nearly two dozen locations.

Reporting to the EVP, CLO, & Corporate Strategy, the SVP, Commercial Lending Manager is responsible for overseeing the administration and growth of the credit union's commercial loan portfolio, ensuring compliance with policies and regulations while maintaining asset quality and profitability. This role involves directing commercial loan activities, overseeing underwriting, credit reviews, and portfolio management, as well as ensuring risk management and business development initiatives align with the credit union’s strategic goals. Additionally, the SVP collaborates with various departments on product development and service outreach, leads regulatory compliance efforts, and participates in senior leadership meetings to support overall organizational objectives. Maintaining strong external relationships and fostering a culture of continuous improvement are also key aspects of this role.

For a confidential conversation and additional information, please reach out to Nathan Townsend (ntownsend@smithandwilkinson.com).

Due to continued growth and investment in the communities they serve, Smith & Wilkinson has been retained by American Eagle Financial Credit Union to manage the search for the newly created position of Chief Community Officer. Originally founded in 1935 to serve the employees of defense contractor Pratt & Whitney, over the past 85 years American Eagle FCU has grown into one of the largest credit unions in New England, serving anyone who lives, works, or worships in select counties in CT and MA. As of 6/30/24, the organization has approximately $2.7B in assets and $2.4B in deposits, with 360 employees and 180,000 members.

Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the Chief Community Officer will lead critical functions that support the Credit Union’s community outreach and strategic plans resulting in a positive impact in the marketplace. Responsibilities include relationship building, partnership development, needs identification, solutions generation, giving and enrichment for others, as well as delivery of tangible ways to advance financial freedom across their five-county footprint. Specific success criteria include proficiently illustrating our leadership practices, optimizing team member engagement, delivering a positive experience for members, increasing Financial Freedom for the community, driving advocacy and generating profitability to advance the sustainability and relevance of the Credit Union. This person will collaborate with functional areas across the enterprise to create an environment of continuous improvement evidenced by learning, innovation and success for all stakeholders—members, team members and Credit Union as a whole.

For a confidential conversation and additional information, please reach out to Carll Wilkinson (cwilkinson@smithandwilkinson.com) or Nathan Townsend (ntownsend@smithandwilkinson.com).

Under the direction of the Chief Lending Officer, the VP, Senior Commercial Lender is responsible for prospecting and servicing a variety of commercial loans. The selected individual will interview applicants, obtain and review required financial information, build a highly visible reputation as a commercial loan expert, that will result in the generation of quality commercial loans that meet the criteria of Pathfinder Bank’s loan policies. Our client is seeking a seasoned Commercial Lender with a focus on Commercial and Industrial (C&I) lending to join a dynamic founding team. As a key player in the mission of Pathfinder Bank, this individual will contribute to building strong relationships, supporting small and medium sized businesses, and driving the success of entrepreneurs in the communities they serve. The position of VP, Senior Commercial Lender will also assist in attaining established Bank, region, and branch goals, and is expected to provide leadership, training and support to less experienced loan officers and other staff members.

Due to internal promotions, and the evolution of its organizational structure based on growth, Salem Five is seeking a talented Assistant Controller to oversee the daily management and operations of the accounting department. Reporting directly to the Controller, the Assistant Controller is responsible for all financial records of the Bank and monitoring the annual budgeting process while providing critical leadership to a team of seven direct reports.

Salem Five is a full-service financial services company, offering commercial and consumer banking, wealth management and trust services, commercial and personal insurance, and mortgage banking. Founded in 1855 as a savings bank for the city of Salem, MA, the organization has grown into the 5th largest mutual bank in the country, with more than $7.5B in assets. Products, services, and experienced staff have steadily been added to meet the complex needs of families and businesses throughout New England. The Bank now operates more than 30 retail branches,10 insurance locations and 4 mortgage offices across the region.

As an FDIC insured mutual bank, the bank is accountable to its customers, employees, and communities. Mutual banks are a stable influence in local markets because most customers, both commercial and consumer, live and do business in the community. Since Salem Five is not publicly held and has no stockholders, business decisions can be made with a long-term perspective, building mutually beneficial relationships and maintaining a great degree of flexibility. This charter of mutuality creates and nurtures a customer focused approach across the organization.

The future is bright. Salem Five is poised to continue expanding its market share by leveraging its successful recipe of experienced personnel, personal service and strategic innovation.

For additional information about this leadership role, please contact a member of the S&W search team: Cameron Boyd, Managing Partner (cboyd@smithandwilkinson.com) or Julia Crouter, Senior Associate (jcrouter@smithandwilkinson.com)

S&W has been retained by $13B OceanFirst Bank, a publicly traded bank with a reach from Boston to Washington, DC and headquartered in Toms River, New Jersey, to manage the search for their next Director of External Reporting and Tax.

OceanFirst Bank, established over 120 years ago, has consistently demonstrated its commitment to excellence, integrity, and innovation in delivering comprehensive banking solutions to individuals and businesses across New Jersey and beyond. With a strong emphasis on community involvement and customer satisfaction, OceanFirst Bank continues to expand its footprint while maintaining a customer-centric approach.

The Director of External Reporting & Tax at OceanFirst Bank plays a pivotal role in ensuring meticulous financial reporting in adherence to GAAP, SEC regulations, and internal policies. This strategic leadership position oversees the accurate and timely preparation of SEC filings, including 10-Q and 10-K reports, as well as regulatory filings such as FFIEC 041 and FR Y-9LP. The role also encompasses managing federal and state tax returns and provisions, contributing significantly to the bank’s fiscal health and regulatory compliance.

To arrange a confidential conversation or to obtain further information, please contact a member of the S&W search team: Darcy Flaherty, Senior Associate (dflaherty@smithandwilkinson.com) or Steve Peary, Partner (speary@smithandwilkinson.com).

Due to an internal promotion, S&W has been retained by MassHousing to lead the search and selection process for the organization's next Assistant Comptroller.

Created by the state legislature in 1966, MassHousing is a quasi-public agency with the mission of improving the lives of the people of Massachusetts by providing financing for affordable housing. The primary business model of the organization is as a spread lender, raising capital by selling bonds, and using the proceeds from those bond sales to finance low- and moderate-income housing options. As the housing crisis in parts of Massachusetts accelerates, the work being done by MassHousing continues to take on greater meaning. The largest portion of MassHousing's portfolio is in multifamily development, whereby the organization provides financing directly to developers who either build or preserve affordable or mixed-income rental housing. Additionally, the organization maintains a network of conduit banks throughout the Commonwealth for the purpose of financing single family homes. MassHousing both sells these loans to the secondary market servicing retained and manages its own portfolio of approximately $7.1B in loans. As the organization has grown in size, complexity, and in recognition of its capabilities, so have the programs that it administers and initiatives that it leads, including but not limited to The Massachusetts Community Climate Bank ("MCCB"). The MCCB was formed to accelerate investments to decarbonize the state's building sector and promote an equitable transition to clean energy.

Reporting to the Comptroller, the Assistant Comptroller will assist the Comptroller in managing the accurate and timely preparation of the Company’s internal and external financial reporting, ensure GAAP compliance, and lead the day-to-day accounting operations. The successful candidate will bring broad-based accounting expertise within a real estate lending business and ideally hold a CPA.

For additional information, or to arrange a confidential conversation, please contact a member of the S&W Search Team: Julia Crouter, Senior Associate (jcrouter@smithandwilkinson.com), Cameron Boyd, Managing Partner (cboyd@smithandwilkinson.com).

Windsor Federal (windsorfederal.com) has retained Smith & Wilkinson (S&W) to lead the search and selection process for its First Vice President, Residential & Consumer Lending. This key leadership role will be instrumental in growing and enhancing Windsor Federal’s residential lending division, a core part of the bank’s long-term strategy.

Headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut, Windsor Federal is a highly regarded 86-year-old, $803MM mutual bank. It is the last remaining bank headquartered in Hartford County, with a strong focus on serving both business and consumer customers across the region. The bank is uniquely positioned as the only federal savings association in Connecticut, allowing it to serve customers across state lines. Windsor Federal’s branches are spread across Windsor, East Windsor, South Windsor, Granby, Bloomfield, and Suffield, and it offers a full range of mobile, online, and commercial cash management services. The bank is in solid financial health and has built a strong reputation within the community.

This is a high-impact leadership role in a growing community bank. Windsor Federal is looking for an experienced residential lending leader with a passion for community banking and a strong track record in residential mortgage origination. The bank is committed to maintaining a customer-first philosophy, and the ideal candidate will play an essential role in growing the mortgage portfolio while upholding these values.

For more information or to arrange a confidential conversation, please contact:

Cameron Boyd, Managing Partner, Financial Services at cboyd@smithandwilkinson.com

Darcy Flaherty, Senior Associate, Financial Services at dflaherty@smithandwilkinson.com

Smith and Wilkinson has been retained by Kennebunk Savings Bank to lead the search and selection process for the Bank’s Chief Risk Officer. 

KSB is a purpose and innovation driven community bank that has been serving the financial needs of its consumer and small business customers since its founding in 1871. With over $1.8 billion in total assets, the bank is the 8th largest headquartered in Maine and offers a full suite of personal and business loan and deposit solutions. With a new corporate headquarters, a customer-first culture, and a planned leadership transition, KSB is poised to be the best of what a modern, local mutual bank can be.

The Chief Risk Officer is responsible for the organization’s enterprise-wide risk management program. As a member of the Bank’s senior management team, the incumbent shall ensure that risk management is properly considered and prioritized across all internal control structures, including but not limited to lending, compliance, operations, technology, finance and corporate audit. We are seeking accomplished risk professionals for this community bank leadership role, distinguished by exceptional leadership acumen, deep expertise in risk management, and a demonstrated capacity for strategic thinking and decision-making.

Reach out to Moriah Maron, Director of Recruiting (mmaron@smithandwilkinson.com) or Cameron Boyd, Managing Director of Financial Services (cboyd@smithandwilkinson.com) for a confidential conversation and to learn more! 

Smith & Wilkinson has been retained by Municipal Credit Union (MCU) to manage the search for their newly created role, Vice President of Strategic Insights. For over 100 years, MCU has proudly served more than 600,000 members, delivering affordable financial products and services while honoring the credit union promise of “people helping people.”

Reporting directly to the Chief Strategy Officer, the VP of Strategic Insights will lead MCU’s data strategy, focusing on delivering actionable insights that drive decision-making and organizational growth. This role will play a key part in growing membership, increasing loan volume, and strengthening member relationships by leveraging data analytics and cross-functional collaboration.

For additional information, please contact Nathan Townsend.

Smith & Wilkinson is proud to partner with Municipal Credit Union (MCU) to lead the search for their next Manager, Human Resources Operations.

For over 100 years, MCU has upheld the credit union promise of “people helping people,” serving more than 600,000 members with affordable financial products and services. As one of the oldest and largest credit unions in New York, MCU remains dedicated to supporting its members and employee members alike.

Reporting directly to the Vice President of Human Resources, the Manager, Human Resources Operations will lead a team of three and play a critical role in supporting senior HR leadership with the design and execution of comprehensive Total Rewards strategies. Additionally, the Manager will oversee the day-to-day administration of MCU’s compensation and benefits programs, ensuring they align with organizational goals and drive employee engagement.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to shape the employee experience at a mission-driven, community-focused organization.

For a confidential conversation or additional information, please contact Nathan Townsend or William Wegener.

Founded in 1800, Washington Trust has a rich and unique history as the oldest community bank in the U.S., the largest state-chartered bank headquartered in the Rhode Island, and one of the regions the premier financial institutions. The Bank has approximately $6.9B in total assets, manages $7.1B in wealth assets under administration, has $5.1B in deposits, and a $5.1B in loan portfolio. Washington Trust serves customers across established business lines in commercial and mortgage lending and wealth management, creating diverse income sources, and operates 28 retail locations in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The bank is publicly traded (NASDAQ - WASH) and in outstanding financial condition. For the most recent reporting period, the bank had a return on equity (ROE) of 8.99%, return on assets of 0.60%, outstanding asset quality metrics, and is well capitalized.

The Director of Cash Management and Treasury Services will manage the various cash management needs and functions of Washington Trust’s commercial (C&I, Business Banking and CRE), and municipal clients. Most importantly this individual will provide leadership, mentorship, and direction to the Bank’s successful cash management team to drive the Bank’s deposit gathering and fee income objectives. The successful candidate will have experience developing key metrics and sales strategies to ensure the team delivers on the goals of the organization, as well as driving growth and retention of client relationships. To learn more and for a confidential conversation, please reach out to Moriah Maron, Director of Recruiting, (mmaron@smithandwilkinson.com) or Cameron Boyd, Managing Partner, (cboyd@smithandwilkinson.com).

Smith & Wilkinson is proud to partner with Municipal Credit Union (MCU) in the search for their next VP, Real Estate—a key leadership role shaping the future of MCU’s residential lending strategy. For over 100 years, MCU has served 600,000+ members, delivering affordable financial products while honoring the credit union promise of “people helping people.”

Reporting directly to the Chief Lending Officer, the VP, Real Estate will lead portfolio management, secondary market sales, team development, and process optimization—ensuring MCU’s mortgage lending operation remains competitive, compliant, and member-focused.

Based in New York City, this opportunity is ideal for a mortgage lending executive with 10+ years of leadership experience and expertise in secondary market sales, compliance, and operational efficiency in a high-volume environment.

Does this look to be of interest, or do you know someone who could be a great fit? Let’s connect! Smith & Wilkinson specializes in executive search and leadership advisory for financial institutions, helping organizations find, retain, and develop top-tier talent.

Reach out today to learn more!

Granite Edvance (formerly the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation, or the NHHEAF Network) has been helping New Hampshire families plan and pay for higher education for over 60 years. They are a capable and trusted provider of student loan products. As a leading non-profit organization, Granite Edvance provides students, families, and schools with expertise and support on all parts of college and career planning. They are laser-focused on one thing – helping the students and families of New Hampshire.

In conjunction with the VP, Chief Financial Officer, the VP, Controller will be responsible for leading and supporting efforts designed to position the organization for ongoing growth, financial strength and stability. This person will oversee and direct accounting operations, financial reporting, budgeting, payment processing, and reconciliation activities to include external/GAAP financial reporting, management reporting, audit and treasury operations.

Smith & Wilkinson is proud to partner with Municipal Credit Union (MCU) in the search for their next Director, Quality Control & Quality Assurance. This key strategic role, reporting to the Chief Risk Officer, is dedicated to ensuring operational excellence and regulatory compliance within the Risk Management team.

For over a century, MCU has served more than 600,000 members, delivering financial products and services with excellence and integrity. The Director, QC & QA will play a critical role in safeguarding MCU’s operational integrity by developing and overseeing comprehensive quality assurance and control frameworks. This leader will drive compliance, mitigate risk, and enhance efficiency across multiple business units - fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

This opportunity is ideal for a seasoned QA/QC professional with 7+ years of experience in financial services (preferably in credit unions or banking), a strong grasp of regulatory compliance, and a proven ability to lead quality assurance programs in high-volume environments.

Granite Edvance (formerly the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation, or the NHHEAF Network) has been helping New Hampshire families plan and pay for higher education for over 60 years. They are a capable and trusted provider of student loan products. As a leading non-profit organization, Granite Edvance provides students, families, and schools with expertise and support on all parts of college and career planning. They are laser-focused on one thing – helping the students and families of New Hampshire.

Responsible for the advancement and success of the organization’s student lending programs and portfolio with special attention to creating programs of benefit to New Hampshire residents. Within the context of a mission-oriented, not-for-profit lending organization, the VP, Lending will identify opportunities for new product development, innovation and implementation. In addition, this person will serve as a key external-facing leader for the organization’s business development activities, facilitating growth of the private loan program regionally and nationally.

Smith & Wilkinson has been retained to find Champlain National Bank’s next VP Human Resources Officer.  

Reporting to the President & CEO, the VP Human Resources Officer is responsible for developing and executing the human resource vision and strategy in support of the overall business plan and strategic direction of the bank. The VP Human Resources Officer will oversee all disciplines associated with talent management, talent development, recruitment, compensation, benefits, organizational design, change management, and the payroll function with the primary focus on increasing employee engagement. The VP Human Resources Officer is an active member of the Senior Leadership Team.

Granite Edvance (formerly the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation, or the NHHEAF Network) has been helping New Hampshire families plan and pay for higher education for over 60 years. They are a capable and trusted provider of student loan products. As a leading non-profit organization, Granite Edvance provides students, families, and schools with expertise and support on all parts of college and career planning. They are laser-focused on one thing – helping the students and families of New Hampshire.

Provide strategic leadership and oversight of the organization’s marketing campaigns in support of the mission, with a particular focus on Granite Edvance’s lending programs. Build and oversee all aspects of a marketing analytics framework, providing reporting, analysis, and other findings as requested in support of evaluating the effectiveness of both the Communications Team and organizational goals and objectives. Collaborate across business units to align marketing efforts with strategic initiatives and organizational goals. Utilize key technologies and best practices to support and lead critical functions and projects of the Communications team.

S&W has been retained by Northern Bank to manage the search and selection process for the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) position. Founded in 1960, Northern Bank is an approximately $3.1B, privately held and family-run bank. From its roots in Woburn, Massachusetts, the bank has grown to serve a national customer base and into one of the best run banks in the country, serving over 32,000 clients nationally, operating 12 retail locations, and employing approximately 300 dedicated professionals. During the 10-year period of 2013-2023 the bank achieved a 3X increase in assets, a 4X+ increase in capital, and grew its employee headcount by 83%. The bank is primarily a commercial lender, with approximately $1.2B of its $2.7B loan portfolio in C&I. The bank has a large specialty lending expertise, focused largely on QSR's nationally, distinguishing itself through its expertise, creative dealmaking, cutting edge analytics, and white glove service. Northern's outstanding financial performance speaks to the success of its model; for the period ending 3/31/24 Northern Bank had a NIM of 4.41, ROA of 1.64, ROE of 11.84, Efficiency Ratio of 43.75, and Core Capital of 14.40. In 2023, the bank launched Northern Digital Solutions (NDS), with the aim of developing proprietary digital products and solutions both for the benefit of existing Northern Bank customers as well as to be sold to other financial institutions. A generous corporate citizen, the bank donates to a wide array of area nonprofits through both grants from the Northern Bank Charitable Foundation and through donations.

Reporting to the bank's President & CEO, James Mawn, the Chief Financial Officer will lead all aspects the bank's finance and accounting functions and be a collaborative member of executive leadership. We are seeking exceptional bank finance executives for this unique, growth-oriented leadership role. Successful candidates will have demonstrated expertise across a wide spectrum of finance, accounting, reporting, and analytics functions, strong leadership skills directing an exceptional team of professionals, and will have thrived within entrepreneurial work environments.

For additional information, or to arrange a confidential conversation, please contact a member of the S&W search team: Cameron Boyd, Managing Partner (cboyd@smithandwilkinson.com) or Darcy Flaherty, Senior Associate (dflaherty@smithandwilkinson.com).

The family office (PCW) either manages directly or is essential in purpose to the financials, accounting, tax planning, investments, estate planning, insurance, banking, personal projects, property management, philanthropic interests, administrative functions, and the relationships associated with the family that are held in multiple Trusts, LLCs, or owned directly in accounts and as real property. PCW intentionally will outsource functions and tasks to selected ‘expert managers’ in certain areas, knowing full-well that any successful outsourcing is only possible with the historical context and detailed information maintained and managed by PCW staff.