Job Details

Security Officer

Westamerica is among the largest commercial banks headquartered in California. We are looking for outstanding people to join our winning team. We reached our current strength because our employees, customers, and shareholders believe in the same fundamental goals: Delivering a wide variety of financial services with a superior customer service guarantee.

Job Summary

Under general managerial review, manages the Corporation's loss and recovery program. Implements and maintains effective security policies, investigations and physical protection of the Bank's employees and property.

Essential Functions: Fundamental Duties

1. Manages the Corporation's loss recovery program and staff:

• Conducts investigations. External and Internal losses, including embezzlements and fingerprint reports.
• Determines disposition of operating losses.
• Functions as project leader when working with outside counsel.
• Represents the Corporation at various legal proceedings.
• Serves as Corporate Liaison with law enforcement, security and collection personnel.
• Manages the Loss Investigations staff and evaluates their job performance.

2. Functions as the Corporate Security Officer. Manages the Bank's loss and recovery programs. Ensures compliance with regulatory guidelines (Reg P). Serves as Corporate liaison with law enforcement, security personnel and functions as project leader with outside legal council.

3. Completes departmental reports.

• Conducts security related surveys and special projects.
• Develops report formats.
• Generates regulatory and internally required reports.
• Function as system administrator for the Corporation's security reporting system.

4. Ensures compliance with regulatory guidelines. (Regulation P)

• Prepares crime reports.
• Develops, enhances, implements and monitors the Corporation's security program, policies and procedures.
• Ensures the branch's physical security equipment meets minimum legislated standards.
• Provides guidance to company personnel and ensures required training is being conducted.
• Assists with safety related training classes.
• Supervises Bank Physical Security Equipment Maintenance program and staff.

5. Develops, enhances, implements and monitors the Bank's security program, policies and procedures, including fraud prevention monitoring and physical security program to ensure equipment meets minimum legislated standards.

Marginal Functions

6. Participates in other special projects and performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Knowledge, Prior Work Experience, and Skills Needed to Perform Job Functions

Incumbent must have previous work experience related to security and/or loss prevention within a financial institution where the incumbent has gained a working knowledge of all aspects of bank and data security, including investigations, protective devices, law enforcement procedures and methods and bank operations. Excellent communications, interpersonal presentation, training and analytical skills are required.

Physical Demands

Travels to various locations. May work non-standard hours. Sits through meetings.

Mental Demands

Take independent action to respond to a multitude of requests for assistance both internal and external, relating to Bank security where a crime, potential crime, operational loss situation or liability have occurred.

Conduct independent investigations relative to possible or actual losses while maintaining high level of confidentiality.

Manage multiple tasks and administer projects of a complex and confidential nature occurring concurrently.

Independently organize, complete and administer projects of a complex and confidential nature.

Read and analyze legal documents, prioritize workload, basic accounting skills and high level of problem resolution.

Represent Bank as its Security Officer at meetings, internal and external, where Bank Security presence is required, and acts as liaison with law enforcement and legal counsel.

Equipment Used to Perform Functions

PC and laptop, fax, telephone, photocopier, 10-key calculator, private vehicle.

Decision Making

Evaluate documents and information to identify what type of recovery efforts will be initiated.

Analyze findings and recommend changes in current policies and procedures to minimize or prevent reoccurrences of losses.

Present disposition recommendation to Corporate Security Officer on losses above incumbent's authorized settlement limits.

Investigate breaches in data security and recommend changes in procedures and policies to prevent reoccurrences.

Supervisory Responsibility

Directly Supervised: 3

Supervised by Subordinates: -0-

Financial Impact

Incumbent actions protect the Corporation from economic loss and minimize the financial impact of fraudulent situations.

Incumbent has sign off authority of $10,000.00.

Oversee collection efforts to ensure effective recovery has been pursued by branches, collection departments, outside collection agencies, law enforcement and legal counsel.

Responsible for managing operating losses & recoveries for the Corporation.

Annualized departmental budget is approximately $400,000.

Contacts

Internal: All levels of management

External: Legal counsel, law enforcement personnel, private security contractors, security staff at other financial institutions, customers.