Strategic Finance & Leadership Development Manager

The SouthState story is one of steady growth, deep community roots, and an unwavering commitment to helping our customers move forward. Since our beginnings in the 1930s to becoming a trusted financial partner across the South and beyond - we are known for combining personal relationships with forward-thinking solutions.

We are committed to helping our team members find their success while maintaining the integrity of our values: building trust, fostering lasting relationships and pursuing excellence. At SouthState, individual contributions are recognized, potential is cultivated and team members are inspired to achieve their greater purpose. Your future begins here!

Summary

Duties & Responsibilities

• Analyze financial performance including key drivers and hurdles.

• Identify cost drivers, redundancies, and capacity constraints.

• Develop potential strategies to eliminate cost or increase revenue.

• Partner with local leaders to identify areas of focus or improvement either in cost cutting or increased capacity.

• Serve as a thought partner to senior leaders on leadership effectiveness.

• Support succession planning and leadership readiness initiatives.

• Mentors select high-potential leaders at the request of the Group President

• Provide independent perspective on operational risks and execution challenges.

• Support special projects at the direction of the Group President

• Function as a liaison between strategy and execution.

• It is the responsibility of this role to take ownership of all tasks and challenges that they encounter in the operation of their assigned position.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Qualifications

Education Requirements

• BS Degree or graduate of Banking School Operation preferred

Minimum Experience

• 7 years’ experience in high volume lending financial institution with banking background

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Management Associates Program Consultant

• This aspect of the role will have a dotted line to the Director of Corporate Stewardship.  It will provide actionable insights, reporting to and working with the Director of Corporate Stewardship, as appropriate.

• Provide insight and assistance for the annual Management Associates Program, which includes approximately twenty-Thirty (20-30) new college graduates per year.

• Observe and make recommendations to refine program structure, rotations, curriculum, and leadership exposure.

• Serve as a visible mentor and ambassador for the program across the organization.

• Ensure alignment between Associate outcomes and the Company’s long-term strategic goals.

Leadership Development & Mentorship

• Personally, mentor selected high-potential trainees and early-career leaders.

• Establish formal mentorship frameworks involving senior and executive leadership.

• Instill strong leadership principles, ethical standards, and relationship-based banking values.

Five-Year Talent Tracking & Analytics

• Design and oversee a longitudinal talent tracking system following program graduates for their first five years. You will track and evaluate: job satisfaction and engagement, performance and leadership effectiveness, promotion readiness and career progression, retention and flight-risk indicators.

• Provide actionable insights, reporting to and working with the Director of Corporate Stewardship, as appropriate.

• Track Financially the early career development of the new cost center, ensure it is set up correctly, and determine return on our investment of interns and associates.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Physical Demands

• Ability to communicate in person, on the phone, and through electronic channels

• Ability to use a computer on a frequent basis, including typing and sustained attention to a monitor

• Ability to sit, walk, and/or stand for extended periods of time

• Ability to bend and reach

Work Environment

• Office: This position reports to a physical Company location, and the setting will be a typical office environment.

• Remote or hybrid: For remote or hybrid positions, a secure and distraction-free setting is required, with a reliable internet connection (cable or fiber preferred, mobile hotspots not acceptable).  Hybrid positions will report to a physical Company location, as directed by the manager, and that setting will be a typical office environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled/veterans.