Legal and Deficiency Recovery Manager

First Help Financial

. Design and own qualification criteria for legal escalation of deficiency-balance accounts .

Posted 10/16/2026full-timeRemote • United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $120,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in legal operations and compliance management within consumer lending, with a strong focus on FDCPA, UDAAP, and state consumer protection laws. Proven ability to lead deficiency recovery programs and manage outside counsel relationships effectively.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Legal Operations ManagementFDCPA ComplianceBankruptcy Filings ManagementDeficiency Recovery Program DevelopmentAgency Compliance Monitoring

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Compliance AuditingLegal Escalation ManagementSettlement Letter ReviewKPI ReportingConsumer Protection Law KnowledgeData InterpretationPolicy WritingLitigation ManagementThird-Party Vendor EvaluationTraining Development

Soft Skills

LeadershipCommunicationProblem-SolvingCollaborationAnalytical Thinking

Certifications & Qualifications

JDParalegal CertificationCRCM

Industry Keywords

Consumer LendingAuto FinanceSubprime LendingPost Charge-Off CollectionsSCRA ComplianceDeficiency CollectionsState Consumer Protection LawsCFPB InquiriesBPO ManagementNon-Prime Auto Lending

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Design and own qualification criteria for legal escalation of deficiency-balance accounts
Maintain controlled files, audit account routing, and approve threshold changes
Monitor the legal escalation pipeline and review exceptions
Maintain the compliance log and audit trail
Review and approve settlement letters for FDCPA and state-law compliance
Review and approve deficiency collection scripts and settlement authority structures
Own legal and compliance reporting within the collections KPI package
Prepare quarterly Board updates and escalate material issues to leadership
Complete FDCPA and UDAAP reviews of consumer-facing components
Build and maintain a state-by-state legal viability map for deficiency collections
Ensure differentiated collection approaches are anchored to loan attributes and document ECOA compliance
Manage bankruptcy filings and ensure SCRA compliance
Coordinate responses to CFPB inquiries, state attorney general matters, and regulatory consumer complaints
Build and deliver compliance training for post charge-off staff
Vet third-party collection agencies and evaluate compliance, call recording, data security, and experience
Own ongoing agency compliance monitoring, call audits, complaint tracking, performance monitoring, and remediation
Oversee third-party BPO partners
Lead outside counsel evaluation and selection
Manage referrals, case outcomes, and recovery costs
Review vendor contracts and required compliance provisions
Write, maintain, and version-control policies and procedures
Manage collections-related litigation with outside counsel and maintain a litigation log
Identify legal exposure and recovery gaps and implement solutions
Provide legal and compliance guidance to collections personnel
Hire and develop direct reports as the program grows

Requirements

What you’ll need

5 or more years of experience in legal operations, compliance management, or collections oversight within consumer lending, auto finance, or a third-party collection agency
Demonstrated historical career stability
Experience in non-prime or subprime auto lending specifically
Working knowledge of FDCPA, UDAAP, and applicable state consumer protection laws for post charge-off collections
Experience managing bankruptcy filings across a consumer lending portfolio
Experience handling SCRA compliance for servicemember accounts
Experience managing outside counsel relationships, including scoping work, reviewing billing, enforcing timelines, and escalating performance issues
Experience in or alongside a deficiency recovery operation
Experience designing, building, or leading a post charge-off deficiency recovery program from the ground up
Experience managing legal collections activity across multiple states, including knowledge of states prohibiting wage garnishment
Experience coordinating with outside counsel on deficiency suits and post-judgment enforcement
Ability to interpret collections performance data independently
Bachelor's degree required
JD, paralegal certification, or CRCM preferred but not required
Experience building or administering an agency compliance monitoring program is strongly preferred
Background at a non-prime auto lender or servicer is strongly preferred

Benefits

Comp & perks

Competitive health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, LTD/STD, identity theft)
Paid parental leave
Paid vacation
401(k) match
Tuition reimbursement
Social activities
Monthly lunches
Employee recognition and talent development program
Healthy work-life balance
Career growth opportunities
Career planning and development
Accommodations during interviews for people with special needs