About The Company
At AFC (Automotive Finance Corporation), we are dedicated to empowering independent auto dealerships across North America by providing innovative financing solutions. With over 35 years of industry experience, AFC has established itself as a trusted partner in the automotive finance sector. Our core mission is to support dealership growth by offering tailored financial services that enhance cash flow, increase inventory purchasing power, and streamline operations. We serve more than 12,000 independent dealerships, helping them to succeed in a competitive marketplace.
As a proud subsidiary of OPENLANE, AFC complements its parent company's digital marketplace platform with specialized finance solutions. Our commitment to fostering strong relationships, driving innovation, and maintaining integrity underpins everything we do. We believe that by elevating relationships and powering our employees with passion, we can continue to deliver exceptional value to our customers and stakeholders.
Our core values include elevating relationships through genuine connection, being powered by passion to motivate our teams, maintaining a vision-driven approach to anticipate future needs, and demonstrating dedication to our customers' success. These principles guide our daily operations and strategic initiatives, ensuring we remain a leader in the automotive finance industry.
About The Role
We are seeking a Relationship Specialist to join our dynamic team. In this role, you will be responsible for building and nurturing relationships with current and prospective auto dealership clients within your designated territory. Your primary focus will be on providing exceptional customer service, promoting our financing solutions, and supporting dealership growth through effective portfolio management. The Relationship Specialist plays a vital role in attracting new business, expanding existing accounts, and balancing risk to ensure sustainable revenue growth for AFC.
This position offers an exciting opportunity to work closely with independent auto dealers, understanding their unique needs and challenges. By leveraging your sales expertise and relationship-building skills, you will help dealerships optimize their inventory financing, improve cash flow, and achieve their business objectives. The ideal candidate will be highly motivated, autonomous, and passionate about delivering solutions that make a real difference for clients.
The role requires frequent travel within the Toronto and surrounding markets, with a focus on fostering long-term partnerships and identifying new opportunities. You will collaborate with internal teams to develop strategic plans, utilize CRM tools to track progress, and contribute to AFC’s overall growth initiatives. Your ability to think critically, adapt to changing market conditions, and prioritize customer needs will be essential to your success in this position.
Qualifications
- A minimum of three to five years of experience in customer-facing roles, sales, or sales support, preferably within the automotive or financial services industry.
- A valid driver’s license with reliable transportation is required.
- Willingness and ability to travel frequently, approximately 50-75% within your designated market area.
- Strong proficiency in sales techniques, portfolio management, risk assessment, and business development.
- Experience with CRM systems and familiarity with sales and marketing tools such as Salesforce, Tableau, or Google Workspace is preferred.
- Ability to work independently with a high level of accountability, as well as collaboratively within a team environment.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
- Adaptability to manage multiple priorities effectively while maintaining a focus on productivity and results.
Responsibilities
- Assess business and risk situations using critical thinking and make informed decisions with minimal oversight.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with current and prospective dealership clients through regular engagement and personalized service.
- Utilize CRM tools to understand customer needs, track interactions, and identify opportunities for growth.
- Drive organic growth by managing existing accounts, cross-selling products, and promoting AFC’s financing solutions.
- Identify and pursue new business opportunities within the assigned territory, contributing to overall revenue targets.
- Balance risk on customer accounts by monitoring portfolio performance and applying appropriate risk management strategies.
- Support promotional campaigns and participate in marketing efforts to attract new clients and retain existing ones.
- Collaborate with internal teams to align on strategic initiatives and share insights for continuous improvement.
- Support the onboarding and training of new clients, ensuring a smooth transition and ongoing satisfaction.
- Stay informed about industry trends, market conditions, and competitor activities to maintain a competitive edge.
Benefits
- Competitive annual salary ranging from $65,000 to $70,000 CAD, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
- Performance-based quarterly bonuses up to $2,500 CAD.
- Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage, with employer contributions in the US and FSA options.
- Immediate vesting in 401K (US) or RRSP (Canada) plans with company matching contributions.
- Paid vacation, personal, and sick leave, along with maternity and paternity leave options.
- Employer-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and accidental death & dismemberment coverage.
- Access to a robust Employee Assistance Program to support mental and emotional well-being.
- Paid community service days to volunteer and give back to the community.
- Tuition reimbursement programs for professional development and continuing education.
- Opportunities for career growth within a global, publicly traded organization with a culture of internal promotion and diversity.
Equal Opportunity
We are an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering
