Escrow Manager
Location: Irvine, CA (Onsite)
Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced Escrow Manager to oversee the daily operations of our independent escrow office in Irvine. This individual will lead a team of Escrow Officers and support staff while maintaining the highest standards of customer service, operational excellence, and regulatory compliance.
The ideal candidate is an experienced escrow professional with strong leadership skills who can effectively manage branch operations while remaining actively involved in complex escrow transactions. This role requires exceptional organizational skills, the ability to mentor and develop staff, and a commitment to delivering outstanding service to clients, real estate professionals, lenders, and business partners.
Essential Responsibilities
Branch Leadership & Operations
- Lead the day-to-day operations of the escrow office.
- Supervise, coach, mentor, and support Escrow Officers, Escrow Assistants, and branch staff.
- Establish workflow priorities to ensure timely and accurate closings.
- Monitor productivity, quality, and customer service standards.
- Assist with hiring, onboarding, training, and employee development.
- Foster a positive, collaborative, and customer-focused work environment.
Escrow Operations
- Manage and oversee residential and commercial escrow transactions from opening through closing.
- Review complex escrow files and assist with transaction issues.
- Ensure escrow instructions, contracts, loan documents, title requirements, and closing packages are complete and accurate.
- Coordinate with buyers, sellers, lenders, REALTORS®, attorneys, title companies, and outside parties.
- Oversee funding, balancing, disbursement of funds, and recording.
- Support the team in resolving difficult or time-sensitive transactions.
Compliance & Risk Management
- Ensure compliance with DFPI regulations, company policies, and applicable federal and state laws, including TRID, RESPA, and TILA.
- Oversee trust accounting procedures, file audits, balancing, and reconciliation processes.
- Maintain quality control standards throughout the escrow process.
- Assist with regulatory audits and internal compliance reviews.
- Identify operational risks and implement process improvements.
Client & Business Development
- Build and maintain strong relationships with REALTORS®, lenders, builders, attorneys, investors, and repeat clients.
- Deliver exceptional customer service throughout every transaction.
- Support business development efforts and contribute to the continued growth of the escrow office.
- Represent the company professionally within the local real estate community.
Qualifications
- 10+ years of California escrow experience.
- Previous experience as an Escrow Manager, Branch Manager, Senior Escrow Officer, or similar leadership role.
- Experience managing residential and commercial escrow transactions.
- Strong understanding of California escrow procedures, title requirements, funding, balancing, and closing processes.
- Knowledge of DFPI regulations and escrow compliance requirements.
- Experience leading, coaching, and developing escrow teams.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
- Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in an independent escrow company.
- Experience with trust accounting and escrow audits.
- Existing relationships within the Orange County real estate market.
- Experience handling complex transactions, including commercial, REO, 1031 exchanges, probate, trust sales, and bulk sale escrows.
- Proficiency with industry software such as RBJ, Qualia, ResWare, SoftPro, Streamline, or similar escrow management systems.