Jaclyn Kuzma began her specialty finance career in the Commercial Banker Development Program at Citizens, a year-long training initiative. During her rotations, she joined the ABL group in Boston as a credit analyst on the Portfolio Management team, discovering a natural affinity for asset-based lending.
“Asset-based lending made logical sense to me, and the team environment was incredibly supportive and collaborative,” she says. “Our ABL group has a national footprint, covering deals across various industries for both middle-market and mid-corporate companies. I truly feel like I learn something new every day.”
Kuzma transitioned to the underwriting team and later became an associate in Citizens’ Debt Capital Markets, focusing on ABL transactions. She returned to ABL underwriting as a vice president, a role she holds today.
Beyond her core responsibilities, Kuzma has been active in industry and community efforts. She served on the board of the New England chapter of the Secured Finance Network and held leadership roles in Citizens’ Women’s Impact Network. She has also trained new colleagues and participated in internship and training program recruitment. “Rising tides lift all ships, and when you have talented people around you, it makes it easier to find that balance,” she says.
Over the past five years, Kuzma has seen technology streamline many aspects of the industry. Advancements in collateral management, data handling and reporting have improved accuracy, saved time and boosted overall capabilities.
She’s also seen ABL evolve from a last-resort financing option to a preferred solution due to its flexibility, lower cost of capital and real-time liquidity monitoring. ABL has expanded into sectors like retail, lender finance, and oil and gas.
Kuzma looks forward to mentoring others and embracing new opportunities. “Your career is a participatory sport — you get out of it what you put into it.”
