Client & Custodian Data Management Senior Associate

Cerity Partners•New York City, NY

10d•Onsite

About The Position

We’re seeking a Senior Associate, Client & Custodian Data Management to play a hands-on role supporting custodian operations and leading merger and acquisition migration projects. Reporting directly to the Principal of Custodian and Client Data Management, this role is well suited for someone who thinks in systems, is technically fluent, and is comfortable representing the team in front of stakeholders across the firm. This position combines day-to-day custodian operations with project leadership, systems thinking, troubleshooting, and cross-functional collaboration. The successful candidate will have the curiosity to understand how the firm operates end-to-end and the initiative to independently research, solve, and communicate solutions to complex operational challenges.

Requirements

Comfortable leading calls and presenting to groups of 5–20 people; experience with larger audiences is a plus.
Demonstrated ability to independently manage cross-functional projects with multiple stakeholders and deadlines.
Genuine interest in learning how the firm operates end-to-end rather than viewing the role narrowly.
Able to trace how a change in one area affects connected systems and processes, including custodian-to-reporting-system data architecture.
Quick to learn new systems and platforms and comfortable working across multiple technology environments.
Strong listening skills and the ability to identify what is actually needed from a request, even when it is not stated in precise technical terms.
Willingness to independently research unfamiliar questions before bringing findings back for confirmation or discussion.
Experience with Schwab, Fidelity, and/or Pershing is a plus; Orion and Addepar experience is also a plus.
Strong organizational skills and comfort managing multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced, detail-oriented environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

Experience with larger audiences is a plus.
Orion and Addepar experience is also a plus.

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary point of contact on merger and practice migration projects, including onboarding newly acquired teams and liftouts onto Cerity Partners’ custodial and data infrastructure.
Lead project calls independently from initiation through completion and step in to lead when the assigned lead is unavailable.
Independently manage cross-functional projects involving multiple stakeholders, priorities, and deadlines.
Manage day-to-day custodian operations across Schwab, Fidelity, Pershing, and other platforms, including account setup, data feed troubleshooting, and platform-specific workflows.
Manage custodian user permissions, including onboarding, offboarding, and ongoing maintenance of access and entitlements.
Navigate new account opening workflows, including nuances introduced by SMA managers, options and margin requirements, and complex account types such as trusts and other legal entities.
Know where to find the appropriate information or subject matter expert when working through unfamiliar or complex account requirements.
Develop a strong understanding of how actions within custodian platforms affect downstream systems, including Orion and Salesforce, and proactively account for those impacts.
Diagnose and resolve issues with data feed configurations between custodians and portfolio accounting/reporting systems.
Understand how breakdowns within one system can impact connected systems and processes and work to identify and resolve the underlying issue.
Interpret requests from advisors, colleagues, and stakeholders accurately, including requests that may not initially be framed in precise technical terms, and identify the underlying business need.
Partner with Compliance, Operations, Advisor Services, and other internal teams to resolve issues arising during migrations or ongoing account servicing.
Contribute to internal documentation, process improvement, and training materials related to custodian workflows and migration procedures.
Deliver updates, findings, or training content to groups ranging from 5–20 people to larger firmwide audiences.
Serve as a knowledgeable and collaborative resource to colleagues and stakeholders across the firm.