Director, Operations and Advisor Technology (65694)

49 Financial•Austin, TX

About The Position

49 Financial is a values-based financial services firm committed to developing and empowering the next generation of financial advisors. Through a focus on growth, integrity, and service, the firm works to simplify lives and deliver meaningful financial planning solutions to clients nationwide. The firm operates in a collaborative, team-oriented environment guided by the belief that Two Are Better Than One. Grounded in the core values of Teamwork, Gratitude, Loyalty, Excellence, and Authenticity, headquarters and field teams work together to support long-term advisor growth, professional development, and client success. Position Summary The Director, Operations & Advisor Technology is responsible for leading the day-to-day execution of operational processes and technology oversight across the firm. This role serves as a key bridge between senior leadership and the operational team, ensuring workflows run efficiently, systems are effectively maintained, and operational priorities are executed with accountability. The Director will oversee vendor relationships, technology governance, and process improvement initiatives while developing team members and driving operational excellence. This position is highly execution-focused and plays a critical role in ensuring the firm’s operational infrastructure scales effectively with business growth.

Requirements

7+ years of experience in operations or technology management within wealth management, financial services, or a similar industry.
Proven leadership experience managing teams and cross functional initiatives.
Strong understanding of operational workflows, process improvement, and technology platforms.
Experience managing vendor relationships, technology access, and system implementations.
Strong project management, communication, and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate strategy into operational execution.
Alignment with 49 Financials values and culture
Professionalism, integrity, and accountability
Strong communication and collaboration skills
Organization skills, time management, and attention to
Sound judgement and the ability to maintain confidentiality
Commitment to quality, compliance, and company standards.
Adherence to company policies, procedures and applicable laws and regulations

Responsibilities

Operational Leadership Manage day-to-day operational execution across departments, ensuring consistent processes and clear accountability.
Serve as the primary escalation point for workflow issues, service delays, and process breakdowns.
Partner with team, carriers, and custodians to ensure advisor and client cases are escalated and resolved in a timely manner.
Conduct ongoing reviews of workflows and SOPs to identify process gaps and drive continuous improvement.
Translate strategic priorities from leadership into clear, actionable steps for the team.
Focus Forward Partnership Serve as the primary point of contact for Focus Forward on day-to-day service delivery and SLA oversight.
Monitor SLA performance and escalate issues proactively — not reactively.
Maintain a strong, collaborative relationship with Focus Forward and field leadership to ensure service quality and cost control.
Drive the missing information rate down through process improvement and upstream Salesforce validation.
Support contract and pricing alignment discussions in partnership with the SVP.
Technology Oversight Own the firm’s full technology ecosystem including access management, licensing, and user setup across all platforms.
Build and maintain a technology governance framework — including license allocation SOPs, renewal calendars, and vendor ownership maps.
Evaluate, implement, and support adoption of new technology platforms and enhancements.
Lead technology related projects, including system implementation, upgrades, and integrations.
Serve as the escalation point for technology related issues with internal teams and vendors including managing the Fulton May (MSP) relationship, SLA’s, and contract compliance.
Automation & Process Optimization Partner with Collation to identify, scope, and implement automation opportunities across operational workflows.
Continuously identify inefficiencies and present prioritized improvement recommendations to the SVP.
Ensure SOPs are current, consistently followed, and refined as the business evolves.
Team Leadership & Development Directly manage and coach the team with a focus on development, ownership, and execution capability.
Conduct regular one-on-one meetings with a consistent structure: priorities, blockers, and development.
Create and maintain active development plans for each direct report.
Foster a culture of accountability, professional growth, and operational excellence.
Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with leadership across departments to align on firm-wide operational and technology initiatives.
Support the SVP in executing enterprise-level projects that connect technology and operations, including cross-entity work within The Collective.
Create and maintain process documentation, communication standards, and escalation protocols.