Intermediary Support Analyst

Russell Investments•Milwaukee, WI

20d•$80,000 - $90,000

About The Position

The Intermediary Support Analyst shares responsibility across two Transfer Agent teams that provide Intermediary Support. The role supports a business model in which client service depends significantly on services provided by external providers and partners, and helps maintain effective relationships with the operational back offices of Russell Investments’ platform and distribution partners. The intermediary governance team administers relationship reviews, contracting, payments, and ongoing oversight for financial intermediaries that sell or support firms selling Russell Investments’ US mutual funds. The analyst provides process-management oversight; works with intermediaries on contracts and fees; and prepares analysis and reporting for senior internal management and the Funds’ Board. The role also supports the operations of existing and new platforms and distribution partners and works with the sub-Transfer Agent SS&C GIDS to resolve intermediary transaction issues and monitor service-provider work.

Requirements

At least 2 years of experience.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
Experience in the asset management or financial services industry.
Demonstrated contract-management experience and ability to understand and apply relevant principles, procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to contract management, oversight, and payments.
Experience and aptitude using data-analysis and query tools, including extracting data and conducting detailed, comprehensive analysis of complex datasets.
Understanding of intermediary financial operations environments, such as broker-dealers, banks, or insurance companies supporting retail sales.
Understanding of process management and process-improvement techniques, such as Lean, Six Sigma, or process mapping.
Ability to evaluate problems using systems thinking, recognize downstream effects, identify future process implications, and help prioritize solutions.
Ability to create and follow procedures, document issues, maintain a clear audit trail, and reconstruct issues from documentation.
Clear communication skills and ability to build trusted relationships, incorporating internal and client perspectives into decisions and actions.
Ability to take on new opportunities and challenging work with urgency and enthusiasm.
Ability to collaborate and interact effectively with internal and external personnel at all levels, adapt to changing requirements, and achieve business outcomes while complying with applicable rules and regulations and maintaining high ethical standards.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship, now or in the future; this role is not eligible for employment-based immigration sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

FINRA Series 6, 7, and 24 licenses are preferred.

Responsibilities

Manage and facilitate drafting, review, approval, and execution of new agreements with internal Russell Investments teams and intermediaries.
Conduct initial reviews of new intermediary contracts and route them to internal teams, such as legal, compliance, and operations, as needed.
Complete onboarding for new intermediaries after contracts are completed.
Receive and process intermediary invoices and related payments, ensuring they comply with contract terms and are paid on established timelines.
Provide operational oversight of intermediaries and review their operational processes and compliance with contract terms, Fund offering documents, and applicable regulations.
Administer the intermediary oversight program and interact with intermediary partners regarding operational compliance.
Maintain complete and accurate systems and records reflecting current intermediary relationships and contract status, and complete contract terminations at the end of the relationship lifecycle.
Support day-to-day operational activities for existing platforms and distribution partners, and work with new partners to integrate them into Russell Investments’ trading environment.
Document partner interactions and maintain current information about each partner’s operational environment and contacts.
Serve as a liaison between key intermediary partners and internal Russell Investments teams, including leading calls and handling escalations.
Work with SS&C GIDS to resolve intermediary transaction issues and monitor and support service-provider work.
Provide contract, fee, data-analysis, and reporting support to senior internal management and the Funds’ Board.