Intermediary Support Analyst

Russell Investments•Milwaukee, WI

19d

About The Position

The Intermediary Support Analyst works across two Transfer Agent teams that provide Intermediary Support. Russell Investments’ Transfer Agent functions rely substantially on outsourced service providers, making service-provider management and process oversight fundamental to the business. The Intermediary Support Team coordinates with senior team members to build and maintain effective relationships with operational back offices at platform and distribution partners. The intermediary governance team administers processes for relationship reviews, contracting, payments, and ongoing oversight of financial intermediaries that sell or support firms selling Russell Investments’ U.S. 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 intermediary operational oversight, partner relationships, daily platform operations, and integration of new partners into Russell Investments’ trading environment.

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 performing detailed 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, and process mapping.
Ability to evaluate problems using systems thinking, identify downstream effects and future process implications, and prioritize solutions.
Ability to create and follow procedures, document issues, maintain a clear audit trail, and reconstruct issues from documentation.
Clear communication skills and the ability to build trusted relationships while considering internal and client perspectives in decisions and actions.
Ability to take on new opportunities and challenging work with urgency and enthusiasm.
Ability to collaborate and interact effectively with people at all levels internally and externally, adapt to changing requirements, achieve business outcomes, and maintain compliance and high ethical standards.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship now or in the future; the 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.
Initially review new intermediary contracts and direct 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 compliance with contractual terms and established payment timelines.
Provide operational oversight of intermediaries and review their operational processes and compliance with contract terms, fund offering documents, and relevant regulations.
Administer the ongoing 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 termination processes when relationships end.
Support day-to-day operational activities involving existing platforms and distribution partners.
Partner with new platforms and distribution partners to support successful integration into Russell Investments’ trading environment.
Maintain accurate records of partner interactions and 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 sub-Transfer Agent SS&C GIDS to resolve intermediary transaction issues and monitor and support service providers’ daily work in the interests of Russell Investments and its intermediaries.
Provide analysis and reporting related to intermediary activities to senior internal management and the Funds’ Board.