Investment Associate - Global Family Office (GFO)

Northern Trust • Chicago, IL

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Investment Associate supports the delivery of investment advice and exceptional service to sophisticated family offices, trusts, foundations, and other complex client relationships. As part of a collaborative investment advisory team, the Investment Associate contributes to client administration, portfolio analysis and implementation, investment research, and other firm-wide activities. The role provides exposure to asset allocation, portfolio construction, public and private investments, manager research, performance evaluation, and the needs of multigenerational families. The Associate will develop an understanding of each client’s objectives and portfolio strategy while building the technical capabilities and judgment required to become a trusted investment professional. Success requires both technical aptitude and strong interpersonal qualities. We seek individuals who bring curiosity, accountability, empathy, integrity, and a genuine commitment to excellence.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, accounting, business, mathematics, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 0-2 years of relevant investment management, wealth management, financial services, consulting, or research experience.
• Foundational knowledge of financial markets, investment products, and portfolio management.
• Demonstrated interest in investing and advising sophisticated families.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and time-management capabilities.
• Clear and professional written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to synthesize complex information, manage multiple priorities, exercise judgment, and recognize risk.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word, with the ability to learn investment, reporting, and workflow systems.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Northern Trust will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa).

Nice To Haves

• Optimistic warmth: Brings kindness, professionalism, and a constructive outlook to every interaction.
• Intellectual curiosity: Asks thoughtful questions and seeks to understand beyond the immediate assignment.
• Commitment to excellence: Recognizes what is incomplete or could be better and takes action to improve it.
• Work ethic and ownership: Works with discipline and urgency, honors commitments, and follows matters through completion.
• Empathy: Considers how actions and communication affect clients, colleagues, and partners.
• Self-awareness and integrity: Accepts feedback, owns mistakes, and acts with honesty, humility, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Team-first orientation: Shares information, supports colleagues, and prioritizes client and team success.
• Responsiveness and respect: Comes prepared, communicates promptly, meets deadlines, and respects others’ time.

Responsibilities

• Partner with portfolio advisors to prepare for client meetings, portfolio reviews, and investment discussions.
• Produce accurate and thoughtful performance, asset allocation, cash flow, exposure, and investment materials.
• Develop an understanding of client objectives, strategic targets, liquidity needs, investment guidelines, risk tolerance, and broader circumstances.
• Respond to client and partner requests with professionalism, discretion, accuracy, and urgency.
• Own requests through resolution, anticipate upcoming needs, and proactively identify potential issues.
• Support portfolio analysis across public markets, private markets, hedge funds, real assets, and liquidity strategies.
• Evaluate portfolio positioning relative to strategic targets, investment guidelines, liquidity requirements, risk parameters, and tactical views.
• Research financial markets, investment strategies, managers, portfolio exposures, performance, and risk.
• Assist with investment and manager due diligence, documentation, and follow-up analysis.
• Synthesize quantitative and qualitative information into clear, decision-useful conclusions.
• Build knowledge of Northern Trust capabilities and external investment opportunities available to Global Family Office clients.
• Assist with the coordination of trades, cash movements, subscriptions, redemptions, capital activity, and other portfolio transactions.
• Support account documentation, investment guidelines, fee arrangements, and related records.
• Collaborate with investment, fiduciary, banking, tax, operations, compliance, and reporting partners to resolve client and portfolio matters.
• Review account, transaction, performance, fee, and tax-cost information for potential discrepancies.
• Follow applicable investment guidelines, fiduciary standards, policies, procedures, and risk-management practices.
• Contribute to an environment in which information is shared, commitments are honored, and colleagues support one another.
• Identify work that is incomplete, inaccurate, or capable of improvement and take appropriate action.
• Seek feedback and demonstrate a commitment to professional growth.
• Improve analytical tools, reporting, communication, and team processes.
• Share knowledge and support colleagues as experience develops.

Benefits

• retirement benefits (401k and pension)
• health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability)
• paid time off
• parental and caregiver leave
• life & accident insurance
• other voluntary and well-being benefits
• discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level