Investment Ops Analyst

Principal Financial Group • Charlotte, NC

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Principal is seeking an Investment Operations Analyst to join its Custom Investment Operations team. The role performs daily trading controls and identifies analysis needs to help ensure financial transactions are processed accurately and on time. The analyst supports the department and internal business partners by responding to questions about custom investments and addressing advanced problems with minimal mentorship. The position also supports project initiatives, investment onboarding, trade reconciliation, statistical control and compliance evidence reporting, regulatory support activities, system enhancements, and process improvements.

The analyst independently resolves reconciliation issues across recordkeeping, accounting, broker/dealer, and pricing systems; identifies and addresses transactional data issues, trade and settlement variances, and compliance breaches; and onboards and maintains investment offerings for trading, client use, and pricing. The role involves leading discussions with internal and external partners to resolve inquiries, sharing knowledge and collaborating with the team, and contributing to projects, new initiatives, process reviews, and system improvements.

Principal describes itself as a purpose-led financial services firm focused on making financial security accessible to all. The position is hybrid, with at least three office days in a typical workweek, and candidates are currently being considered in the Charlotte, North Carolina, and Des Moines, Iowa, areas. The stated annual base salary range is $58,900–$84,000, with geographic ranges of $58,900–$79,800 in Des Moines and $62,000–$84,000 in Charlotte. Non-sales positions may participate in a bonus program. Salaried (exempt) employees receive flexible time off. The role is pension eligible. Applicants requiring current or future immigration sponsorship are not being considered. Investment Code of Ethics requirements may apply to this and other roles.

Requirements

• At least 3 years of accounting, finance, or economics experience, or equivalent experience demonstrated through work, training, military experience, or education.
• Strong problem-solving, technical, and analytical skills, with keen attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and make decisions effectively.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to balance multiple tasks, prioritize a full workload, and manage frequent interruptions.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships and facilitate teamwork and communication.
• Strong mentoring, interpersonal, and listening skills.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in accounting, finance, economics, business, or a related field.
• Experience in investment or mutual fund operations, or a related field.
• Experience with recordkeeping and accounting reconciliation, transaction processing, and overall WSRS processing knowledge.
• Experience in investment, fund, accounting, recordkeeping functions, or a similar area.
• Experience with basic Excel functions.
• SQL background.

Responsibilities

• Perform daily trading controls and identify analysis needs to ensure financial transactions are handled timely and accurately.
• Support the department and internal business partners by answering questions regarding custom investments.
• Detect and address advanced problems with minimal mentorship.
• Independently implement and resolve reconciliation problems between recordkeeping, accounting, broker/dealer, and/or pricing systems with minimal guidance.
• Identify and resolve issues associated with transactional data, trade variances, settlement variances, and/or compliance breaches.
• Onboard and maintain investment offerings to ensure readiness for trading, client usage, and/or pricing processes.
• Initiate and lead conversations with internal and external business partners and formulate plans to resolve inquiries and issues.
• Support team effectiveness through knowledge transfer and collaboration.
• Support and participate in projects, creation and rollout of new initiatives, process reviews, and/or system improvements.
• Contribute to investment onboarding, trade reconciliation, statistical control reporting, compliance evidence reporting, regulatory support activities, system enhancements, and process improvement initiatives through development and implementation.

Benefits

• Flexible Time Off for salaried (exempt) employees, with paid time away for vacation, personal needs, or short-term illness; time does not accrue in a bank and no fixed number of days is provided.
• Pension eligibility.
• Opportunity for non-sales positions to participate in a bonus program.
• Comprehensive benefits intended to support employees’ physical, financial, and social well-being.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed