Senior Fiduciary Officer

Northern Trust•Houston, TX

About The Position

The Senior Fiduciary Officer serves as both a Senior Relationship Advisor and Senior Fiduciary Manager. The position combines responsibility for complex wealth management client relationships with regional oversight of fiduciary, compliance, and risk matters. It delivers proactive, advice-driven client service; applies extensive trust, tax, estate planning, financial planning, and investment knowledge; supports business growth; and provides leadership to relationship advisors and the broader market team. The role manages an assigned portfolio of wealth management clients, working with clients, client service teams, and professional advisors to understand client goals and priorities. It provides clear, practical advice and responsive service, identifies opportunities to strengthen client relationships, and contributes fiduciary expertise to business development. Regionally, the officer monitors and resolves fiduciary, compliance, and risk matters; advises relationship advisors; supports national initiatives; and contributes to hiring, staff development, strategic planning, and fiduciary oversight committees. Northern Trust describes its culture as flexible and collaborative, with movement within the organization encouraged, accessible senior leaders, and a commitment to inclusion and community service. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future employment-based visa sponsorship.

Requirements

At least 10 years of experience as a lead relationship manager in trust administration, estate administration, estate planning, or a related field.
Broad knowledge of fiduciary and financial products and services, typically acquired through relevant work experience.
Technical knowledge of investments, tax, legal, and operational matters, acquired through formal education or related experience.
Thorough knowledge of fiduciary standards, principles, and applicable laws and regulations, acquired through training, seminars, law school, or equivalent experience.
Proven negotiation, problem-resolution, delegation, and leadership skills.
Leadership and organizational skills to establish business unit goals, identify resource needs, and assess and develop staff capabilities.
Ability to translate technical trust, tax, legal, estate planning, and investment concepts into clear, practical advice.
Ability to lead across functions and regions and build alignment among clients, professional advisors, internal partners, and oversight groups.
Strong relationship-building and business development capabilities, including confidence representing Northern Trust in the market and professional community.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

A legal background, or commensurate experience, is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Manage an assigned portfolio of wealth management clients in partnership with client service teams, clients, and professional advisors.
Maintain proactive written and verbal client communications and provide focused, responsive service with diplomacy and tact.
Lead client conversations using a Goals Driven Wealth Management approach and provide advice about Northern Trust products and services, emerging issues, regulatory and tax changes, and appropriate client actions.
Use technical knowledge, fact-finding, and analysis to develop advice-driven solutions and explain complex concepts in clear, non-technical language.
Apply fiduciary expertise and knowledge of Northern Trust resources to identify opportunities to strengthen and expand client relationships.
Apply knowledge of governing documents, account agreements, fiduciary duties, applicable laws, trust and tax law, estate planning, financial planning, asset management, and prudent investment principles.
Apply Northern Trust fiduciary standards and practices and comply with internal policies, processes, and procedures.
Recognize fiduciary risk issues, pursue timely resolution, and engage trust counsel, the Regional CFO, and the Advisory Practice Leader when appropriate.
Continue developing fiduciary and advisory capabilities through training, education, and experience.
Provide regional oversight of fiduciary, compliance, and risk matters, including monitoring, escalation, and resolution.
Advise relationship advisors on trust administration, risk management, compliance policies and measures, and Goals Driven Wealth Management implementation.
Support national initiatives and programs and contribute fiduciary and advisory expertise to business development opportunities.
Participate in hiring relationship advisors and provide subject matter input for annual performance and compensation discussions.
Assist relationship advisors with the design and implementation of development plans.
Participate, as requested, in fiduciary oversight committees, including account acceptance and discretionary action committees.
Partner across disciplines, regions, and the business to reduce risk and improve efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity.
Cultivate referral-source and center-of-influence relationships to build the business and identify opportunities.
Represent Northern Trust in community and professional organizations and identify opportunities to showcase the firm's expertise and thought leadership.
Support team-based business growth and lend fiduciary and advisory expertise to business development efforts.
Participate in fiduciary strategic planning, establish unit goals and priorities, and follow through to meet objectives.
Provide leadership and guidance to staff, fostering participation, teamwork, accountability, and communication.