Senior Vice President, Trust Officer

Midwest Trust Company • Westerville, OH

17h • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Trust Officer is a seasoned fiduciary leader responsible for the independent administration and strategic oversight of complex trust and fiduciary relationships. This role serves as a primary advisor to high-net-worth clients and families, ensuring all trust activities are executed with precision, sound judgment, and strict adherence to fiduciary standards. Positioned between VP and SVP Managing Director, the SVP Senior Trust Officer is expected to operate autonomously on complex relationships, mentor junior staff, and contribute meaningfully to client retention, risk management, and selective growth initiatives, while maintaining institutional-grade fiduciary discipline.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, Accounting, or related field required.
• 7–10+ years of experience in trust administration, fiduciary services, or wealth or estate planning.
• Proven ability to manage complex trust relationships independently.
• Experience in a trust company, bank trust department, or multi-family office strongly preferred.
• Trust structures and fiduciary responsibilities knowledge.
• Estate and tax considerations knowledge.
• Investment principles and portfolio oversight knowledge.
• Experience with trust accounting and reporting systems (e.g., Advantage, FIS).
• Strong analytical and documentation capabilities.
• Advanced fiduciary judgment and decision-making ability.
• Strong client relationship and communication skills.
• Ability to manage complex, sensitive client situations.
• High attention to detail and organizational discipline.
• Demonstrated leadership and mentoring capability.
• Unquestionable integrity and professionalism.

Nice To Haves

• Professional certifications preferred or in progress: CTFA (Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor), CFP® (Certified Financial Planner), CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst).
• Advanced degree (JD, MBA, or related) is a plus but not required.

Responsibilities

• Advance Trust Administration & Fiduciary Leadership: Independently administer a portfolio of complex fiduciary relationships, including multi-generational family trusts, directed and discretionary trusts, and estate settlements and special assets. Interpret complex governing documents and exercise discretionary authority. Ensure all actions align with fiduciary duty, governing documents, and applicable laws.
• Lead Client Relationship Management: Serve as primary relationship manager for high-net-worth and complex client relationships. Provide consultative guidance on trust structures, administration, wealth transfer strategies, and fiduciary governance. Lead client meetings and coordinate across internal and external advisors. Manage sensitive family dynamics and complex client scenarios.
• Investment Oversight & Strategic Alignment: Partner with Portfolio Managers to align investment strategy with trust objectives and distribution needs, ensure compliance with fiduciary standards, and review portfolio positioning. Participate in internal investment or trust committee discussions.
• Risk Management & Fiduciary Governance: Identify, assess, and mitigate fiduciary and operational risks. Ensure clear documentation and defensibility of all discretionary decisions. Escalate complex or high-risk matters to senior leadership or Trust Committee. Maintain a strong understanding of fiduciary liability and regulatory expectations.
• Compliance & Regulatory Adherence: Maintain working knowledge of state trust statutes, federal fiduciary standards, and tax implications impacting trusts and beneficiaries. Ensure adherence to internal policies, audit standards, and regulatory requirements. Support regulatory exams and internal audits.
• Documentation, Reporting & Audit Readiness: Ensure accurate and complete maintenance of trust agreements, amendments, fiduciary decision records, and client communications. Oversee delivery of high-quality client reporting. Maintain audit-ready files.
• Cross-Functional Leadership & Collaboration: Collaborate with Investment Management, Tax & Accounting, Operations / Trust Administration, and Legal & Compliance. Serve as a key escalation point for complex client or fiduciary issues. Drive continuous improvement in processes, workflows, and service delivery.
• Mentorship & Team Development: Provide guidance and mentorship to Trust Officers (VP level) and Trust Administrators / Associates. Assist in developing team capabilities and elevating fiduciary standards. Contribute to training and knowledge sharing.
• Business Development & Growth Contribution: Support organic growth through deepening existing client relationships, identifying cross-sell opportunities, and participating in select prospect meetings. Maintain and develop relationships with centers of influence (COIs).

What This Job Offers

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