Sr Investment Associate

Northern Trust•Houston, TX

About The Position

The Sr Investment Associate supports Investment Advisors and portfolio managers in serving clients. The role prepares materials for client account review meetings, maintains account documentation, retrieves and orders reports, communicates with clients and internal partners, and responds to inquiries and transaction requests. Responsibilities also include researching tax-cost discrepancies with the tax area, processing cash transfers and fund trades, handling physical stock and bond certificates and DTC transfers, and reviewing fee worksheets. The associate follows investment guidelines and risk-management practices, begins making recommendations to support Investment Advisors, and takes part in client meetings. The position requires mastery of the GDWM tool and the ability to use it in client meetings, solve straightforward problems, and work within established guidelines and policies. Northern Trust describes a flexible, collaborative work culture with opportunities for movement within the organization, accessible senior leaders, an inclusive workplace, and a commitment to supporting the communities it serves. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future employment-based visa sponsorship.

Requirements

1–3 years of experience within the financial services industry.
Knowledge of investment products, services, and terminology, usually obtained through on-the-job training.
Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
Coursework completed toward obtaining a CFA or CFP designation.
Expanded conceptual knowledge in the job discipline and understanding of key business drivers.
Ability to explain complex information to others in straightforward situations.
Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Responsibilities

Prepare portfolio materials for client account review meetings and retrieve reports from EDS, PIMS, IMS, and PAS systems.
Set up files with documentation for existing and new client accounts, including automatic payments, pledged securities, address and statement changes, investment guidelines, and fees.
Order reports for portfolio managers or clients as requested.
Communicate with clients and portfolio managers about client requests and ensure portfolio managers follow up.
Interact with internal partners to receive and communicate information about client relationships and portfolios.
Work with the tax area to research discrepancies and oversee adjustments to client accounts involving tax-cost issues.
Respond to client account-information inquiries and initiate requested transactions, including gift-stock re-registration, remitting proceeds, and selling gifts.
Process physical stock and bond certificates and complete DTC transfers.
Follow up with clients on inquiries by telephone or written correspondence.
Process client cash-transfer requests, determine whether funds are available, and contact the Investment Advisor if cash needs to be raised.
Process fund trades through CIT or all-in-one bank applications by established deadlines.
Review and analyze fee worksheets to ensure fees are calculated appropriately.
Follow National Investment Guidelines, feedback from the REV peer-review process, and sound risk-management practices.
Begin proactively making recommendations to support Investment Advisors and participate in client meetings.
Demonstrate mastery of the GDWM tool and use it in client meetings.
Solve problems in straightforward situations, analyze possible solutions using technical experience and judgment, and work within guidelines and policies.
Provide informal guidance to new team members.