SVP/Chief Fiduciary Officer & Fiduciary Legal Counsel

Bell Bank • Fargo, ND

104d

About The Position

The SVP/Chief Fiduciary Officer & Fiduciary Legal Counsel serves as the principal legal advisor for fiduciary matters within the Wealth Management Division (WMD). This executive role is responsible for overseeing the legal and compliance framework for fiduciary administration, including trust and estate services, qualified plans, IRAs, investment management relationships, and internal common trust funds. The position plays a critical role in strategic planning, legal risk mitigation, enterprise compliance, and supports client-facing efforts, particularly in high-net-worth estate planning opportunities. In partnership with Wealth Management leadership, this role helps shape and execute the division’s strategic direction, manage regulatory and audit oversight, and serve as a key resource across legal, operational, and business development functions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, or related field; or equivalent related work experience.
• Law degree, eligible to practice and consult on fiduciary matters in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Arizona.
• Minimum 10+ years of legal experience with at least 5 years focused on fiduciary law, trust and estate administration, or wealth management legal support.
• 5+ years of supervisory experience preferred.
• Superior working knowledge and experience in Trusts and Estates Planning and Administration, Fiduciary Tax and Accounting Principles and the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to banks with trust powers.
• Experience supporting business development or client relationship teams in a legal or technical fiduciary advisory capacity.

Nice To Haves

• Working knowledge of ERISA and related retirement planning regulations.
• Strong leadership skills and effective written and spoken communication skills.
• Ability to resolve problems of complex nature and be able to prioritize.
• Experience with sophisticated estate planning and high net worth clients.
• Self-motivated, detail and quality oriented.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, particularly in cross-functional, client-facing, and enterprise governance environments.
• High degree of integrity, professional judgment, and discretion in handling sensitive fiduciary matters.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to align legal strategy with business goals.

Responsibilities

• Serve as internal legal counsel on all fiduciary matters, including trust and estate administration, qualified plan compliance, IRA administration, and investment management relationships.
• Provide technical guidance and review of fiduciary actions across common trust funds and all WMD-managed accounts.
• Oversee fiduciary litigation and manage outside legal counsel when the bank is responsible for legal fees.
• Regularly review and update the Fiduciary Administration Manual and relevant governance documentation.
• Review and approve all irrevocable trust agreements to determine if appropriate for Bell Bank to serve as fiduciary.
• Review all state and federal estate tax returns.
• Lead fiduciary compliance efforts for the Wealth Management Division (excluding Bell Investments), ensuring adherence to applicable state and federal regulations in North Dakota, Minnesota, Arizona, and future locations.
• Prepare and submit the Quarterly Trust Officer’s Questionnaire to the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions (ND DFI).
• Serve as the WMD representative to the Corporate Compliance Committee, Financial Crimes Committee, and other enterprise-wide risk management initiatives.
• Oversee and facilitate fiduciary components of FDIC/DFI examinations, common trust fund audits, and other internal or third-party audits.
• Assess and advise on fiduciary insurance coverage, including evaluation and renewal of policies.
• Review of mass marketing materials.
• Collaborate with the WMD Managing Director and senior leadership on divisional strategic planning and execution of key initiatives.
• Guide and support enterprise and divisional projects that intersect with legal, compliance, and fiduciary matters.
• Review Service Organization Control (SOC) reports and assess vendor risk from a legal and compliance perspective.
• Participate with division leaders in negotiating contracts.
• Assist division leaders with vendor management issues.
• Participate selectively in client meetings and sales efforts by providing legal and fiduciary expertise, particularly in estate planning discussions with high-net-worth individuals and prospects.
• Cultivate relationships with key centers of influence (e.g., attorneys, accountants, family offices) to support growth and client retention.
• Review and approve mass marketing materials and broad client communications for compliance and legal accuracy.
• Provide fiduciary legal support to the WMD Managing Director on board governance, regulatory reporting, and enterprise alignment.
• Manage client complaints relating to fiduciary matters and report trends, concerns, and outcomes to Enterprise Risk Management.
• Handle special fiduciary administration projects requiring complex legal and regulatory oversight.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees