Chief Fiduciary Officer

Larson Maddox; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Larson Maddox represents a growing wealth management and trust organization seeking a Chief Fiduciary Officer to lead fiduciary services, risk governance and strategic growth across markets. The role oversees trust, estate administration and decision-making for high-value relationships.

The candidate will guide a team of fiduciary professionals, collaborate with senior leaders, and ensure regulatory compliance while driving operational excellence and client satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree is required.
• J.D., CTFA or an equivalent fiduciary, legal or trust credential is strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in trust administration, fiduciary services, estate planning, private wealth management or related practice.
• Proven leadership of fiduciary teams and complex trust/estate matters.
• Strong knowledge of fiduciary governance, risk management and regulatory requirements.
• Experience in wealth management, trust company, private bank or family office environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of fiduciary professionals administering trust and estate relationships.
• Establish fiduciary policies, procedures and governance standards to support risk management and compliance.
• Oversee fiduciary decision-making including account acceptance, trust administration and estate settlement.
• Partner with leadership to support strategic growth and improve performance.
• Serve as SME on fiduciary, estate planning and trust matters.
• Guide complex client situations with fiduciary risk and governance insights.
• Evaluate workflows, vendor relationships and service delivery to improve efficiency.
• Support internal audits, regulatory exams and issue resolution.
• Collaborate with investment, legal, compliance and advisory teams for a consistent client experience.
• Contribute to thought leadership and maintain relationships with attorneys and accountants.
• Drive initiatives to strengthen client service, operations and growth.

Skills

Leadership

Fiduciary governance

Trust administration

Estate planning

Risk management

Client service

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

J.D., CTFA or equivalent credential

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Our client, a growing wealth management and trust organization, is seeking a Chief Fiduciary Officer to provide strategic leadership and oversight of its fiduciary services platform. This executive will be responsible for ensuring the prudent administration of trust, estate, and fiduciary relationships while leading a team of fiduciary professionals across multiple markets.

This is a highly visible leadership role that combines fiduciary risk management, trust and estate administration oversight, business strategy, and team leadership. The successful candidate will serve as a key member of the leadership team and play an integral role in the continued growth and development of the firm's wealth management and trust business.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of trust and fiduciary professionals responsible for administering trust and estate relationships.
• Establish and maintain fiduciary policies, procedures, and governance standards to support sound risk management and regulatory compliance.
• Provide oversight of fiduciary decision-making, including account acceptance, trust administration, estate settlement, and discretionary fiduciary matters.
• Partner with executive leadership to support strategic growth initiatives and enhance overall business performance.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on fiduciary, estate planning, and trust administration matters.
• Participate in complex client situations and provide guidance on fiduciary risk, governance, and best practices.
• Evaluate and enhance operational workflows, vendor relationships, and service delivery models to improve efficiency and scalability.
• Support internal audits, regulatory examinations, and compliance reviews while ensuring timely resolution of findings.
• Collaborate closely with investment, legal, compliance, and wealth advisory teams to promote a consistent client experience.
• Contribute to thought leadership initiatives and maintain relationships with attorneys, accountants, and other professional centers of influence.
• Drive initiatives that strengthen client service, operational excellence, and business growth.

Leadership & Professional Expectations

• Demonstrate strong judgment and decision-making abilities in managing fiduciary risk.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture focused on accountability and client service.
• Effectively prioritize strategic initiatives and allocate resources across the organization.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, professional partners, and internal stakeholders.
• Serve as a visible leader and trusted advisor throughout the organization.
• Navigate a fast-paced environment while balancing risk management and business objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• J.D., CTFA, or comparable fiduciary, legal, or trust-related credential strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in trust administration, fiduciary services, estate planning, private wealth management, trust operations, or related legal practice.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing fiduciary teams and complex trust and estate matters.
• Strong understanding of fiduciary governance, trust administration, estate settlement, and fiduciary risk management.
• Experience working within a wealth management, trust company, private bank, family office, or related fiduciary environment.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proven ability to collaborate across legal, investment, compliance, and advisory functions.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and other business applications.