Chief Investment Officer

HBKS Wealth Advisors; Erie (Erie County); On-site; USD 250,000 - 360,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Open PTO

Flexible work environment

401(k) match

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Company paid life insurance

Disability insurance

Job summary

HBKS Wealth Advisors seeks a Chief Investment Officer to lead the Asset Management Group and oversee trading across a multi-office enterprise. You will shape the investment philosophy, supervise portfolio construction, and ensure sound risk management.

You will chair the Investment Committee, refine model portfolios, and collaborate with leadership to align investment decisions with client needs and regulatory requirements. A strategic vision for growth and governance is essential.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive investment experience in multi-office platforms.
• Experience leading investment committees and governance.
• Strong fiduciary and risk management knowledge.
• Proven ability to mentor and lead senior investment professionals.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Asset Management Group across multiple offices.
• Oversee asset allocation, manager research, and portfolio construction.
• Chair the Investment Committee and communicate house views.
• Ensure best execution and compliance across trading activities.
• Develop and manage institutional-scale due diligence and governance processes.
• Support advisor teams with investment analytics and client materials.

Skills

Asset allocation

Portfolio management

Investment research

Leadership

Client communication

Negotiation

Education

CFA charter holder

CAIA or MBA

Tools

Orion

Eclipse

Job description

HBKS Wealth Advisors (HBKS), a leading independent personal financial planning and wealth management firm with nearly $8 billion in assets under management. As part of the HBK family of companies-which includes HBK CPAs & Consultants, Vertilocity, and HBKVG-we provide comprehensive financial planning, investment management, and wealth advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, families, and businesses. As an industry leader and innovator, HBKS is investing in resources and technology to ensure long-term growth.

Growth requires talent, so we continue to seek capable, dedicated professionals in all aspects of financial services. Our people choose their own career paths. We want you to excel in your career as part of a dynamic team, and we provide the support and the resources to help you succeed. The breadth and depth of experience we offer you is unique in the marketplace.

We are entrepreneurs working with entrepreneurs, owners working with high-net-worth individuals and those who are owners of small and mid-size businesses, the heartbeat of our country. We are consultants, influencers in our communities as well as our clients and their finances. When we go home at night, we know we’ve made something happen for our clients. If you want a career that is all about helping people, you’re the kind of person we’re looking for. Please read on to discover if you could see yourself joining the HBKS Wealth Advisor Family.

Position Summary

The Chief Investment Officer is a member of the firm's executive team and leads the firm’s Asset Management Group. Key responsibilities include executing the firm’s investment philosophy and process, and managing the trading platform across a multi-office enterprise. The CIO serves as the senior-most voice on asset allocation, manager/strategy selection, portfolio construction, alternatives, and capital markets research, as well as managing the trading and investment operations infrastructure that supports the firm's advisor base. The CIO chairs the Investment Committee, sets and communicates firm-wide views, and ensures investment and operational consistency across all offices and client portfolios. The CIO leads through a team of function leaders (Investment Research, Portfolio Management and Trading), and carries budget, vendor, and infrastructure responsibilities. The CIO reports to the Chief Executive Officer.

Investment Strategy & Process

• Own and evolve the firm's strategic and tactical asset allocation frameworks
• Chair the Investment Committee; set agenda, drive debate, and document rationale for all changes to house views and model portfolios
• Oversee manager, fund, and strategy due diligence, selection, and ongoing monitoring (active, passive, alternatives, SMAs)
• Maintain and refine model portfolios across risk tiers, tax situations, and client segments
• Standardize investment implementation across all 12 offices, including model adherence monitoring, override/exception tracking by office and advisor, and consistent client experience firm-wide
• Establish a regional liaison structure (or equivalent) to ensure office-level advisor input reaches central research and IC decision-making without fragmenting the platform

Research & Communication

• Produce and present capital markets commentary for clients, and advisors
• Translate macro and market research into actionable, defensible portfolio positioning
• Serve as the firm's credible investment voice in client-facing settings, media, and advisor training

Platform & Governance

• Build and maintain relationships with custodians, asset managers, and research providers
• Ensure investment processes meet fiduciary standards
• Work with Compliance on suitability, disclosure, and best-execution matters tied to investment decisions

Alternatives Platform

• Oversee the firm's alternatives platform, including hedge fund and private equity solutions - sourcing, due diligence, structuring, and ongoing monitoring
• Set criteria for alternatives allocation within client portfolios, balancing liquidity, fee, and suitability considerations
• Formalize an institutional-grade due diligence process, including documented IC memo standards and a clear split between operational due diligence (ODD) and investment due diligence (IDD)
• Lead negotiation of institutional terms where applicable (share classes, side letters, co-investment access) given the firm's scale
• Own a manager research coverage model that specifies strategy/fund coverage breadth and review cadence across the platform

Trading & Operations Management (Asset Management Group)

• Lead the Asset Management Group (AMG) through direct reports, setting hiring plans, staffing structure, and performance standards for the broader trading and research team rather than managing individual staff directly
• Oversee all trading activities of the firm across offices, ensuring best execution, timely implementation of model changes, and adherence to trading policies and compliance controls
• Own enterprise-level operational infrastructure, including the management of the order management system / portfolio management system and rebalancing tools (Orion/Eclipse)
• Set and manage the AMG budget, including staff, technology spend, and market data/research subscriptions
• Serve as the primary escalation point for firm-wide trading and operational issues within AMG, including cross-office workflow breakdowns and vendor/custodian escalations
• Partner with the CCO/Compliance function on firm-wide investment risk and regulatory matters

Advisor & Business Development Support

• Support advisor teams' new business efforts through investment analytics and proposal generation, including portfolio analysis, competitive comparisons, and pitch-ready materials for prospects

Leadership

• Define and maintain the AMG organization structure, including function head roles (Trading, Research, Alternatives), succession planning for the investment function, and bench depth across offices
• Mentor advisors and function heads on portfolio construction and client investment conversations
• Partner with executive leadership and the Executive Committee on firm strategy, including how investment platform decisions affect growth, M&A integration, or succession planning

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive investment experience, including senior portfolio management, asset allocation, or manager research at a multi-billion-dollar RIA, private bank, or asset management firm
• Prior experience managing an investment function through direct reports/function heads, not solely through individual contributor work.
• CFA charter holder required; CAIA or advanced degree (MBA) a plus
• Demonstrated track record building or leading an investment committee/process across a multi-office or multi-entity platform
• Deep knowledge of both public markets and alternatives (private equity, private credit, hedge funds, real assets), including institutional-level due diligence and negotiation experience
• Experience owning trading desk operations and portfolio management technology decisions at an enterprise level
• Strong communicator - comfortable in front of HNW/UHNW clients, advisors, institutional stakeholders, and a firm's Executive Committee/board

What Success Looks Like (First 12–18 Months)

• Investment Committee process formalized, documented, and running on a predictable cadence
• Model portfolios refreshed and rationalized across the platform with clear IPS alignment
• Advisor and client confidence in investment messaging measurably improved
• Investment infrastructure (research tools, custodial relationships, reporting) positioned to scale with firm growth

Comprehensive Benefits

• Competitive Executive Level Base Salary + Bonuses
• Open Paid-time-off policy
• We provide a flexible work environment to offer work/life balance.
• 401(k) plan with company match and profit sharing
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• Affordable Short- & Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Affordable Accidental and Critical Illness Insurance
• 10.5 Paid holidays
• Annual Performance Reviews
• And Much More

HBKS provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Please See The Below Link For Benefit Details

HBKS Benefits