Client Onboarding Specialist

Northern Trust; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 61,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Trust in Chicago seeks a Client Onboarding Specialist to coordinate onboarding projects, manage milestones, and collaborate with Advisors, Operations, and Legal. The role focuses on delivering a high-touch onboarding experience while ensuring timelines and risk controls are respected.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's degree with 3+ years in financial services or project management, strong communication, and a client-centric mindset to support executives and institutional clients.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of financial services, operations, onboarding, client service, or project management experience.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across multiple teams and functions.
• Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead meetings, deliver presentations, and communicate effectively with clients and senior stakeholders.
• Strong executive presence and professionalism when interacting with institutional clients and internal business partners.

Responsibilities

• Client Onboarding & Project Coordination: Serve as the primary coordinator for assigned client onboarding and asset transition events.
• Develop and manage onboarding plans, milestones, and implementation timelines.
• Coordinate activities among Client Advisors, Portfolio Advisors, Operations, Legal, Risk, Compliance, and external parties.
• Facilitate onboarding meetings and provide timely status updates to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Manage multiple onboarding projects simultaneously while ensuring deadlines and service expectations are met.
• Monitor onboarding progress and proactively address risks, delays, and obstacles.
• Deliver a high-touch, white-glove onboarding experience that reflects Northern Trust's commitment to service and expertise.
• Lead onboarding kickoff meetings, establishing expectations and milestones for clients and stakeholders.
• Present onboarding plans, timelines, and progress updates clearly and professionally to clients.
• Build credibility and confidence with clients by serving as a knowledgeable resource throughout onboarding.
• Maintain frequent, clear, and professional communication with clients and internal stakeholders throughout onboarding.
• Anticipate client needs and respond to inquiries with urgency, professionalism, and a client-centric mindset.
• Navigate complex situations while maintaining composure and a solutions-oriented approach.
• Ensure a seamless transition of the client relationship to the ongoing service team upon completion of onboarding.
• Identify opportunities to improve onboarding processes, efficiency, and client experience.
• Document lessons learned and recommend practical solutions to recurring challenges.
• Utilize dashboards, reporting tools, and tracking mechanisms to monitor progress and identify trends.

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Job description

About Northern Trust As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions.

About Northern Trust As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions. Since 1889, we have aligned our efforts with our three guiding Principles That Endure: Service, Expertise, and Integrity. Together, they reflect the three cornerstones of business conduct which we strive to instill in our employees, whom we call partners, and to provide to our clients and the communities we serve worldwide. With more than 135 years of financial experience and over 24,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service. Foundation & Institutional Advisors (FIA) is a dedicated national practice within Northern Trust that serves nonprofit organizations, private foundations, public charities, endowments, healthcare organizations, religious institutions, and ERISA clients with at least $10 million in investable assets. We are seeking a driven, proactive, and intellectually curious Client Onboarding Specialist to join our team.

Core Responsibilities

• Client Onboarding & Project Coordination
• Serve as the primary coordinator for assigned client onboarding and asset transition events.
• Develop and manage onboarding plans, milestones, and implementation timelines.
• Coordinate activities among Client Advisors, Portfolio Advisors, Operations, Legal, Risk, Compliance, and external parties.
• Facilitate onboarding meetings and provide timely status updates to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Manage multiple onboarding projects simultaneously while ensuring deadlines and service expectations are met.
• Monitor onboarding progress and proactively address risks, delays, and obstacles.

Client Engagement & Onboarding Experience

• Deliver a high-touch, white-glove onboarding experience that reflects Northern Trust's commitment to service and expertise.
• Lead onboarding kickoff meetings, introducing the onboarding process, establishing expectations, and outlining key milestones for clients and stakeholders.
• Present onboarding plans, timelines, and progress updates in a clear, professional, and engaging manner.
• Build credibility and confidence with clients by serving as a knowledgeable and trusted resource throughout the onboarding journey.
• Maintain frequent, clear, and professional communication with clients and internal stakeholders throughout the onboarding process.
• Anticipate client needs and respond to inquiries with urgency, professionalism, and a client-centric mindset.
• Navigate complex situations while maintaining composure and a solutions-oriented approach.
• Ensure a seamless transition of the client relationship to the ongoing service team upon completion of onboarding.

Risk Management & Quality Control

• Ensure adherence to onboarding policies, procedures, controls, and documentation requirements.
• Review onboarding documentation for completeness and accuracy.
• Identify potential operational, procedural, or regulatory risks and escalate concerns appropriately.
• Maintain a strong focus on quality while balancing competing priorities and deadlines.

Process Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Identify opportunities to improve onboarding processes, efficiency, and client experience.
• Document lessons learned and recommend practical solutions to recurring challenges.
• Utilize dashboards, reporting tools, and tracking mechanisms to monitor progress and identify trends.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of onboarding best practices and operational procedures.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of financial services, operations, onboarding, client service, or project management experience.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining accuracy and professionalism.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across multiple teams and functions.
• Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead meetings, deliver presentations, and communicate effectively with clients and senior stakeholders.
• Strong executive presence and professionalism when interacting with institutional clients and internal business partners.

Salary Range

$60,700 - 100,100 USD

Salary range is a good faith estimate of base pay. Northern Trust provides a comprehensive benefits package including retirement benefits (401k and pension), health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability), paid time off, parental and caregiver leave, life & accident insurance, and other voluntary and well-being benefits. Northern Trust also provides a discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Northern Trust will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa).

Working with Us

As a Northern Trust partner, you will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture, which has a strong history of financial strength and stability. Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to an inclusive workplace and assisting the communities we serve.

Philanthropy is deeply rooted in Northern Trust’s history and is an essential element of our culture. Employees around the world give their time and talent to work for the greater good of their communities.

Reasonable Accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing adjustments to individuals with health conditions and disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at [e-mail], or alternatively you can discuss your individual requirements with the recruiter you are working with.