Director of Trust Operations

Hancock Whitney; New Orleans (LA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Hancock Whitney in New Orleans seeks a senior leader to oversee all aspects of Trust Operations and support the Wealth Management strategy. You will direct operations, manage vendor relationships, and coordinate with auditors and regulators to maintain compliance and service quality.

The role requires extensive banking experience, leadership, and strategic planning within Trust services. Travel may be required; the position supports high net worth clients and institutions with a focus on

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business or related field required.
• Ten years of banking experience with seven years in operations required.
• Five years of management experience required.
• CPA, MBA, or CSOP strongly preferred.
• Strong familiarity with regulations covering securities, transfer agency, information technology, and corporate governance required.
• Advanced knowledge of Trust business incl. personal/institutional/corporate trust, investment management, retirement services, securities operations, and transfer agency.
• Experience with long-range planning and budgeting.
• Understanding of regulations governing the Trust industry and securities operations.
• Experience with Trust accounting and investment management systems.
• Experience reading and managing financial reports and strategy documents.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of Trust Operations including Securities Services, Service Delivery Team, Special Processing, Trust Business Systems, and Reconciliations.
• Direct strategy for Trust Operations aligned with Wealth Management objectives.
• Manage relationships with IT, Security, Treasury Services, and other support departments.
• Serve on bank committees such as Vendor Management Committee.
• Maintain wire transfer authority requirements and review transfers as needed.
• Manage vendor relationships, including contracts, performance, and compliance.
• Coordinate with auditors and regulators on issues and responses.
• Engage with clients and prospects, including institutions and high net worth individuals.
• Develop continuity plans and act as Business Unit Contingency Coordinator.
• Lead technical projects like mergers, acquisitions, system conversions, and automation initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Auditing coordination

Client relationship management

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in business related field

CPA, MBA, or CSOP preferred

Five years of management experience

Job description

JOB FUNCTION / SUMMARY:

Responsible for oversight and management of all aspects of Trust Operations to ensure a culture of quality and operational excellence to support the Trust Department and unified Wealth Management strategic objectives. Serves as a subject matter expert across Wealth Management to ensure consistent execution of operational objectives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversees all aspects of Trust Operations including Securities Services, Service Delivery Team, Special Processing, Trust Business Systems, and Reconciliations.
• Directs the overall strategy for Trust Operations in accordance with the unified Wealth Management strategy.
• Manages relationships with internal bank service and support departments such as Information Technology, Business Continuity, Security, Treasury Services, and Electronic Funds Transfer.
• Serves on various bank committees such as Vendor Management Committee as required.
• Maintains wire transfer authority requirements for Trust Department. Responsible for reviewing wire transfers for business operations as needed.
• Manages critical vendor relationships including needs analysis, developing requirements, negotiating contracts, problem identification and resolution, vendor performance monitoring, vendor regulatory compliance, project management, and implementation of solutions.
• Partners with internal and external auditors, state and Federal banking and securities regulators to fulfill requirements, address issues, craft formal responses to and solutions for audit violations and recommendations.
• Speaks directly to clients and prospective clients including institutions, government agencies, executives of corporations, and high net worth individuals in sales, client retention, problem-solving situations.
• Develops Trust Department continuity plans and serves as Business Unit Contingency Coordinator in accordance with Corporate Business Continuity requirements.
• Leads technical projects as needed, such as: mergers, acquisitions and system conversions; launching new products; identification and installation of new or enhanced capabilities; automation of manual processes.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of associates and carries out these supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring and training associates; planning, assigning and directing work; performance management; rewarding associates; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE:

• Bachelor's Degree in business related field required
• 10 years of experience in banking with seven years in operations required
• Five years of management experience required
• CPA, MBA, or CSOP strongly preferred
• Strong familiarity with regulations covering securities, transfer agency, information technology, and corporate governance required
• Advanced knowledge of Trust business including personal trust, institutional trust, corporate trust, investment management, retirement services, securities operations, and transfer agency
• Experienced in long range planning and budgeting
• Comprehensive understanding of regulations governing the Trust industry and securities operations
• Experienced in Trust accounting and investment management systems, as well as surrounding systems such as wire transfer and treasury management
• Experienced in reading, creating, understanding, and managing financial reports, analyses and strategy documents

ESSENTIAL MENTAL & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work under stress and meet deadlines
• Ability to operate related equipment to perform the essential job functions
• Ability to read and interpret a document if required to perform the essential job functions
• Ability to travel if required to perform the essential job functions
• Ability to lift/move/carry approximately 10 pounds if required to perform the essential job functions. If the employee is unable to lift/move/carry this weight and can be accommodated without causing the department/division an "undue hardship" then the employee must be accommodated; hence omitting lifting/moving/carrying as a physical requirement.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious beliefs, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, physical or mental disability or history of disability, genetic information, status as a protected veteran, disabled veteran, or other protected characteristics as required by federal, state and local laws.