Estate Settlement Administrator

Fifth Third Bank; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 61,000 - 126,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Incentive compensation plan

Job summary

Fifth Third Bank seeks an Estate Settlement Administrator in Farmington Hills, MI to support estate officers with client communications, asset collection, and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities include coordinating distributions, maintaining trust accounting integrity, and ensuring accurate documentation across systems. A Bachelor’s degree and 2+ years in estate or financial services are preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree strongly preferred and 2+ years in estate/trust or financial services.
• Experience in client communications, probate, tax matters, or fiduciary services is advantageous.
• Attention to compliance and accurate documentation is essential.

Responsibilities

• Support Estate Officers and maintain client communications with beneficiaries and advisors.
• Coordinate distributions, asset collection, and documentation for estate settlements.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and accurate trust accounting data and fee handling.
• Maintain CRM and workflow systems, and assist with meeting logistics.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Client service

Attention to detail

Trust administration knowledge

Financial acumen

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

CRM

Workflow Portal

ACE

AM Administrator

Job description

Make banking a Fifth Third better® We connect great people to great opportunities. Are you ready to take the next step? Discover a career in banking at Fifth Third Bank.

Make banking a Fifth Third better® We connect great people to great opportunities. Are you ready to take the next step? Discover a career in banking at Fifth Third Bank.

About The Role

The Estate Settlement Administrator serves as support for the Estate Officers in servicing estate settlement trust accounts to ensure exceptional client service, operational accuracy, and regulatory compliance. This role partners closely with Estate Officers, internal departments, and external professionals to manage the estate settlement process. Responsibilities span client communications, asset collection, tax coordination, legal documentation, and financial tracking. The Estate Settlement Administrator serves as the primary interface with trust accounting systems, the Workflow System, and all trust operations functions, and implements internal policies and procedures effectively.

Your Responsibilities

The responsibilities for this role are below; you may support projects of varying complexity based on skill and organizational priorities.

Client Service

• Support the Estate Officer in all aspects of estate administration, including communication with beneficiaries, outside advisors, and internal partners.
• Coordinate and manage client communications such as family letters, bequest notifications, and distribution updates.
• Partner with the Estate Officer and internal teams to resolve client issues and ensure a smooth transition across service models.
• Maintain frequent contact with clients and third-party advisors via email and phone to uphold high service standards.

Estate Administration

• Collect and process estate assets; file probate documents and manage distributions, financial accounts, insurance policies, and unclaimed property.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies and procedures for account openings, bill payments, discretionary actions, and account closings.
• Prepare and execute distribution forms, funding requests, and liquidation instructions.
• Maintain trust accounting system integrity, including fee setup, statement generation, and related party configuration.
• Track and reconcile fees; manage CRM and portal updates; collaborate on distribution schedules and documentation.
• Review daily account activity for accuracy and quality; coordinate with operations teams and manage logistics for estate meetings and materials.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Risk Management

• Demonstrate urgency in client service and task completion while maintaining compliance with estate policies and procedures.
• Stay informed on industry trends and fiduciary matters including estate planning, probate, tax planning, and specialized trusts.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree is strongly preferred.
• Minimum 2 years of professional experience; estate, trust or financial services experience preferred.

Required Skills

Qualified candidates will possess an introductory degree of proficiency (typically from 2 years of work or practical experience), in:

• Organizational and Time Management: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities effectively, meet deadlines, and maintain structure in a fast-paced environment.
• Attention to Detail and Accuracy: Strong commitment to precision in documentation, system entry, and financial tracking to ensure compliance and operational integrity.
• Trust Administration and Estate Planning Knowledge: Foundational understanding or willingness to learn key concepts in estate planning, fiduciary responsibilities, and tax matters related to estate and trust services.
• Financial Acumen: Basic understanding or interest in financial markets, investment theory, and asset management principles.

Skills For Success

• Client Service Orientation: Proactive approach to supporting clients and beneficiaries with empathy, responsiveness, and professionalism across all communications.
• Effective Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills to clearly convey information to clients, advisors, and internal partners.
• Team Collaboration: Ability to work effectively within a team environment, supporting Estate Officers and cross-functional partners to achieve shared goals.
• Adaptability: Comfortable navigating shifting priorities and evolving client needs while maintaining high standards of service and compliance.
• Technical Proficiency: Skilled in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint, and CoPilot) and internal systems such as CRM, ACE, Workflow Portal, and AM Administrator.
• Risk and Compliance Awareness: Understanding of internal policies and procedures with a commitment to identifying and mitigating risk through proper documentation and adherence to guidelines.

Doing The Right Thing

Our employees take pride in doing the right thing for customers and colleagues as well as being accountable for risk by openly exchanging ideas and opinions, elevating concerns, and following policies and procedures that protect all our valuable assets including you.

Estate Settlement Administrator

Total Base Pay Range 61,200.00 - 125,500.00 USD Annual

At Fifth Third, we understand the importance of recognizing our employees for the role they play in improving the lives of our customers, communities and each other. Our Total Rewards include comprehensive benefits and differentiated compensation offerings to give each employee the opportunity to be their best every day.

The base salary for this position is reflective of the range of salary levels for all roles within this pay grade across the U.S. Individual salaries within this range will vary based on factors such as role, relevant skillset, relevant experience, education and geographic location. In addition to the base salary, this role is eligible to participate in an incentive compensation plan, with any such payment based upon company, line of business and/or individual performance.

Our extensive benefits programs are designed to support the individual needs of our employees and their families, encompassing physical, financial, emotional and social well-being. You can learn more about those programs on our 53.com Careers page at: https://www.53.com/content/fifth-third/en/careers/benefits.html or by consulting with your talent acquisition partner.

LOCATION -- Farmington Hills, Michigan 48331-3552

Fifth Third Bank, National Association is proud to have an engaged and inclusive culture and to promote and ensure equal employment opportunity in all employment decisions regardless of race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, veteran status or any other legally protected status.