Receptionist

Aquarian Holdings; New York (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquarian Holdings is seeking a Receptionist to join our Workplace Services team in New York City. You will be the first and last point of contact for guests, manage front desk operations, check-in and badge issuance, and coordinate with security and hosts to ensure a warm, discreet, and professional experience.

The role requires strong hospitality instincts, excellent communication, and the ability to balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent professional experience.
• Three or more years in corporate reception or high-touch environments.
• Experience in financial services or asset management preferred.
• Onsite five days per week with rotating opening/closing shifts.

Responsibilities

• Own the execution of visitor arrival and departure journeys with security and hosts.
• Maintain daily visibility of guests, meetings, access requirements and accommodations.
• Manage guest check-in, host communication, wait time, and departures.
• Support meeting, event, and hospitality operations as needed.
• Run core reception duties including phone line, inbox, calendars, and vendor access.
• Recognize and resolve issues, upholding security and confidentiality procedures.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Multitasking

Guest services

Tech-savvy

Organization

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

3+ years in corporate reception / luxury hospitality

Experience in financial services / asset management

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Office Suite

Conference-room technology

Job description

About Aquarian

Aquarian Holdings ("Aquarian") is a diversified global holding company with a strategic portfolio of insurance and asset management solutions.

About Aquarian

Aquarian Holdings ("Aquarian") is a diversified global holding company with a strategic portfolio of insurance and asset management solutions. Aquarian Insurance Holdings acquires and operates insurance companies with a focus on life and annuity underwriting, deploying strategies to grow balance sheet profitability by writing new insurance/reinsurance, improving investment income, and optimizing operations. After launching in 2017, Aquarian finalized its first investment in 2018 in Investors Heritage, a regional life insurer domiciled in Kentucky that focuses on pre-need policies. Working closely with management, Aquarian helped the company grow with expanded product offerings and distribution channels, building on its 60-year track record of exceptional client service. Aquarian continued to deepen its expertise and grow its existing offerings in insurance and reinsurance through its acquisitions of Hudson Life and Annuity Company in 2021 and Somerset Re in 2022. Aquarian Investments complements the insurance operations, combining best practices from the world’s leading financial services firms with its own distinct strategy, approach, and organizational culture. Aquarian has continued to expand into alternative assets and private credit through the launches of Aquarian Liquid Credit, Aquarian Strategic Opportunities, Aquarian Private Credit, and Aquarian Real Estate Partners. Aquarian has since grown its business to approximately $25.8 billion in AUM, with 40 investment professionals, multiple funds, and insurance and reinsurance companies, all committed to providing meaningful investment opportunities to millions of people. In November 2025, Aquarian announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement under which an affiliate will acquire Brighthouse Financial in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $4.1 billion. Brighthouse is one of the largest providers of annuities and life insurance in the U.S., with approximately $208 billion of AUM. Following the anticipated close of the transaction in 2026, Brighthouse Financial will operate as a standalone entity within the Aquarian portfolio.

The Role

Aquarian Holdings is seeking an exceptional individual to join our Workplace Services team as a Receptionist, reporting to the Hospitality & Workplace Experience Manager. As one of the first and last points of contact for Aquarian, the Receptionist plays a central role in creating a guest experience that feels warm, polished, discreet, and personal.

The Receptionist serves as the primary point of contact for visitors entering Aquarian offices and is responsible for executing seamless arrival and departure experiences. The role owns front desk operations, visitor check-in and badge issuance, host notifications, wayfinding support, and adherence to visitor security procedures. Working closely with Guest Experience Coordinators, Executive Assistants, Security, and other stakeholders, the Receptionist ensures every guest interaction reflects Aquarian's standards of hospitality and professionalism.

This role requires exceptional judgment, composure, attention to detail, and the ability to anticipate needs while balancing multiple priorities. The ideal candidate takes ownership, communicates with confidence and warmth, protects confidential information, and adapts quickly to changing circumstances without compromising service quality.

This position is five days per week in office in New York City. Receptionists rotate between the 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. opening shift and the 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. closing shift, ensuring there is always an opener and a closer. Flexibility may be required based on business and guest needs.

Responsibilities

• Own the execution of the visitor arrival and departure journey, coordinating with building security, lobby personnel, hosts, and internal stakeholders to ensure guests are properly cleared for entry, welcomed upon arrival, connected with their host, and supported through departure.
• Maintain daily visibility of expected guests, meeting details, access requirements, and special accommodations, ensuring Reception is fully prepared for each arrival.
• Manage guest check-in, host communication, wait time, handoffs, and departure with attentiveness, sound judgment, and clear ownership.
• Partner with Guest Experience Coordinators to support meeting, event, and hospitality operations as needed, including room readiness, guest logistics, and other workplace experience activities during periods of increased demand.
• Manage core Reception operations, including the shared phone line and inbox, conference room calendars, approved vendor access, and other assigned guest-facing responsibilities while maintaining desk coverage and service standards.
• Recognize and resolve service issues in the moment, elevate appropriately, and consistently follow security, confidentiality, emergency-response, and incident procedures.

Ideal Profile And Characteristics

• Demonstrates an uncompromising commitment to excellence, ownership, and accountability, consistently delivering high-quality results with intentional urgency, sound judgment, and attention to detail.
• Thrives in a high-performance environment, embraces continuous learning and feedback, and demonstrates a genuine desire to grow while contributing to the continued evolution and scaling of the organization.
• Genuine hospitality mindset with a warm, polished, confident, and highly discreet presence.
• Strong service instincts with the ability to anticipate guest needs and respond proactively to ensure a smooth and welcoming arrival and departure experience.
• Calm and composed under pressure, with the ability to manage multiple priorities without compromising service quality or professionalism.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with guests, employees, executives, and external partners.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong follow-through and a commitment to operational accuracy.
• Collaborative team player who partners effectively across Reception, Security, Executive Assistants, Workplace Services, and other stakeholder groups to deliver a seamless guest experience.
• Resourceful and technologically proficient, with the ability to quickly learn and adapt to new systems, tools, and processes.
• Flexible, resilient, and receptive to feedback, with a commitment to continuous improvement and professional growth.

Education And Experience

• Bachelor's degree is preferred but not required; equivalent professional experience will be considered.
• Three or more years of experience in corporate reception, luxury hospitality, executive services, or other high-touch customer-facing environments preferred.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, high-expectation corporate or hospitality environment
• Financial services, private equity, asset management, hedge fund, or family office experience preferred
• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook and the Microsoft Office Suite, including shared calendars and inboxes
• Familiarity with conference-room technology, visitor access procedures, and guest-facing workplace operations
• Ability to work onsite five days per week and rotate between opening and closing shifts

Aquarian is an equal opportunity employer. Aquarian is committed to creating and maintaining a workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the success of the business and are valued for their skills, experience and unique perspectives. Aquarian does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, veteran status, mental or physical handicap or disability, age, citizenship status, alienage, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other criteria prohibited under applicable federal, state or local law. Aquarian makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities in accordance with applicable law.