RIA Operations Manager

JCW Group; Schaumburg (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

JCW Group is seeking an operations manager for a boutique RIA to oversee day-to-day infrastructure and lead a team of operations associates. The role focuses on ensuring client accounts, workflows, and transactions are processed accurately and efficiently.

The successful candidate will bring proven RIA operations experience, deep understanding of the account lifecycle, and the ability to develop the team in a high-touch wealth management environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years in investment or wealth management operations.
• Experience leading an operations team in a high-touch wealth environment.
• Strong understanding of account administration, transfers, and cash movements.
• Detail-oriented with ability to manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily workflows for a team of ops associates.
• Manage account openings, transfers, and maintenance.
• Supervise cash movements, wires, and reconciliations.
• Ensure accurate processing of client and advisor requests.
• Maintain procedures, controls, and documentation.
• Identify gaps and drive efficiency improvements.
• Coach and develop operations staff.
• Collaborate with advisors, service, compliance, IT and vendors.
• Support regulatory compliance and reporting.
• Coordinate with tech and external vendors on systems.

Skills

Team leadership

Operations management

Attention to detail

Communication

Process improvement

Tools

CRM systems

Wealth management platforms

Workflow systems

Reconciliation platforms

Job description

Our client, a boutique RIA, is seeking an Operations Manager to oversee the firm's day-to-day operational infrastructure and manage a team of operations associates. This is a hands-on management role responsible for ensuring client accounts, workflows, transactions, reporting, and operational processes are executed accurately and efficiently.

The ideal candidate has strong RIA operations experience, understands the full account lifecycle, and has demonstrated the ability to manage and develop an operations team in a high-touch wealth management environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage, prioritize, and allocate daily workflows across a team of operations associates.
• Oversee account opening, maintenance, transfers, registrations, and account closures.
• Supervise cash movements, wires, journals, contributions, distributions, and other account transactions.
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of client and advisor requests.
• Oversee reconciliation of custodial accounts, cash, positions, and transactions.
• Manage operational relationships with custodians, broker-dealers, banks, and other third-party providers.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex operational issues and resolve exceptions efficiently.
• Establish and maintain operating procedures, controls, and documentation.
• Identify process gaps and implement improvements to increase efficiency and reduce errors.
• Monitor team performance, service levels, outstanding items, and operational deadlines.
• Train, coach, and develop operations associates.
• Partner closely with advisors, client service, compliance, and investment teams.
• Support compliance requirements and ensure operational processes adhere to firm policies and regulatory standards.
• Coordinate with technology and external vendors on operational systems and integrations.
• Maintain accurate operational records and documentation.
• Support special projects, system implementations, process enhancements, and other firm initiatives.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in investment management, wealth management, or RIA operations.
• Prior experience managing or leading an operations team.
• Strong understanding of RIA/wealth management account administration and operational workflows.
• Experience with custodial platforms and account transfers, money movement, reconciliation, and account maintenance.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot operational issues and drive them through resolution.Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfortable working directly with senior advisors and firm leadership.
• Strong organizational and process-management skills.
• Experience with portfolio management, CRM, reporting, and/or workflow systems commonly used by RIAs.