Senior Associate, Client & Custodian Data Management

Jobtailor; Illinois; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Cerity Partners is seeking a skilled project and operations professional to lead complex custody and migration initiatives. You will own end-to-end project calls, coordinate multiple stakeholders, and oversee onboarding onto custodial platforms such as Schwab, Fidelity, and Pershing.

The role requires strong communication, problem solving, and the ability to manage several concurrent projects. Ideal candidates will understand how custodian actions affect downstream systems like Orion and

Qualifications

• Experience leading cross-functional migration projects and onboarding teams.
• Ability to manage custodian operations and data architecture impacts across systems.
• Proven track record in coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives with deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary point of contact on merger and practice migration projects.
• Lead project calls independently through completion.
• Manage day-to-day custodian operations across multiple platforms.
• Onboard new accounts and maintain access and entitlements.
• Develop understanding of downstream data flows and system impacts.
• Deliver updates and training content to groups of 5–20+.

Skills

Cross-Functional Project Management

Independent project leadership

Excellent written and verbal comms

Strong listening skills

Detail-oriented

Tools

Schwab

Fidelity

Pershing

Orion

Salesforce

Addepar

Job description

• Serve as a primary point of contact on merger and practice migration projects, including onboarding newly acquired teams and liftouts onto Cerity Partners’ custodial and data infrastructure
• Lead project calls independently from initiation through completion and step in to lead when the assigned lead is unavailable
• Independently manage cross-functional projects involving multiple stakeholders, priorities, and deadlines
• Manage day-to-day custodian operations across Schwab, Fidelity, Pershing, and other platforms, including account setup, data feed troubleshooting, and platform-specific workflows
• Manage custodian user permissions, including onboarding, offboarding, and ongoing maintenance of access and entitlements
• Navigate new account opening workflows, including SMA managers, options and margin requirements, and complex account types such as trusts and other legal entities
• Develop a strong understanding of how actions within custodian platforms affect downstream systems, including Orion and Salesforce, and proactively account for those impacts
• Diagnose and resolve issues with data feed configurations between custodians and portfolio accounting/reporting systems
• Identify and resolve underlying issues when breakdowns within one system impact connected systems and processes
• Interpret requests from advisors, colleagues, and stakeholders accurately and identify the underlying business need
• Partner with Compliance, Operations, Advisor Services, and other internal teams to resolve issues arising during migrations or ongoing account servicing
• Contribute to internal documentation, process improvement, and training materials related to custodian workflows and migration procedures
• Deliver updates, findings, or training content to groups ranging from 5–20 people to larger firmwide audiences
• Serve as a knowledgeable and collaborative resource to colleagues and stakeholders across the firm

Requirements

• Comfortable leading calls and presenting to groups of 5–20 people; experience with larger audiences is a plus
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage cross-functional projects with multiple stakeholders and deadlines
• Genuine interest in learning how the firm operates end-to-end
• Able to trace how a change in one area affects connected systems and processes, including custodian-to-reporting-system data architecture
• Quick to learn new systems and platforms and comfortable working across multiple technology environments
• Strong listening skills and ability to identify what is actually needed from a request, even when it is not stated in precise technical terms
• Willingness to independently research unfamiliar questions before bringing findings back for confirmation or discussion
• Experience with Schwab, Fidelity, and/or Pershing is a plus
• Orion and Addepar experience is a plus
• Strong organizational skills and comfort managing multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced, detail-oriented environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in managing cross-functional projects and custodian operations, with a strong understanding of data architecture and its impact on connected systems. Proficient in delivering presentations and training to diverse audiences while maintaining effective communication across multiple stakeholders.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Cross-Functional Project Management
• Custodian Operations Management
• Data Architecture Understanding
• Presentation Skills
• Issue Diagnosis and Resolution

Hard Skills

• Project Management
• Data Feed Troubleshooting
• Account Setup
• Custodian User Permissions Management
• Workflow Navigation
• Process Improvement
• Documentation Development
• System Configuration Diagnosis
• Stakeholder Communication
• Training Material Creation

Soft Skills

• Strong Listening Skills
• Organizational Skills
• Independent Research
• Collaboration
• Detail-Oriented

Industry Keywords

• Custodial Infrastructure
• Practice Migration
• Account Opening Workflows
• SMA Managers
• Legal Entities

Tools & Technologies

• Schwab
• Fidelity
• Pershing
• Orion
• Salesforce
• Addepar