Senior Fiduciary Officer

The Northern Trust Company; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Trust in Houston seeks a Senior Fiduciary Officer to lead complex wealth management relationships, providing proactive advice and regional fiduciary oversight.

You will apply fiduciary, tax, and estate planning knowledge, mentor relationship advisors, and collaborate with clients and their advisors to strengthen opportunities.

This role requires strong leadership, risk management, and familiarity with NT standards, supporting growth initiatives and ensuring prudent client service.

Qualifications

• Extensive fiduciary and wealth management knowledge.
• Experience leading client advisory teams and managing complex portfolios.
• Strong understanding of trust, tax, and estate planning principles.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of wealth management clients with the client service team and advisors.
• Deliver proactive, advice-driven client service and timely communication.
• Lead conversations using a Goals Driven Wealth Management approach and explain NT products and services.
• Maintain fiduciary knowledge and apply internal standards to client relationships.
• Provide regional fiduciary leadership and support business development opportunities.

Skills

Relationship management

Advisory expertise

Risk management

Leadership

Business development

Job description

About Northern Trust

As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world's most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions.

Since 1889, we have aligned our efforts with our three guiding Principles That Endure: Service, Expertise, and Integrity. Together, they reflect the three cornerstones of business conduct which we strive to instill in our employees, whom we call partners, and to provide to our clients and the communities we serve worldwide.

With more than 135 years of financial experience and over 24,000 partners, we serve the world's most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

The Senior Fiduciary Officer serves as both a Senior Relationship Advisor and Senior Fiduciary Manager, combining responsibility for complex wealth management client relationships with regional oversight of fiduciary, compliance, and risk matters. The role delivers proactive, advice-driven client service; applies extensive trust, tax, estate planning, financial planning, and investment knowledge; supports business growth; and provides leadership to relationship advisors and the broader market team.

What You'll Do

Client Relationship Management & Advisory (Senior Relationship Advisor)

• Manage an assigned portfolio of wealth management clients by partnering with the client service team, clients, and their professional advisors to develop a thorough understanding of each client's needs, goals, and priorities.
• Deliver focused and responsive client service with diplomacy and tact, maintaining proactive written and verbal communication at an appropriate frequency and demonstrating excellent time management.
• Lead client conversations using a Goals Driven Wealth Management approach and provide proactive advice regarding NT products and services, emerging issues, regulatory and tax changes, and appropriate client actions.
• Combine technical knowledge, fact-finding, and analysis to develop advice-driven solutions, and explain complex concepts thoughtfully using clear, non-technical language.
• Maintain a working knowledge of NT resources and apply fiduciary expertise, experience, and internal capabilities to identify opportunities to strengthen and expand client relationships.

Fiduciary Expertise, Administration & Risk Management

• Demonstrate extensive knowledge of governing documents, account agreements, fiduciary duties, and applicable laws, including trust and tax law, estate planning techniques, financial planning, asset management, and prudent investment principles.
• Build and maintain knowledge of NT fiduciary standards and practices, applying sound fiduciary judgment to client relationships and account administration.
• Understand and comply with internal policies, processes, and procedures to support prudent risk management and decision-making.
• Recognize fiduciary risk issues, pursue timely and appropriate resolution, and engage trust counsel, the Regional CFO, and the Advisory Practice Leader when appropriate.
• Continue to develop fiduciary and advisory capabilities through training, education, and experience.

Regional Fiduciary Leadership (Senior Fiduciary Manager)

• Provide regional oversight of fiduciary, compliance, and risk matters, including ongoing monitoring, escalation, and resolution.
• Serve as a resource to advisors on day-to-day trust administration, risk management, compliance policies and measures, and Goals Driven Wealth Management implementation.
• Support the implementation of national initiatives and programs, and contribute fiduciary and advisory expertise to business development opportunities.
• Participate in the hiring process for relationship advisors and provide subject matter input for annual performance and compensation discussions, including observations regarding fiduciary expertise and adherence to best practices.
• Assist relationship advisors with the design and implementation of development plans.
• Participate, as requested, on fiduciary oversight committees, including account acceptance and discretionary action committees.
• Maintain a balanced, cross-functional perspective across disciplines and regions, partnering with the business to reduce risk and improve efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity.

Business Development & Market Contribution

• Cultivate relationships with referral sources and centers of influence to build the business and identify new opportunities.
• Represent NT in community and professional organizations and identify opportunities to showcase the firm's expertise and thought leadership.
• Lend fiduciary and advisory expertise to business development efforts and support team-based growth opportunities.

Leadership & Strategic Execution

• Participate in the development of the fiduciary strategic plan and establish goals and priorities consistent with the direction set for the unit, following through to ensure objectives are met.