Senior Manager, Estate Settlement

Fifth Third Bank; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Fifth Third Bank is seeking a Senior Manager of Estate Settlement to lead strategic oversight of estate administration, valuation, tax coordination, and asset distribution. You will drive fiduciary governance, risk management, and align services with market demand, while developing a high-performing team.

The role emphasizes client outcomes, regulatory compliance, and collaboration with internal and external partners to enhance efficiency and growth in estate settlement capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or professional designation preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in estate settlement or fiduciary administration.
• 3–5 years of leadership experience managing a team.

Responsibilities

• Oversee estate settlement strategy and oversight, ensuring compliant execution of administration, valuation, tax coordination, and asset distribution.
• Establish fiduciary governance, risk management, and policy execution across the team.
• Lead and develop a team of estate settlement professionals, setting performance expectations and coaching.

Skills

Estate settlement

Leadership

Risk & compliance

Client relationships

Operations

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree / professional designation

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.

About The Role

This role is responsible for leading the estate settlement function, overseeing a team of estate settlement professionals and ensuring alignment with corporate policies, regulatory requirements, and client expectations. The Senior Manager provides strategic direction for estate settlement services, drives consistent fiduciary practices, and partners with leadership to enhance client outcomes, operational effectiveness, and growth of estate settlement capabilities.

Please see below for specific responsibilities and requirements for this role.

Your Responsibilities

• Estate Settlement Strategy and Oversight: Provides strategic oversight of estate settlement services, ensuring consistent execution of estate administration, valuation, tax coordination, and asset distribution activities.
• Fiduciary Governance and Risk Leadership: Establishes and enforces policies, procedures, and risk management practices to ensure compliance with estate, tax, and fiduciary requirements across the team.
• Leadership and Team Management: Leads and develops a team of estate settlement professionals, establishing performance expectations, coaching talent, and driving accountability.
• Complex Estate Administration Oversight: Provides guidance on the most complex and high-value estate relationships, including dispute resolution, beneficiary communication, and coordination with external advisors.
• Business Performance and Growth: Drives business performance by supporting revenue goals, expanding awareness of estate settlement capabilities, and aligning services with market demand.
• Operational Leadership: Oversees team operations, improving efficiency, consistency, and scalability of estate settlement processes.
• Stakeholder and Partner Alignment: Builds strong partnerships with internal teams and external advisors to ensure effective coordination and delivery of estate services.
• Client Experience Oversight: Ensures a consistent, high-quality client experience, including proactive communication with beneficiaries and delivery aligned to estate objectives.
• Market and Industry Awareness: Remains current on legal, tax, and industry developments to inform practices and maintain competitive positioning.
• Process and Change Leadership: Leads initiatives to enhance processes, strengthen controls, and improve overall team performance and client outcomes.
• Other Duties: Performing other duties as assigned, adapting to new tasks or shifts in priorities as necessary to support your team’s and the company’s mission.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or professional designation (e.g., JD, CPA, CFP, CTFA) preferred.
• 10 or more years of experience in estate settlement, fiduciary administration, or related wealth management services.
• 3–5 years of leadership experience, including direct management of a team.

Required Skills

Qualified candidates will possess an advanced degree of proficiency (typically from 10+ years of work or practical experience), in:

• Estate Settlement Expertise: Advanced knowledge of estate administration, valuation, tax coordination, and fiduciary responsibilities.
• Leadership and Talent Development: Ability to lead teams, develop talent, and drive performance through coaching and accountability.
• Risk and Compliance Management: Strong knowledge of regulatory requirements, fiduciary risk practices, and policy execution.
• Client Relationship Management: Ability to manage complex beneficiary dynamics and resolve sensitive client matters.
• Business and Operational Acumen: Ability to manage performance, improve processes, and align team activities with business goals.

Skills For Success

Qualified candidates will possess an advanced degree of proficiency (typically from 10+ years of work or practical experience), in:

• Strategic Leadership: Aligns team execution with broader estate settlement and fiduciary objectives.
• Decision Making: Exercises sound judgment in complex estate and fiduciary matters.
• Communication and Influence: Demonstrates strong interpersonal, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Collaboration: Works effectively across teams and partners to deliver integrated client solutions.
• Continuous Improvement: Drives enhancements to processes, controls, and client experience.

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.

Senior Manager, Estate Settlement

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

Attention search firms and staffing agencies: do not submit unsolicited resumes for this posting. Fifth Third does not accept resumes from any agency that does not have an active agreement with Fifth Third. Any unsolicited resumes – no matter how they are submitted – will be considered the property of Fifth Third and Fifth Third will not be responsible for any associated fee.

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.