Senior Manager, Estate Settlement

Fifth Third Bank, National Association; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Fifth Third Bank in Farmington Hills, Michigan is seeking a Senior Manager to lead the estate settlement function, guiding a team to align with corporate policies, regulatory requirements, and client expectations. You will provide strategic direction for estate settlement services, drive fiduciary practices, and partner with leadership to grow estate settlement capabilities.

Key responsibilities include strategy oversight, fiduciary governance, leading a team of professionals, complex estate

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of estate administration, valuation, tax coordination, and fiduciary responsibilities.
• Ability to lead teams, develop talent, and drive performance through coaching and accountability.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory requirements, fiduciary risk practices, and policy execution.

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic oversight of estate settlement services, ensuring consistent execution of estate administration, valuation, tax coordination, and asset distribution activities.
• Establishes and enforces policies, procedures, and risk management practices to ensure compliance with estate, tax, and fiduciary requirements across the team.
• Leads and develops a team of estate settlement professionals, establishing performance expectations, coaching talent, and driving accountability.
• Provides guidance on complex and high-value estate relationships, including dispute resolution, beneficiary communication, and coordination with external advisors.
• Drives business performance by supporting revenue goals, expanding awareness of estate settlement capabilities, and aligning services with market demand.
• Oversees team operations, improving efficiency, consistency, and scalability of estate settlement processes.
• Builds strong partnerships with internal teams and external advisors to ensure effective coordination and delivery of estate services.
• Ensures a consistent, high-quality client experience, including proactive communication with beneficiaries and delivery aligned to estate objectives.
• Remains current on legal, tax, and industry developments to inform practices and maintain competitive positioning.
• Leads initiatives to enhance processes, strengthen controls, and improve overall team performance and client outcomes.

Skills

Estate Settlement Expertise

Leadership and Talent Development

Risk and Compliance Management

Client Relationship Management

Business and Operational Acumen

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Make banking a Fifth Third better We connect great people to great opportunities.

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 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.

With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation’s highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust.