Sr. Consultant, Alternative Investments and Privates, IPS

ACCA Careers; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 83,000 - 141,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Trust is seeking a Sr. Consultant in Alternative Investments and Privates within Integrated Portfolio Services in Chicago.

The role focuses on day-to-day client fund administration across fund-of-funds, hedge funds, private equity, and private debt, ensuring timely processing, reconciliations, reporting, and issue resolution. You will collaborate with clients, investment managers, custodians, auditors, and internal teams to strengthen controls, data quality, and automation, while

Qualifications

• Experience with alternative investments operations and fund activity.
• Strong knowledge of investment accounting concepts and lifecycle events.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; able to liaise with clients and partners.

Responsibilities

• Process and oversee investment activity and lifecycle events across private investments.
• Perform reconciliations of cash, positions, and valuations with internal and external sources.
• Analyze discrepancies, identify root causes, and coordinate resolutions with stakeholders.
• Prepare client reports ensuring data quality and timeliness.
• Lead or support projects to improve efficiency and automation.

Skills

Alt investments ops

Investment accounting

Analytical skills

Communication

Multitasking

Excel macros

Education

Bachelor's in Finance

MBA/CFA/CAIA preferred

Tools

Excel

Workflow automation

Fund administration

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.

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.

Sr. Consultant, Alternative Investments and Privates, IPS

Summary

Provide industry experience and subject-matter expertise to the Alternative Investments and Privates teams within Integrated Portfolio Services. The Sr. Consultant is responsible for day-to-day client fund administration across fund-of-funds, hedge funds, private equity, private debt, and other complex private investments.

This role partners with internal and external stakeholders to ensure accurate and timely processing, reconciliation, reporting, and issue resolution while supporting strong controls, client service, and continuous process improvement.

Major Duties

• Process and oversee investment activity and lifecycle events for alternative and private investments, including subscriptions, redemptions, capital calls, distributions, transfers, commitments, funded and unfunded balances, in-kind activity, fees, valuations, and realized and unrealized gains and losses.
• Perform and review daily and month-end reconciliations of cash, transactions, positions, cost, commitments, and valuations across HFS platforms, client records, custodians, administrators, and investment manager statements.
• Analyze breaks and data discrepancies, determine root causes, coordinate resolution with internal teams and external counterparties, and ensure open items are documented and resolved in a timely manner.
• Apply working knowledge of fund-of-funds, master-feeder, and limited partnership structures, including closed-end and open-end investment vehicles and their accounting and operational impacts.
• Ensure transactions and investment records are maintained in accordance with applicable client requirements and U.S. GAAP accounting treatment.
• Prepare, review, and deliver recurring and ad hoc client reports for alternative and private investments, ensuring data quality, accuracy, and timely completion.
• Coordinate cash management and settlement activity, including payment models, wire instructions, and related controls.
• Communicate regularly with clients, investment managers, fund administrators, custodians, auditors, and internal relationship, accounting, performance, and product partners.
• Work closely with management to ensure process controls are executed, exceptions are escalated, and operational risks are appropriately mitigated.
• Provide technical guidance, training, and day-to-day support to team members and serve as an escalation point for complex investment activity and reconciliation issues.
• Lead or support projects focused on improving efficiency, strengthening the control environment, enhancing data quality, and increasing automation, including the use of document digitization and workflow tools.
• Operate independently, manage competing priorities, and contribute subject-matter expertise across both the Alternative Investments and Privates functions.

Knowledge / Skills

• In-depth knowledge of alternative and private investment operations, including fund-of-funds, hedge funds, private equity, private debt, and limited partnership investments.
• Knowledge of investment accounting concepts, financial markets, and the operational impact of capital activity, valuations, commitments, and investment lifecycle events.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to investigate and resolve complex reconciliation and data-quality issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively with clients and internal and external partners.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet daily, monthly, and ad hoc deadlines in a time-sensitive environment.
• Highly flexible and adaptable to changes in client requirements, products, systems, and operating processes.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel. Experience with macros, workflow automation, document digitization, and financial or fund administration platforms is preferred.

Experience Preferred

• 4-5 years of relevant experience in alternative investments, private markets, investment operations, fund administration, asset servicing, audit, or a related financial services function.
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field preferred.
• Relevant industry qualification or advanced degree preferred, such as an MBA, CFA, or CAIA.
• Experience supporting complex client structures and working across multiple operational teams preferred.

Salary Range

$83,100 - 141,300 USD

Salary range is a good faith estimate of base pay. Northern Trust provides a comprehensive benefits package including retirement benefits (401k and pension), health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability), paid time off, parental and caregiver leave, life & accident insurance, and other voluntary and well-being benefits. Northern Trust also provides a discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Northern Trust will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa).

Working with Us

As a Northern Trust partner, you will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture, which has a strong history of financial strength and stability. Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to an inclusive workplace and assisting the communities we serve.

Philanthropy is deeply rooted in Northern Trust’s history and is an essential element of our culture. Employees around the world give their time and talent to work for the greater good of their communities.

Reasonable Accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing adjustments to individuals with health conditions and disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at [e-mail], or alternatively you can discuss your individual requirements with the recruiter you are working with.