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Hightower Advisors · 1 day ago

Director of Operations

Chicago, IL

Full-time

Hybrid

Senior Level, Lead/Staff

$160K/yr - $180K/yr

10+ years exp

Hightower Advisors is a wealth management firm that provides investment, financial and retirement planning services. The Director of Operations will lead operational strategy, drive cross-functional initiatives, and ensure smooth operations and advisor business integration experiences.

Financial Services

Comp. & Benefits

No H1B

U.S. Citizen Only

Responsibilities

Oversee custodian infrastructure operations, cultivating strong relationships and managing escalations

Manage client agreement review workflows, resolve escalations, and build trusted partnerships with advisor practices

Ensure service queue SLAs are consistently met and proactively monitored

Maintain, uphold, and document all policies and procedures related to NAO

Collaborate with the Integration Management Office (IMO) on external and internal acquisition initiatives; lead cross-functional integration efforts with the BAO team, including due diligence, planning, and execution

Manage onboarding of client agreements & related records, including repapering processes for newly acquired advisor teams

Oversee complex data conversion activities for internal integrations, coordinating bulk data loads and timelines across multiple teams

Build strong relationships with incoming advisory teams to understand billing practices, household set up, and client agreement structure, including participating in onsite visits

Champion transformative initiatives, including the design and deployment of new tools related to the Client Management Lifecycle (CML) and the broader NAO experience

Own and continuously improve the end-to-end NAO workflow, enhancing both advisor and home office experiences through process innovation and operational alignment

Lead a team of 5–10 professionals, fostering continuous skill development and providing mentorship

Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment that promotes teamwork, accountability, and innovation

Develop and present key operational metrics to senior leadership, including NAO processing volumes, service SLAs, integration milestones, and team capacity

Partner with internal and external auditors to manage audits and ensure full compliance with regulatory standards

Qualification

Wealth management operationsOperational excellenceClient agreement workflowsCross-functional initiativesCustodial infrastructureData conversion activitiesCRM systemsRegulatory complianceAnalytical skillsMultitasking abilitiesStakeholder managementProblem-solving skillsCommunication skillsOrganizational skills

Required

Bachelor's degree required

10+ years of progressive experience in operations, within wealth management, financial services, or a related industry

Prior experience in an operational role at an RIA

Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives, managing complex integrations, and driving operational excellence on a scale

Knowledge in advisor onboarding, custodial infrastructure, and client agreement workflows, with working knowledge of CRM systems, client reporting platforms, advisory fee billing, and related technologies

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel

Detailed oriented, with excellent organizational and multitasking abilities

Communication and stakeholder management skills, with experience engaging advisors, custodians, and senior leadership

Solid understanding of regulatory compliance, audit readiness, and policy documentation best practices

Willingness and ability to travel up to 15% of the time

Benefits

Coverage on the first day of employment for medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid parental leave (16 weeks for primary caregiver and 8 weeks for secondary caregiver)

Mother’s lounge onsite

Flexible PTO plan

Hybrid work schedule (minimum of 3 days in office)

Free brand-new gym in the Chicago office

401k matching plan

HSA employer contributions

Student loan assistance

Pet insurance

Company

Hightower Advisors

Glassdoor4.1

Hightower is a wealth management firm that provides investment, financial and retirement planning services to individuals, foundations and family offices, as well as 401K consulting and cash management services to corporations.

Founded in 2008

Westport, Connecticut, USA

201-500 employees