Fiduciary Services Operations Specialist

Position Summary:
The AIFS Operations Specialist is responsible for supporting Alerus Investment and Fiduciary Services (AIFS) related products. They will maintain knowledge of Wealth Management (WM) functions and regulatory requirements along with performing the due diligence needed to ensure complete and accurate system processing. They will partner with the investment and sales team members to deliver a superior client experience.
Essential Responsibilities:
Job Function 1: Process Support - 60%

• Collaborate with the custodians to ensure all income is received for a mixed portfolio of holdings; oversee and ensure the posting to underlying accounts is completed timely, accurately, and with proper coding; serve as the point of contact for income-related questions and concerns.
• Ensure all trades are sent to the custodian and that settlement occurs successfully within the trust accounting system.
• Process corporate actions in a timely and accurate manner according to established procedures and policies, including monitoring for applicable corporate actions, ensuring all corporate actions are responded to, and running appropriate transactions in the trust accounting system to underlying holders.
• Work with trusted vendors to ensure class action suits are filed timely and accurately for underlying clients and post resulting income to underlying accounts.
• Oversee the delivery and receipt of assets to ensure all assets are accounted for, coded on the trust accounting system, and all forms and documentation are collected and processed according to established procedures and policies.
• Perform date of death valuations using established policies and procedures.
• Support separately managed account (SMA) processing.
• Ensure client statements are created/generated for all accounts, ensure statement files are delivered to vendor for printing and mailing; prepare a monthly reconciliation detailing statement production.
• Open and close accounts in the trust accounting system and perform account maintenance as requested by WM advisor and associates.
• Act as the day-to-day contact for assigned accounts by processing cash receipts/disbursements and responding to client questions and/or concerns.
• Guarantee properly coded disbursements, deliveries, and receipts by reconciling account(s) monthly and prepare related forms and documentation.

Job Function 2: Team Support - 25%

• Provide primary and backup coverage on processes to other team members as needed.
• Participate in team meetings by providing insight, contributions, and feedback.
• Assist with team, wealth management, or company-wide projects.
• Create, update, and maintain written procedures in Alerus procedure (R&R) database.
• Identify and implement process improvements that enhance the client experience and build scale.
• Build and maintain knowledge of processing bulk transactions and maintenance from external applications.

Job Function 3: Professional & Personal Development - 15%

• Maintain knowledge encompassing all AIFS operations systems and processes that pertain to the position.
• Maintain and utilize compliance knowledge of regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Actively pursue continuing education, reading, and self-development to enhance skills.
• Complete regulation, compliance, and additional training as assigned.
• Create solid working relationships with team members across the organization.
• Build working knowledge of system file creation and movement.
• Maintain relationships with external clients by providing prompt and courteous service on all inquiries received.

Position Requirements:
Qualifications:

• Associate's degree or equivalent combination of education and/or related experience in the financial industry.
• Demonstrated communication and client-service skills.
• Experience with various Windows-based software programs including Excel, Word and Outlook.
• Demonstrated ability to manage high volume, time-sensitive transactions and situations.
• May be asked to assist in the work of WM programs and projects, to include availability to work after hours to support business needs.

Personal Characteristics:

• Positive, client-centric attitude.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks through effective time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and in a team-oriented environment.
• Ability to accept, support and implement continuous change.

Physical Demands - Must be met with or without a reasonable accommodation:

• Extended periods of time sitting at a desk and using office equipment.
• Ability to operate a personal computer/laptop for approximately 8 hours per day.
• Extended time is spent reviewing physical and electronic documents.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
• Periodically, may also do light lifting of supplies and materials which weighs in at approximately 20 lbs.
• Will spend most of time in an indoor environment.

Alerus Financial is an Equal Opportunity Employer of women, minorities, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.