Chief Operating Officer

Job Description:

Our client is a boutique wealth management firm located in Oakbrook Terrace, IL. This firm provides comprehensive financial planning and wealth management services to affluent and ultra-affluent families, corporate executives, professionals, and business owners. The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is the operational heartbeat of the firm, responsible for ensuring that the firm delivers a consistently exceptional, personalized, and compliant client experience. This leader oversees day-to-day operations, marketing activities, investment management oversight, client service workflows, technology platforms, and regulatory processes-while also acting as a strategic partner to the CEO in shaping the firm's growth. In a boutique environment, the COO is both a builder and an operator: someone who can design scalable systems while staying close to the details that matter.

Key Responsibilities

Client Service & Advisory Operations

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the financial advisory practice, including client onboarding, financial planning workflows, investment operations, and service delivery.
• Ensure advisors and client service teams follow consistent processes, planning methodologies, and fiduciary standards. Manage portfolio implementation activities such as trading, rebalancing, cash management, and model updates, often in a hands-on capacity.
• Build and refine operational frameworks that support consistent, repeatable, and high quality advisory engagements.
• Implement performance metrics, dashboards, and KPIs to monitor operational health and drive accountability.

Operations Management

• Oversee and meet with the marketing staff to ensure projects are on completed in a timely and organized manner.
• Oversee investment management by managing portfolio operations, trading, rebalancing, reporting, and custodial processes to support efficient investment execution and client service.

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure the firm meets all SEC, FINRA, and state regulatory requirements, with a strong emphasis on documentation and audit readiness.
• Oversee compliance functions, including ADV updates, client agreements, supervisory procedures, and risk controls.
• Maintain a culture of fiduciary responsibility and ethical decision-making across the firm.

Technology & Systems Management

• Lead the selection, integration, and optimization of the firm's technology stack (CRM, financial planning tools, portfolio management systems, reporting platforms).
• Ensure systems are efficient, integrated, and aligned with the firm's boutique service model.
• Drive digital improvements that enhance client experience without sacrificing personalization.

People Leadership & Culture

• Manage and develop a small but high-performing operations and client service team.
• Create clear roles, responsibilities, and development paths that support both firm growth and individual career progression.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and client-first thinking.

Strategic Planning & Firm Growth

• Partner with the CEO to translate the firm's strategic vision into operational plans and scalable processes.
• Support growth initiatives such as advisor hiring and new service offerings.
• Ensure operational capacity aligns with business development efforts and client demand.

Financial & Business Management

• Work with the CEO and CFO (or outsourced finance partner) to manage budgets, forecasting, and operational financial performance.
• Monitor key metrics such as AUM growth, client retention, advisor productivity, and operational efficiency.
• Support fee structure evaluation, pricing strategy, and profitability analysis.

Client Experience & Quality Assurance

• Ensure every client interaction reflects the firm's standards-personal, responsive, and high-value.
• Oversee client feedback processes, service quality reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support advisors in delivering personalized financial advice and maintaining strong client relationships.

Qualifications

• 8-12+ years of management experience in financial advisory, wealth management, RIA operations, or related financial services.
• Strong understanding of advisory workflows, financial planning processes, investment operations, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience in a boutique or entrepreneurial environment where adaptability and hands-on leadership are essential.
• Familiarity with advisory technology platforms (e.g., Orion, eMoney, Tamarac, Redtail, Black Diamond).
• Strong leadership, communication, and change-management skills.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with day-to-day operational execution.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Salary (commensurate with experience)
• Choice of PPO or HMO Health, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Profit Sharing, plus 401k match
• PTO policy
• NYSE holiday calendar (10 days) and the Friday after Thanksgiving.
• Four-day work week schedule during the summer
• Additional extra days off earned throughout the year.