Director of Operations

Director of Operations

Sound Income Strategies (SIS) is a Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) dedicated to helping independent financial advisors and their clients pursue long-term financial success through disciplined income-focused investment strategies. As part of the Sound Income Group family of companies, SIS provides investment management, portfolio solutions, operational support, and practice resources that empower advisors to better serve clients approaching or in retirement.

We foster a collaborative, performance-driven culture rooted in integrity, accountability, innovation, and exceptional client service. If you're passionate about operational excellence and enjoy solving complex business challenges in the wealth management industry, we'd love to hear from you.

We're seeking an experienced Director of Operations to lead operational strategy and execution for our Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) business. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, this highly visible leadership role serves as the COO's trusted operational partner while overseeing the Operations team.

This role combines executive partnership, operational leadership, billing oversight, data analytics, and technology ownership to ensure our operations remain accurate, scalable, and advisor-focused. The Director of Operations will lead strategic initiatives, improve operational workflows, oversee critical business processes, and serve as the business-side subject matter expert for our RIA technology platforms.

This is not an IT role. Rather, we're seeking a wealth management operations leader who understands how technology enables the business and can drive operational excellence through process improvement, data-driven decision-making, and platform optimization.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Operations Leadership

• Serve as the primary operational partner and trusted advisor to the Chief Operating Officer on strategic initiatives, operational planning, and business growth.
• Lead, coach, and develop the Operations Manager and Operations team, while fostering accountability and a high-performance culture.
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, team meetings, coaching sessions, and performance discussions to support employee development.
• Act as the senior escalation point for operational issues involving advisors, clients, custodians, and internal business partners.
• Support advisor offices by educating teams on operational processes, service standards, and best practices.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to improve operational efficiency, scalability, and advisor experience.

Operations, Billing & Operational Controls

• Oversee daily operational activities, including account servicing, billing oversight, exception management, and issue resolution.
• Serve as the operational owner of the firm's fee billing process, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of recurring monthly and ad hoc billing engagements.
• Lead billing audits and review client-specific compensation reports prior to final processing.
• Partner with the firm's billing processor to establish quality control procedures and maintain billing accuracy.
• Develop and strengthen operational controls that reduce risk while improving consistency and efficiency.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual workflows, improve operational processes, and create greater organizational leverage.
• Partner with Compliance, Finance, Legal, Risk, and executive leadership to support audits, regulatory reviews, and operational initiatives.

RIA Technology & Business Optimization

• Serve as the business Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Orion, Black Diamond, and internal front-office and back-office platforms.
• Lead operational ownership of strategic technology initiatives, including future enterprise projects and additional business solutions.
• Translate business requirements into scalable operational workflows, system enhancements, and process improvements.
• Partner with internal technology teams and third-party vendors to optimize operational platforms and advisor support tools.
• Evaluate new operational technologies that improve scalability, advisor experience, and business performance.

Data Analytics & Reporting

• Analyze large operational datasets using advanced Microsoft Excel and SQL to identify trends, reconcile information, and support executive decision-making.
• Develop operational reports, dashboards, and meaningful KPIs for executive leadership.
• Ensure data integrity across operational systems while identifying opportunities for automation and improved reporting.
• Utilize data-driven insights to improve operational performance, billing accuracy, and overall business efficiency.

Must-Have Qualifications

Background and Experience

• 8-10+ years of progressive experience leading business operations, operational excellence, or business process management within a complex, highly regulated environment.
• Proven experience leading and developing cross-functional operations teams while driving accountability, performance, and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated success partnering with executive leadership to execute strategic initiatives and solve complex operational challenges.
• Experience overseeing operational processes involving billing, financial controls, quality assurance, audit functions, or transaction-based operations.
• Proven ability to analyze business processes, identify operational inefficiencies, and implement scalable solutions that improve accuracy and efficiency.
• Experience leading enterprise projects, operational system implementations, or technology-driven process improvements.
• Strong analytical mindset with exceptional problem-solving, organizational, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to influence stakeholders across all levels of an organization.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Information Systems, Operations Management, or a related field preferred; equivalent professional experience will also be considered.

Preferred Experience

• Experience within Wealth Management, Registered Investment Advisory (RIA), Financial Services, Banking, FinTech, Insurance, or another highly regulated industry.

Technology Expertise

• Strong MS Excel and/or SQL skills to prepare, analyze, and properly present large data sets.
• Hands-on experience with Orion, Black Diamond, or similar RIA portfolio management platforms preferred but not required.
• Experience supporting front-office and back-office operational systems and teams.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to work for extended periods at a desk using a computer.
• Ability to lift 10 pounds if/when necessary.
• Routine use of telephone and email.

Benefits

We're proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package that supports your professional and personal well-being, including:

• 100% employer-covered medical benefits and HRA account
• Dental & vision plans
• PTO + 10 NYSE company holidays per year
• 401K with company match program
• Free onsite parking
• Company-provided laptop and required technology
• Access to an on-site gym (free of charge)

Sound Income Group is an equal opportunity employer that complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations. It is our policy to employ and promote qualified candidates without discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, age, origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Our hiring decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications and business needs.