Family Office Director

About Bridges Trust

Bridges Trust is a privately-owned trust and wealth management firm providing comprehensive trust, wealth management, family office, and strategic planning services for a growing client base of successful individuals and families, endowments and foundations, business owners, and corporations. Our experienced team of professionals in investments, trusts, and philanthropy are dedicated to helping our clients develop and implement innovative and effective strategies to preserve and maximize their wealth across generations.

Bridges Trust is built on the tenacity and ethic of our team members. We are united in our commitment to deliver expertise and unparalleled service and look forward to adding team members who align with our values of trust, service, excellence, and performance.

About the role

The Family Office Director is a new position added in response to the continued growth of our Family Office team and client base. The position has general oversight of a client portfolio and is accountable as part of a team for supporting the development of new and existing client relationships, the strategic management of the relationship and delivery of tax and accounting expertise. The role actively manages clients' financial needs and the coordinated delivery of services internally and with external advisors to individuals, families, trusts, and foundations. The Family Office Director will work closely as part of a team comprised of investment management, trust, accounting and philanthropy experts to proactively meet the needs of the clients.

What you'll do

• Serve as a primary team member for a portfolio of clients assuming primary responsibility for strategic management of the relationship, client satisfaction of day to day financial transactions, accounting services, financial reporting, wealth transfer planning, income and estate tax planning, and such other tactical items as identified by collaborating with the service team and appropriate Bridges Trust resources to ensure timely delivery of proactive, high impact advice, issue identification and resolution, and effective communication and collaboration to identify solution for the clients' needs.
• Apply expertise and think creatively to address unique and ambiguous situations and to find solutions to complex and non-routine problems.
• Works with clients and their professional advisors to develop a thorough understanding of the client's needs and goals including specific items related to estate planning, income tax planning and preparation, insurance, tax payments and financial reporting.
• Support current and future generations with formal and ongoing education in stewardship, financial literacy, tax and estate planning, and philanthropy.
• Cultivates relationships with referral sources and centers of influence to build the business; identifies and develops new business opportunities and collaborates with team members to meet the needs of the clients and prospects.
• Develop a framework and operational structure which supports a multi-generational family enterprise. Clarify decision making processes, roles of trustees and other fiduciaries, and communication protocols.
• Planning family meeting agendas, coordinating with trust advisors and internal team members and hosting family meetings.
• Gathering, analyzing and documenting client's and prospective client's financial information in coordination with internal team members.
• Provide strategic direction to internal team members to develop and maintain financial, tax and estate planning reporting to meet the clients' goals.
• Draft proposals, presentations, reference material, financial plans and other documents as required.
• Engage in various continuing education opportunities to expand personal knowledge as well as represent the firm in the professional community.
• Represent Bridges Trust in business related and professional activities in order to develop, manage and retain client relationships.

Qualifications

Education & Experience:

Bachelor's degree required; finance or accounting preferred

• Graduate degree (MBA/JD) and/or relevant professional certification (CFA/CFP/CPA) preferred. At least 5 years of tax, legal, finance, accounting, financial services or wealth management experience.
• Experience working with ultra-high net worth clients.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of fiduciary and financial products and services, usually acquired through related work experience, is required to manage client accounts.
• Technical knowledge of investments, tax, legal, and operations usually acquired through formal education or related experience is required to service clients.
• Skills in negotiating, problem solving, delegating, leadership, and sales are necessary to service the client relationship.
• Analytical & independent problem-solving skills.
• Written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated leadership and teamwork qualities.
• A successful candidate must be results driven, detailed oriented and a motivated self-starter.
• Organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Intermediate knowledge of investment management, financial reporting, trust administration and fiduciary services.