Investment Operations Lead

Job Description

Job Description

Investment Operations Lead

McGill Junge Wealth Management, a rapidly growing comprehensive wealth management team located in Central Iowa, is looking to hire a Investment Operations Lead to its wealth management team. This individual will play a key role in ensuring accurate trade execution, portfolio maintenance, investment audits, alternatives administration, and efficient investment workflows that support excellent client outcomes.

Role Profile:

The Investment Operations Lead role is responsible for the coordinating day‑to‑day operational priorities, maintaining execution quality standards, enforcing workflow discipline, and escalating issues appropriately to Investment Leadership.  This role serves as the primary operational point of coordination within Investment Operations and plays a key role in ensuring execution accuracy, efficiency, and consistency across all investment processes.

This role owns core execution responsibilities across trading, portfolio management, account administration, alternatives processing, and investment workflows, with an emphasis on precision, compliance, efficiency, and scalability.

Operational Coordination & Prioritization

• Coordinate daily and weekly operational workload across investment operations activities
• Prioritize tasks based on investment timelines, client needs, and risk considerations
• Communicate capacity constraints, sequencing considerations, and dependencies to Investment Strategy and Investment Leadership
• Ensure high‑priority and time‑sensitive tasks are executed accurately and on schedule

Trading Execution & Compliance

• Own accurate and timely execution of all trades across client portfolios
• Execute trades in alignment with firm standards, model recommendations, client objectives, and regulatory requirements
• Ensure adherence to compliance controls, trading restrictions, and internal policies
• Review portfolio activity for accuracy and completeness and identify potential execution risks or exceptions for escalation

Issue Identification & Escalation

• Identify execution errors, exceptions, or process breakdowns and take appropriate corrective action
• Escalate material issues, risks, or capacity constraints to Investment Strategy or Investment Leadership in a timely manner
• Document recurring issues and partner with leadership to prevent future occurrences
• Exercise sound judgment in determining when issues require leadership awareness versus operational resolution

Daily Portfolio Management & Cash Positioning

• Own daily portfolio management activities, including cash positioning and liquidity management
• Monitor accounts to ensure sufficient cash for planned trades, distributions, and fees
• Perform routine portfolio adjustments and operational maintenance to support strategy alignment and client service quality

• Perform cashiering functions and process cash withdrawals

• Partner with Investment Strategy and Advisors to maintain accurate portfolio implementation

Alternatives Administration & Compliance

• Own the processing, administration, and tracking of alternative investment paperwork and documentation
• Ensure alternatives investments are processed accurately and in compliance with firm policies and regulatory requirements
• Coordinate with Advisors, custodians, and clients to ensure a seamless alternatives investment experience
• Maintain accurate records and documentation for all alternative investment activity

Account Administration

• Reviews and monitors progress on paperwork for investment/advisory accounts alongside planning team associates/advisors
• Monitor, process, and follow up on asset transfers and initial and subsequent funding of advisory accounts
• Process proposal amendments, monitor alerts, and complete annual reviews in Envestnet

Workflow Design, Optimization & Process Documentation

• Own and enforce the consistent execution of investment operations workflows including creation, documentation, and continuous refinement of investment operations processes
• Promote workflow discipline and consistency across all investment operations activities
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, consistency, clarity, compliance, and scalability across investment processes
• Maintain current and accessible process documentation to support training, continuity, and operational excellence
• Partner with Investment Leadership to implement process improvements and best practices

Technology & System Management

• Ensure investment technology platforms and are accurate, optimized, and effectively integrated
• Monitor data integrity and system outputs to support trading, reporting, and portfolio management accuracy
• Identify, escalate, and assist in resolving system issues, inefficiencies, or enhancement opportunities
• Drive testing and implementation of platform updates or new tools as needed

Presentation & Advisor Support

• Prepare investment‑related data, reports, and documentation for advisory review meetings as needed
• Support Advisors and Investment Strategy with portfolio, performance, and operational reporting as needed

Qualifications:

• 3-5+ yrs experience in Financial Services or Investment Operations
• Bachelors degree with major in finance, economics, accounting, financial planning or related field required
• FINRA Series 6 or 7 and series 63 license (required or obtainable within 6 months on the job).
• Iowa Life and Health Insurance License (preferred or obtainable within 6 months on the job).

• Progress toward professional designation a plus but not required:
  • CFA, CAIA, CFP, CPWA, CPA, JD, MBA, or CIMA

• Completion of Northwestern Mutual Signature advisory training.
• Experience with Envestnet and custodial investment platforms strongly preferred

• Proven experience executing and reviewing trades, cash movements, portfolio maintenance, and account administration with a high degree of accuracy
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership, exercise sound judgment, and provide operational leadership without formal authority
• Strong judgment in identifying execution issues, determining appropriate resolution paths, and escalating material risks or exceptions

Key Characteristics:

• High integrity and strong attention to detail
• Process‑oriented with disciplined execution mindset
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills
• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities in a fast‑paced environment
• Commitment to accuracy, compliance, and continuous improvement
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Maintains confidentiality and professionalism at all