Operations Specialist

ABOUT HUNTER ASSOCIATES

Hunter Associates is a Pittsburgh-based wealth management firm that has been serving clients since 1992. We are both a registered broker-dealer and an SEC-registered investment adviser, and we use Pershing and Schwab as our clearing and custodial partners. We have offices in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Operations Specialist keeps client accounts opening, moving, and running correctly across our Pershing and Schwab platforms. You will be a dedicated operational resource for advisors and client service staff. You will work alongside teammates who partner daily with our custodial service teams. You will also work closely with a counterpart on the Compliance team so that operational work and compliance oversight stay in step. This role is for someone who knows hybrid operations well, catches problems before they reach the client, and enjoys improving how work gets done.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Account Onboarding and Maintenance

• Support new account onboarding with Pershing NetX360 and Schwab Advisor Center, reviewing all paperwork for completeness and accuracy before submission.
• Support account changes, including registration updates, beneficiary and transfer-on-death designations, address changes, and trust, estate, and entity account setups.
• Track open items through completion. Resolve rejected or not-in-good-order paperwork quickly and keep advisors and client service updated on status.
• As part of the operations team, work directly with Pershing and Schwab service teams to research and resolve account and transfer issues.

Money Movement

• Process wires, ACH transfers, checks, journals, and systematic distributions on both platforms.
• Verify every request under firm procedures, including signature review, verbal callback verification, and screening for fraud red flags.
• Set up, maintain, and track standing letters of authorization (SLOAs), and support regulatory and internal exams alongside Compliance.
• Process retirement account activity, including required minimum distributions, contributions, and distributions with correct tax withholding elections.
• Partner with your Compliance counterpart to escalate and resolve suspected fraud, unusual activity, and concerns about vulnerable or senior clients.

Operational Controls and Process Improvement

• Review daily exception reports from Pershing and Schwab, and resolve items such as pending transfers,
• returned items, and cash debits.
• Write and maintain clear, step-by-step procedures for core operations tasks. Coordinate with Compliance to keep them aligned with the firm's supervisory and compliance manuals.
• Support internal reviews, audits, and regulatory exams by pulling records and working with Compliance on
• requests.
• Identify recurring issues and bottlenecks, develop recommendations with the people who perform and
• oversee the work, and help test and roll out new tools and workflow automation.
• Serve as a resource for advisor teams on paperwork standards and platform procedures and help client
• requests move forward accurately.

WHAT YOU BRING

• 3 to 5 years of operations experience at a broker-dealer, RIA, hybrid firm, or custodian.
• Hands-on experience with Pershing NetX360 and Schwab Advisor Center. Experience with both is strongly preferred.
• Solid knowledge of account types, including individual, joint, IRA, trust, estate, and entity accounts, and the documentation each requires.
• Working knowledge of the FINRA and SEC rules that affect daily operations, including customer account records, books and records, custody, and client privacy.
• SIE and Series 99 required, or the ability to obtain them within 90 days of hire. Series 7 and 63 are a plus.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Strong attention to detail, sound judgment about when to escalate, and clear written and verbal communication.
• Comfort working collaboratively across Operations and Compliance.
• Advanced software skills and a willingness to learn and adapt quickly as the firm adopts new systems and tools.