Director of Back Office Operations

Nearly 23 years ago, 23-year-old Matthew Dicken grew frustrated with the issues plaguing the financial services industry and set out on a mission to change the industry standard and prioritize clients in retirement planning. What started as a small two-person team in a 1,200 sq. ft. office in Louisville, KY, has evolved into the Strategic Wealth Designers we now know, with 18 locations across the U.S. and almost 100 employees. As we continue to grow, we're looking for passionate individuals to help take us to even greater heights.

Strategic Wealth Designers (SWD) is a full-service financial firm specializing in assisting clients in or near retirement. Our team is comprised of advisors, marketers and client relations specialists who thrive on success and are rewarded for hard work. SWD is a close-knit company looking for the right person to complement our team. The ideal candidate for this role will be someone who has the desire to work in the financial industry long-term and contribute to the growth of our business by exceeding expectations and developing a strong working relationship with our clients. The Director of Back Office Operations we choose will embody our core values and will lead their team to these values as well. They will be selfless, tenaciously driven, coachable, compassionately honest and they will take absolute ownership.

Job Description:

The Director of Back Office Operations will oversee our Client Onboarding and Client Reporting teams and provide leadership, direction and guidance while working to ensure an elite experience behind the scenes for the clients of Strategic Wealth Designers. This individual will lead efforts to enhance the overall back-office operations both as a new client joining the firm and in our client’s existing relationship. They will develop and execute strategic plans to deliver exceptional operational support, a seamless onboarding process and long-term client satisfaction and retention. They will collaborate with other leaders within the firm as well as our financial advisor and support teams to ensure an unmatched experience in every aspect of the business.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance or a related field
• 5 years of intensive financial services experience within operations, client services, client relations or financial planning
• 3 years in a leadership or management role within the financial services industry
• Experience with Salesforce CRM web-based software
• Experience with various custodial relationships (preferably Charles Schwab and/or Fidelity)
• Strong problem-solving abilities and ability to find creative solutions to improve operations
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Highly intelligent, strong organizational skills and attention to detail with a strong understanding of client services
• Proactive mentality, positive attitude and consistent follow-through

Responsibilities/Tasks:

The Director of Back Office Operations will serve as the leadership and direction for our Client Onboarding and Client Reporting teams, focusing on ensuring an exceptional operational experience from day 1 onward for our clients. They will work closely with various departments within the firm to identify opportunities for process improvement, ensure operational compliance and lead our client processing teams to service excellence. They will be expected to follow through consistently in all efforts. Other daily, weekly, and/or monthly tasks may include:

• Oversee and optimize back-office investment functions, including behind the scenes client servicing needs such as RMDs, beneficiary updates, TOVs, etc. and ensure compliance with regulations
• Identify, develop and implement service protocols to address all investment-related operational needs
• Review and analyze feedback and utilize insights to support process improvement
• Identify opportunities to further develop and refine the Client Onboarding experience to improve processing times and create a more streamlined process for clients and team members.
• Lead, mentor and manage the Client Onboarding and Client Reporting teams and ensure accountability in all actions.
• Identify, create and hold the team accountable to key performance indicators that align with the success of the business and our clients.
• Provide feedback, coaching and professional development to team members and hold employees to high standards.
• Collaborate with cross-functional departments to ensure strategies are aligned with business and client needs.
• Identify areas for process improvements within Client Onboarding and Client Reporting to streamline workflows, reduce inefficiencies and improve overall effectiveness.
• Develop training materials and procedures to ensure operational consistency and knowledge across the team
• Collaborate with senior leadership to set strategic goals for Client Onboarding and Client Reporting to ensure all efforts are aligned with the overall objectives of the firm.

Location: 3711 South Mopac Expressway, Austin, TX 78746

Commitment: 40 hours per week, 8am-5pm & scheduled client/company events as necessary

Compensation: Starting salary range is $90,000-120,000. Comprehensive benefits package included.