Investment Operations Specialist

Northwestern Mutual•Milwaukee, WI

About The Position

At Northwestern Mutual, we believe relationships are built on trust. That our lives and our work matter. These beliefs launched our company over 160 years ago. Today, they're just a few of the reasons why people choose to build careers at Northwestern Mutual. We're strong and growing. In a company with such a long and storied history, this may be the most exciting and important time to be a part of Northwestern Mutual. We're strong, innovative and growing. We invest in our people. We provide opportunities for employees to grow themselves, their career and in turn, our business. We care. We make a positive difference in our communities. Nationally, thousands have benefitted from our support of research and programs to fight childhood cancer. Each year, our Foundation, employees and financial representatives donate time, talent and financial support to causes they're passionate about. What you will do: Work with the Northwestern Mutual front offices, Managed Investment business partners, brokers and traders supporting the timely and accurate execution of transactions related to investments managed by Mason Street Advisors and Northwestern Investment Management Company including settlement of trades, ongoing maintenance, and transactions such as principal, interest, cash flows, fees, and corporate actions. Investments managed include domestic fixed income, common stock, derivatives, foreign, and alternative investments. Responsible for data integrity, accounting, reporting, and compliance, respond to inquiries regarding investment holdings and trading activity. Maintain investment data, including reconciliations; assure timely investment position updating, critical attributive investment data, and accurate daily cash accounting. How you will do it: Ensure accurate and efficient execution of reoccurring transactions in most asset classes in PI, MSA, NMC and NMRE's public and private managed portfolios including domestic fixed income, common stock, foreign, private placements, real estate equity and mortgage loans. Work with front office to settle transactions. Collaborate with more senior staff members to solve more complex issues and may work with custodial bank representatives, brokers, traders and field offices. Respond to inquiries regarding investment holdings and activity. Maintain investment data on various systems, conducts reconciliations and work closely with Investment Accounting, Financial Management, Law and other related investment areas to resolve issues. Assure timely and accurate investment position, commitment updating and critical attributive investment data. Respond to and investigate cash receivable and payable exceptions. Resolve a wide variety of standard problems. Stay informed of industry changes and developments that affect processing procedures. May assist with testing, system enhancements, upgrades, new initiatives and other projects involving procedural and workflow changes and may make recommendations for process improvements. Assist with verification of critical management reports such as Finance Committee Summary of Holdings, ACLI, transactions, exposure and cash reporting. Ensure adherence to contractual terms and amendments through interpretation and analysis of basic legal documents.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in business with emphasis in finance, accounting, management, real estate or information systems or equivalent related experience.
1-3 years of related, investment operations experience preferred.
General knowledge of a variety of investment asset types.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Strong problem-solving skills and analytical ability.
Attention to Detail: Focuses on specific details to spot and correct errors in advance of them being found and surpass quality expectations. Performs work with thorough proofreading for presentation, content, accuracy, and overall quality
Customer Centricity: Applies a customer first mindset to design and continuously improve solutions, systems, processes, and services that support enterprise strategy, impact critical business outcomes, and drive organizational success
Customer Service Mindset: Anticipates customer needs and applies understanding of customer needs or perspectives to solve problems and drive outcomes as the basis for decision making. Leverages knowledge of trends affecting customer to help them make informed decisions.
Customer Support: Captures customer information for inquiry and analysis in an organized, clear, and consistent manner; leverages knowledge of trends affecting customer to help them make informed decisions and communicates with the customer and the field. Uses customer intelligence to solve problems, demonstrate patience and understanding, ensure customer satisfaction by knowing the customer and audience and resolve customer complaints efficiently.
Process Improvement: Assesses the current processes and impact to analyze, design, and manage potential improvement areas for more efficient, effective workflow.

Responsibilities

Work with the Northwestern Mutual front offices, Managed Investment business partners, brokers and traders supporting the timely and accurate execution of transactions related to investments managed by Mason Street Advisors and Northwestern Investment Management Company including settlement of trades, ongoing maintenance, and transactions such as principal, interest, cash flows, fees, and corporate actions.
Responsible for data integrity, accounting, reporting, and compliance, respond to inquiries regarding investment holdings and trading activity.
Maintain investment data, including reconciliations; assure timely investment position updating, critical attributive investment data, and accurate daily cash accounting.
Ensure accurate and efficient execution of reoccurring transactions in most asset classes in PI, MSA, NMC and NMRE's public and private managed portfolios including domestic fixed income, common stock, foreign, private placements, real estate equity and mortgage loans.
Work with front office to settle transactions.
Collaborate with more senior staff members to solve more complex issues and may work with custodial bank representatives, brokers, traders and field offices.
Respond to inquiries regarding investment holdings and activity.
Maintain investment data on various systems, conducts reconciliations and work closely with Investment Accounting, Financial Management, Law and other related investment areas to resolve issues.
Assure timely and accurate investment position, commitment updating and critical attributive investment data.
Respond to and investigate cash receivable and payable exceptions.
Resolve a wide variety of standard problems.
Stay informed of industry changes and developments that affect processing procedures.
May assist with testing, system enhancements, upgrades, new initiatives and other projects involving procedural and workflow changes and may make recommendations for process improvements.
Assist with verification of critical management reports such as Finance Committee Summary of Holdings, ACLI, transactions, exposure and cash reporting.
Ensure adherence to contractual terms and amendments through interpretation and analysis of basic legal documents.