Senior Trust Manager

Job Summary

The Senior Trust Manager is responsible for working for the Trust Leader and managing the day-to-day administration of Trust Officers and Senior Trust Officers. This person’s focus will be directed towards ensuring the adequacy of support for trust accounts, providing exceptional client service, and overseeing the operational infrastructure. The person will work closely with Consultants, Servicing Advisors, Writing Advisors and other key client support partners.

Supervisory Responsibilities
• Provide guidance regarding client service and sales support to Trust Officer, Business Development Officer, Other Forge team members, including actively participating in pre-call planning as needed;
• Coordinate Trust Officers fiduciary and administrative services for approximately 70 - 100 client relationships;
• Demonstrate sound decision-making skills, including balancing business risk with client interests;
• Provide team members with timely, candid and constructive performance feedback;
• Develop employees to their fullest potential by providing opportunities that challenge and enhance career growth;
• Develop an appropriate talent pool to ensure adequate bench strength and succession planning;
• Recognize and reward employees for accomplishments;
• Ensure annual administrative account reviews are completed;
• Ensure all internal compliance and proper documentation requirements are met, consistent with internal fiduciary policies and procedures regarding new business and asset acceptances, discretionary actions, and all other policies and procedures;
• Work closely with Trust Tax Accountants to ensure proper tax reporting;

Essential Functions
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

CLIENT SERVICE

Ensure Trust Officers:

• Serve as the clients' trusted advisor by developing a close, personal relationship with the clients and their families, anticipating clients' service needs;
• Administer trusts, often with discretionary income and principal payments distributed to appropriate parties while managing financial risk;
• Execute the terms of any documents in which Advocacy Trust serves as Trustee, Executor, Personal Representative, Guardian or Agent for Fiduciary, often exercising broad discretion for beneficiaries with competing interests;
• Actively participate with Consultants, Servicing Advisors or Writing Advisors to develop, interpret, communicate and facilitate complex planning matters as part of the advice-based solutions presented to the clients;
• Provide training for team members on various client service and organize and allocate projects within the team and manage deadline expectations.
• Support Trust Officers in their roles as the primary fiduciary contact and resolving any client related issues;
• Challenge and collaborate with client to articulate their goals, as needed;
• Collaborate with the client's advisors, including attorneys and accountants, to develop and implement a comprehensive financial plan, as needed.

OTHER

• Pursue company’s annual goals and core competencies through personal actions and exert leadership influence to promote high performing teammates;
• Demonstrate sound complex decision-making skills, including balancing business risk with client interests;
• Recommend enhancements to policies and procedures as deemed appropriate;
• Maintain knowledge of current trends and changes in the industry with regard to fiduciary matters (e.g. probate, estate, gift and income tax planning, guardianships, special needs trusts, state-specific laws, etc.);
• Continue to develop subject matter expertise in a fiduciary-related area;
• Attend community and/or industry-specific forums, conferences and/or meetings in order to broaden relationships, network and continually deepen knowledge of trends, practices, products and competitors;
• Participate actively in community affairs and professional associations.

Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• College Degree in related field or equivalent work experience*
• Minimum of 10 years of demonstrated fiduciary client service success required;
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge and mastered skills in the areas of trust administration, special needs, estate planning, gift, and tax matters;
• Operate effectively in an environment that stresses both individual accountability and team-based performance
• Exhibit strong interpersonal communication skills;
• Strong attention to detail and excellent organizational skills
• Collaborative attitude and ability to lead others
• Demonstrate superior interpersonal negotiation, verbal and written communication and presentation skills;
• Use effective leadership, problem solving and analytical skills;
• Provide professional presence within professional and community organizations;
• Computer/Technical: Ability to use all Microsoft Office software including: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Access
• Experience with SunGard Advantage or Fidelity IWS platforms are a plus
• Excellent communication skills to confer with a beneficiary, client and attorneys;
• Focused on creating a great customer service experience;
• Strong leadership skills including maintaining good communication, both verbal and written;
• Significant knowledge of finance, legal, tax, investment and compliance aspects of fiduciary administration;
• Comfortable with operating multiple computer applications;
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail;
• Excellent analytical and logical thinking ability;
• Ability to interpret the needs of the client;
• Takes the initiative and adapts easily to a constantly changing environment;
• Ability to relay complex information understandably;
• Positive attitude and willingness to act by utilizing strong team player skills;
• Comfortable serving in an advisory capacity to clients and families;
• Values the establishment and nurturing of long term client relationships;

Physical Requirements
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.

Travel Requirements
• Less than 5% of the time, but occasional travel is necessary.

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