The Sr. Associate at Northwood Family Office will serve as a key member of a specialized team acting as the trusted advisor for a select group of ultra-high-net-worth clients. This individual will work directly with clients providing expert guidance on complex financial matters, with a primary focus on holistic wealth planning, investments, tax strategy, and special projects.
The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in client management, technical skills related to wealth management and demonstrate alignment with Northwood's core values.
The Sr. Associate role is primarily responsible for:
- Assisting in the management of a select group of ultra-high-net-worth clients, often taking ownership of significant aspects of the client relationship.
- Contributing to complex planning initiatives, with a primary emphasis on financial planning, tax strategy, and investments, ensuring proactive management of client needs.
- Coordinating and cultivating relationships with external advisors, including tax professionals, investment advisors, legal counsel, bankers, and insurance providers.
- Contributing to the development and implementation of tailored wealth strategies aligned with each client's goals, with a focus on long-term planning and wealth preservation.
- Keeping up with developments in the financial markets and in client portfolios to effectively communicate benchmark and portfolio performance to clients.
- Managing ongoing financial reporting requirements, delivering customized reports and insights that reflect the unique requirements of each client.
- Coordinating accounting and tax compliance processes, working closely with external bookkeepers and accountants to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
- Advancing the firm's expertise in technical disciplines such as tax planning, investments, and estate planning, by staying current on industry developments, sharing insights through presentations, and providing internal education and cross-team support when needed.
Skills and Experience
The successful candidate will possess the following skills and experience:
- CPA or CFA designation with 3+ years of post-accreditation experience.
- Knowledge and experience in the areas of investment management and tax (personal, trust, and corporate), with in-depth technical expertise in one of the two disciplines.
- Exceptional client relationship management skills, with high emotional intelligence (EQ) and the ability to build trust.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex financial concepts clearly and confidently
- Proven ability to lead complex planning engagements, work collaboratively with external professionals, and guide clients towards well-informed decisions.
- Strong project management skills, organization, and attention to detail.
- Advanced analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a proactive approach to identify and resolve client issues.
- Self-starter with a high level of initiative, capable of working independently while contributing to team success (including mentorship of other staff).
- Commitment to continuous learning, with a desire to develop expertise as a well-rounded generalist across several disciplines.
- Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite.