Intermediary Support Analyst

Business Unit:Global Operations
Salary Range:$70,000 USD - $80,000 USD

Specific compensation will be based on candidate’s experience, skills, qualifications, commercial considerations, and other job-related factors permitted by law. At Russell Investments, salary is just one part of our compensation package. Our total rewards approach includes an annual performance bonus (subject to eligibility criteria) in addition to participation in our competitive benefits programs including healthcare, retirement, vacation, and wellbeing programs.

Job Description:

The Intermediary Support Team ("IS") operates in a business model where service to Russell Investments’ clients is highly dependent on services provided by service providers and partners. Within the Transfer Agent (“TA”), most functions are either completely outsourced or primarily outsourced with Russell Investments team members providing service provider management and process oversight as fundamental requirements for the business. This candidate will be responsible for helping provide process management oversight and operational review of service providers providing mutual fund operational support and services. Additionally, this position coordinates with senior team members to help create, facilitate and maintain effective relationships with the operational back offices of Russell Investments’ platform and distribution partners. This team member will work in conjunction with internal Russell Investments departments such as US Advisory and Intermediary Solutions (“AIS”), Intermediary Governance, Sales Data Operations, Fund Administration, and other operational departments to facilitate, resolve and maintain Russell Investments business decisions and their functions. 

Position Responsibilities:

• Provide oversight and review for intermediary support processes including items referred by transfer agent service providers for exception processing. Ensure that work items are completed in a timely, accurate and complete manner with complete documentation of actions taken and instructions provided to the service provider partner.
• Support day-to-day operational activities associated with Russell Investments’ existing platforms and distribution partners. In addition, partner with new platforms and distribution partners to ensure successful integration into the Russell Investments’ trading environment. Maintain complete and accurate records of such interactions and maintain and keep current the team’s information about each partner’s operational environment and contacts.
• Provide extensive communications within AIS and with external back offices to ensure operational needs are promptly and effectively met. In addition, ensure that the proper level of documentation exists to support operational needs.
• Act as a client advocate to ensure that operational and client service needs are met for those intermediaries that leverage strategic platforms such as Fidelity, Schwab, Pershing, and Wells Fargo. In addition, engage in opportunities to further advocate for Russell Investments within other platform and distribution partner relationships.
• Participate on cross-functional project teams as an intermediary support representative and take beginning to end responsibility for the assigned portion of the project as determined by the project team lead and/or management. Project responsibilities will be completed on time and impact to other responsibilities will be minimized.
• Act as liaison between key intermediary partners and Russell Investments internal teams, this often will require leading calls as well as nuanced escalation responsibilities.
• Maintain and update current procedures, as well as design and draft new procedures relating to operational processes. Provide process and/or technical improvement insights in area of operational expertise to improve operating efficiencies, with a primary focus on providing scale to the business and quality processing for distributors and the funds.
• Other duties as assigned including but not limited to: Working with our sub-Transfer Agent SS&C GIDS to problem solve Intermediary transaction issues, as well as monitoring and providing support for the daily work of our service providers and in the best interest of Russell Investments and our Intermediaries.

The successful candidate will have the following demonstrable skills and experiences:

• 2+ years experience in back-office or intermediary support within the financial services industry preferred
• Bachelors degree in Finance, Business Administration or related preferred
• Computer skills – proficiency with all Microsoft Office programs, especially Excel, as well as proven ability to learn and operate new job specific computer systems. Communication skills - both verbal and written with the demonstrated ability to lead through influence.
• Project execution experience, as a team member within a multi-disciplined team preferred
• Demonstrated ability to meet operational process deadlines within a small, high-paced team with multiple responsibilities.
• Analytical skills utilized for process management and process improvement.
• Experience in documenting and testing procedures in an operational environment within the financial services industry.
• Ability to thrive in a team environment, where some team members are remote workers, or are working for our service provider partners.
• Excellent listening, written, and verbal communication skills with ability to influence and lead others.
• Proven ability to create and follow procedures, document issues, provide a clear audit trail, and reconstruct issues from documentation at a later time.
• Ability to field routine and repetitive operational questions and deliver consistent results as well as demonstrate the ability to problem solve, troubleshoot, analyze, and find a solution to non-routine or complex questions. 

Equal Employment Opportunity 

Russell Investments is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all associates and employment applicants regardless of race, religion, ancestry, creed, color, gender (including gender identity which refers to a person's actual or perceived sex, and includes self-image, appearance, behavior or expression, whether or not different from that traditionally associated with a person's biological sex), age, national origin, citizenship status, disability, medical condition, military status, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, past or present unemployment status , or any other characteristic protected by law.