Investment Operations Specialist

 About the Job:

Northwestern Mutual’s Investment Operations team supports the management of the company’s institutional investments. Team members assist in operational tasks related to those assets, with a focus on accuracy, efficiency, and risk management.  

What You'll Do:

• Assist in monitoring investment portfolios by reconciling cash positions, investment holdings, and critical data attributes to ensure accuracy and timeliness. 

• Respond to internal and external inquiries regarding investment holdings, activities, and portfolio details. 

• Help prepare internal reports and external regulatory filings using tools like PowerBI, Snowflake, and Microsoft Excel. 

• Participate in process modernization efforts, incorporating digital tools, automation, and AI-driven analytics to streamline workflows and enhance data governance. 

• Collaborate with teams across Finance and Risk and Institutional Investments to ensure seamless operations and alignment with company objectives. 

• Assist in risk management activities, including conducting basic risk assessments and ensuring adherence to risk policies and regulatory standards. 

• Support enterprise risk management efforts by identifying potential operational risks in investment activities and contributing to resiliency planning. 

• Assist in data governance activities, including ensuring data quality, implementing governance policies and standards, and supporting data stewardship. 

• Ensure accurate, efficient, and timely execution of operational activities across asset classes and managed accounts of reoccurring transactions in public, private, and/or real estate asset classes 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 senior staff members to solve more complex issues and work with custodial bank representatives, brokers, traders, and field offices. 

• Maintain investment data on various systems, conduct reconciliations, and work closely with Investment Accounting, Financial Management, Law and other related investment areas to resolve issues. 

• Respond to and investigate cash receivable and payable exceptions. Resolve a wide variety of standard problems. 

• Stay informed of industry and regulatory changes and developments that affect processing procedures. 

• Assist with testing, system enhancements, upgrades, new initiatives and other projects involving procedural and workflow changes and may make recommendations for process improvements.  

• Ensure adherence to contractual terms and amendments through interpretation and analysis of basic legal documents. 

What You'll Bring to the Role:

• Adaptability and a growth mindset 

• Skills in data literacy 

• Basic experience in data visualization or automation software 

• Attention to detail 

• Ability to handle data intensive tasks in a fast-paced setting 

• 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. 

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