Specialist, Transformation

About Northern Trust

As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions.

Since 1889, we have aligned our efforts with our three guiding Principles That Endure: Service, Expertise, and Integrity. Together, they reflect the three cornerstones of business conduct which we strive to instill in our employees, whom we call partners, and to provide to our clients and the communities we serve worldwide.

With more than 135 years of financial experience and over 24,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

About the Role

This role provides the opportunity to lead significant components of a high-profile global transformation of investor onboarding, shaping future processes, controls, data, technology and operating models across regions and platforms.

The Specialist will apply deep transformation and business expertise to lead complex workstreams, solve challenging problems and translate strategy into delivery. The role will work across operations, technology, product, risk and control partners to improve service delivery, strengthen controls and support implementation of the global target operating model.

Why Apply

The role offers direct exposure to senior forums, cross-regional delivery and strategic decision-making, with accountability for complex transformation outcomes and the opportunity to influence priorities, implementation approaches and adoption.

It provides the chance to make a visible contribution to better client outcomes, stronger controls and more consistent ways of working across a core global capability. This is an opportunity to lead meaningful components of a global transformation, influence strategic decisions and support delivery of a more consistent, controlled and scalable investor onboarding model.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be an experienced transformation professional with strong judgement, analytical capability and the confidence to lead complex work across multiple stakeholders. They will take ownership, manage ambiguity, challenge constructively and convert complex issues into practical recommendations and executable plans. They will build strategic relationships, influence decisions and provide work leadership without formal supervisory responsibility.

Key Responsibilities

Transformation Strategy & Workstream Leadership

• Lead multiple complex transformation processes, programmes or workstreams aligned to global investor onboarding priorities and business objectives.

• Shape implementation approaches and translate transformation strategy into clear plans, decisions, milestones and measurable outcomes.

• Lead significant components of target operating model design and implementation, including process, control, data, technology and organisational change considerations.

• Coordinate activities, dependencies, risks and resources across stakeholders to deliver agreed outcomes on time and within scope.

• Apply knowledge of business drivers and departmental priorities to recommend improvements to performance, service delivery, operational effectiveness and transformation progress.

Analysis, Problem Solving & Solution Delivery

• Assess complex or less-defined issues, evaluate multiple business, operational, data, control and regulatory considerations, and identify innovative, practical solutions.

• Lead and support current-state assessment, gap analysis, solution evaluation and future-state definition across investor onboarding, transfer agency and AML/KYC processes.

• Use data and evidence to test assumptions, identify root causes and support informed decision-making.

• Exercise discretion within functional policies to adapt approaches, improve processes and resolve escalated transformation issues.

• Support implementation readiness, testing, change execution, adoption and post-implementation review.

Stakeholder Engagement, Governance & Communication

• Build strategic working relationships with peers, senior staff and cross-functional partners across operations, technology, product, risk and compliance.

• Facilitate senior workshops and working sessions to align priorities, resolve issues, support decisions and maintain delivery momentum.

• Communicate findings, recommendations, risks, dependencies and progress clearly through governance materials, presentations and executive updates.

• Influence stakeholders and senior functional partners to secure alignment and support execution across regional and global teams.

• Contribute to functional planning and budget-related activities by providing input aligned to transformation priorities and strategy.

Subject Matter Leadership & Continuous Improvement

• Provide subject matter guidance, direction and work leadership to colleagues on complex transformation activities.

• Improve transformation standards, governance, controls, templates and ways of working across the portfolio.

• Promote effective knowledge transfer, consistent execution and sustainable adoption of improved processes, tools and operating models.

• Perform all duties in accordance with established policies, procedures and regulatory requirements.

Essential Skills & Qualifications

• Specialised depth and breadth of experience in transformation, change delivery, investor onboarding, transfer agency, AML/KYC, funds or financial services operations.

• Proven ability to lead complex functional projects or workstreams with moderate risk, resource requirements and cross-functional dependencies.

• Advanced analytical, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, including the ability to develop practical solutions in less-defined situations.

• Strong understanding of business drivers, operating models, controls, service delivery and regulatory considerations.

• Confident stakeholder leadership, including the ability to influence peers and senior staff, facilitate workshops and communicate complex matters clearly.

• Sound judgement and decision-making skills when balancing policy, business needs, risk and delivery priorities.

• Strong written, verbal and presentation skills, with experience producing executive and governance materials.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office is essential. Experience with Visio, Power BI, SharePoint, Aha!, Azure DevOps, Jira or Confluence is beneficial.

• Bachelor’s or university degree required; advanced degree preferred. Typically 8+ years of relevant experience. Relevant change, project, process improvement or Agile certification is beneficial.

Work Authorization

Applicants must have the right to work in Ireland at the time of application and for the duration of employment.

Please note that Northern Trust is unable to provide employment permit sponsorship for this role. This includes Critical Skills Employment Permits, General Employment Permits, Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permits, Stamp 1G permissions, and other employment permits under Irish immigration frameworks.

Working with Us

As a Northern Trust partner, you will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture, which has a strong history of financial strength and stability. Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to an inclusive workplace and assisting the communities we serve.

Philanthropy is deeply rooted in Northern Trust’s history and is an essential element of our culture. Employees around the world give their time and talent to work for the greater good of their communities.

Reasonable Accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing adjustments to individuals with health conditions and disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at [email protected], or alternatively you can discuss your individual requirements with the recruiter you are working with.