Director of Investment Operations

Description of the Role

The Director of Investment Operations is a key operational and investment-support role responsible for overseeing daily investment workflows, portfolio administration, case preparation, and advisor support within a high-performing financial planning practice. This individual must embody extreme ownership, urgency, strong prioritization, and a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset.

This role operates in a fast-paced environment, interacting daily with advisors, operations staff, and clients to ensure exceptional accuracy, follow-through, and client experience. The ideal candidate brings 5+ years of industry experience, strong technical expertise (NetX360, Envestnet/Investnet2), and the ability to manage complex investment operations independently.

About Our Firm

Aikens Private Client Group (PCG), led by Principal Brian Aikens, is a high-integrity, growth-oriented Northwestern Mutual practice based in Akron, Ohio. The firm values extreme ownership, grit, teamwork, urgency, and a culture where no one says "that's not my job." The environment is collaborative, fast-paced, and deeply client-centric, with a leadership team committed to excellence and professional growth.

The practice prefers in-office teamwork, though flexibility may be considered for exceptional candidates.

Essential Duties

• Begin each day prepared with a market update (podcasts, news) and email review
• Participate in team meetings & huddles
• Manage full investment operations workflow, including:
• Opening and managing new accounts
• Submitting and preparing case prep
• Building investment proposals in Investnet2
• Preparing and submitting forms in NetX360
• Coordinating signature paperwork via DocuSign
• Receive and prioritize time-sensitive advisor-assigned tasks
• Join advisor/client calls for rollovers or investment-related conversations as needed
• Maintain high accuracy, organization, urgency, and follow-through
• Communicate clearly with advisors, office manager, and planning team

Qualifications

• 5+ years of investment operations, portfolio management, or related experience
• Bachelor's degree required
• Series 7 required
• Technical proficiency in NetX360 and Envestnet/Investnet2
• Strong written communication, organization, urgency, and prioritization
• In-office availability strongly preferred

Growth Path

This role offers significant opportunity for long-term professional development within a growing, high-performance financial planning practice. The firm supports continuous learning and invests heavily in developing technical expertise.

Team members in this role benefit from:

• Unlimited paid continuing education
  to strengthen technical knowledge and expand capabilities
• Performance-based bonuses
  including $500 for each passed exam and
  $5,000 for each earned professional designation
• A clear path toward expanded responsibilities in
  investment operations leadership, advanced case design, portfolio management support, and practice operations

The firm values initiative, commitment to learning, and technical mastery—creating strong upward mobility for individuals who demonstrate ownership and excellence in their work.

Benefits

• Salary: $80,000–$120,000 (commensurate with experience)
• 401(k) with 4% safe-harbor match (immediate vesting)
• Employer-paid LTD
• Employer-paid $25,000 life insurance
• Two-thirds of health insurance premium covered
• PTO
• Continuing education fully covered and bonuses per passed exam and designations
• In-office team environment

Competencies

• Urgency:
  Operates with speed, responsiveness, and a consistent bias toward action. Quickly adapts to shifting tasks and high-volume days without sacrificing accuracy.
• Ownership:
  Takes full responsibility for outcomes and follow-through. Never defaults to "that's not my job" and consistently demonstrates accountability in a small-business, all-hands environment.
• Prioritization:
  Quickly assesses what is most important, manages multiple tasks simultaneously, eliminates bottlenecks, and keeps advisors informed. Maintains clarity and structure in a fast-paced workflow.
• Technical Accuracy:
  Executes investment operations with precision, ensuring forms, proposals, and case prep are completed correctly the first time. Strong attention to detail and commitment to error-free work.
• Proactive Problem Solving:
  Anticipates needs, identifies issues early, resolves challenges before escalation, and seeks clarity independently. Operates with forward-thinking awareness and initiative.