Director - HTK Operations

About the role

HTK, the broker-dealer and registered investment advisor subsidiary of Penn Mutual, is seeking an experienced Director of Operations to shape the strategic direction of our operational framework. This role will partner closely with key stakeholders to assess and develop people, processes, and technology in support of Financial Professionals and their clients.

The Director of HTK Operations will report directly to the VP of HTK and lead core broker-dealer and RIA back-office functions.

Responsibilities

• Own broker-dealer and RIA back-office operations, including account onboarding, maintenance, new account review, trading support, cashiering, disbursements, ACATs/transfers, suitability, and field advisor support.
• Establish and enforce operational standards, SLAs, KPIs, and an operating cadence, including capacity planning, escalation paths, and issue management.
• Oversee supervisory functions for new account review in partnership with the Compliance team, ensuring FINRA, SEC, and MSRB obligations are met.
• Provide regulatory and control oversight, ensuring compliance with FINRA, SEC, and MSRB; maintain strong procedures and readiness; lead exams and remediation efforts.
• Collaborate with vendors (e.g., Pershing, DTCC) to improve platforms, integrations, data quality, and operational resiliency.
• Coach and develop HTK team members and people leaders while building succession depth.
• Identify and close significant procedural and control gaps in the organization.
• Design and implement scalable, repeatable processes appropriate for a regulated broker-dealer environment.
• Lead regulatory exam readiness and remediation in coordination with Compliance and Risk.
• Lead the implementation of Docupace as the new account workflow, records (books and records), and straight-through processing tool.
• Collaborate with technology and vendor partners (e.g., Pershing, DTCC, investment platforms) to improve integrations, data quality, and system performance.
• Leverage data and analytics to drive decision-making and surface operational risk proactively.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree is required.
• FINRA Registrations: Series 65 and 24 required; Series 27 preferred.
• 10+ years leading teams and driving cross-functional initiatives.
• 10+ years in life insurance, annuities, or financial services with a focus on agile delivery and digital transformation.

Skills

• Deep expertise in broker-dealer operations and regulatory frameworks (FINRA, SEC, MSRB).
• Proven success leading operational transformation and technology modernization.
• Strong strategic thinking, problem solving, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strategic, data-driven decision-maker with strong risk awareness.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity, driving change, and fostering innovation.
• Excellent communication skills with ability to translate complex issues into clear insights.
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing teams.

Pay

Base Salary Range: $145,000 - $165,000