Mutual Fund Operations Analyst

About The Role The Mutual Fund Operations Analyst supports mutual fund, unit investment trust (UIT), and 529 plan activities across Baird. The role resolves complex operational matters, serves as a resource for assigned processes or platforms, and applies product, process, regulatory, and systems knowledge to strengthen quality, efficiency, and controls. In partnership with Operations, Compliance, Wealth Solutions, Technology, branch stakeholders, and external vendors, the Analyst uses data and end-to-end process knowledge to identify root causes, evaluate solutions, coordinate implementation activities, and improve the client and advisor experience. The Impact You'll Make Serve as the process owner for mutual fund, UIT, and 529 activities, owning and coordinating operational issues and escalations through to resolution while maintaining an end-to-end view of the branch and client experienceDeliver best-in-class service to partners and clients by being responsive, attentive, solution-oriented, and personally accountable for ensuring questions and issues are resolved, while providing accurate, professional, and consistent support and coordinating effective handoffs when neededProvide training, guidance, and subject matter support to Financial Advisors, Client Specialists, and Operations associates, help make knowledge reusable across the teamAnalyze operational data, recurring exceptions, and process performance to identify root causes, assess risk, and recommend practical solutionsIdentify and recommend process improvement opportunities supporting implementation efforts that reduce rework, strengthen controls, improve efficiency, and create consistent service experienceLeverage expertise to evaluate proposed process, project, system, product, or platform changes to determine operational impacts and communicate findingsServe as a subject matter expert for projects and support broader implementation efforts by partnering with stakeholders on key decisions, dependencies, testing scenarios, communication plans, and control enhancementsPartner with internal stakeholders and external vendors to resolve issues, identify functionality or process enhancements, and support release testing and implementationManage competing priorities independently, communicate progress and challenges proactively, and follow through on commitments in a deadline-driven environment What You'll Bring To Baird Bachelor's degree preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experienceThree or more years of experience in financial services is preferredFINRA Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) and Series 99 required within 12 months of hireStrong knowledge of financial markets, mutual fund, UIT, and 529 products; operational processes, regulations, controls, and supporting systemsAnalytical and problem-solving skills, root cause analysis, process improvement, requirements development, testing support, project coordination, communication, facilitation, stakeholder collaboration, and Microsoft Office proficiency, especially Excel. SQL, Power Query, and Power BI skills are preferred or may be developed in the roleAbility to understand processes end to end; connect issues to risk, control, service, efficiency, and client or advisor impacts; demonstrate curiosity, a continuous learning and improvement mindset, and a collaborative approach; exercise sound judgment, work independently, know when to involve others, prioritize competing responsibilities, explain complex topics clearly, and drive work to completionHybrid work arrangement supporting a Milwaukee-based team Deadline-driven work may arise in connection with operational, regulatory, project, release, and implementation activities