Specialist, Fund Administrator, Integrated Portfolio Services (IPS)

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.

Overview

Oversees end-to-end fund administration, investor accounting, and financial reporting for a multi-billion dollar hedge fund client, leading daily and month-end NAV close activities across transaction systems, the SubLedger, investor accounting platforms, and Oracle ERP/FS.

Major Duties

• Oversee monthly NAV close activities, including controlling period close in transaction systems, monitoring/clearing suspense items, and ensuring daily transaction and position postings from source systems to the SubLedger are complete and accurate, and that related journal entries are generated and supported.
• Review month-end posting of SubLedger journal entry summaries to Oracle ERP and perform/oversee automated reconciliations (including SubLedger to Oracle ERP) to validate completeness and accuracy; investigate, document, and resolve identified breaks.
• Review and retain support for manual accruals/adjustments when instructed, including maintaining appropriate documentation and audit trail.
• Review monthly financial packages (key financial statements and supporting schedules), maintaining evidence of review within the monthly close package.
• Review NAV-to-General Ledger reconciliations (e.g., proprietary investor accounting system to Oracle ERP) and other automated reconciliations; research and resolve differences to closure.
• Monitor and assess prior-period postings/adjustments for materiality and potential restatement implications; summarize findings and coordinate resolution with relevant parties.
• Oversee quarterly and year-end financial reporting deliverables, including U.S. GAAP hedge funds (variety of strategies including fixed income, quantitative, equity, multi-strategy), IFRS international funds (Asia, UK, Ireland), and Broker Dealer entities; perform final quality control review and coordinate with auditors and stakeholders as required.
• Review investor capital balances and profit and loss results, including management fee and performance allocation calculations in accordance with offering and/or governing documents; validate allocation outputs to feeder funds and investors.
• Oversee posting of applicable investor accounting system-generated amounts to Oracle FS and perform reconciliations (final NAV to the SubLedger and to financial statements) to confirm completeness and accuracy; investigate and resolve breaks; ensure system-enforced segregation of duties is followed for any required manual profit and loss adjustments (input and approval).
• Oversee investor letter generation and publication controls, including fund close authorization, client review/approval prior to distribution, and manual letter preparation where applicable within required timelines.
• Serve as a senior problem solver, technical advisor, and escalation point for ambiguous, high-risk, or highly complex month-end close, investor accounting, and financial reporting issues, applying judgment informed by deep technical expertise and experience.
• Independently identify risks, inefficiencies, and control gaps; design and drive solutions through influence and subject-matter leadership to improve accuracy, scalability, and sustainability across fund administration and financial reporting processes.
• Serve as key point of contact with client for status of deliverables, reporting changes, audit feedback, and new implementations; coordinate and lead post-audit debrief meetings and project initiatives to drive quality and efficiency improvements year over year.
• Develop best-practice process documentation and review procedures; assist in training and development of junior team members; support project planning, resource allocation, and prioritization of core financial reporting deliverables.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives by identifying opportunities to streamline manual processes, leverage automation, and improve overall operational efficiency in fund administration activities.

Qualifications

• 10+ years accounting experience with emphasis in financial reporting
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• College/University or Master’s degree in Accounting
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel
• Workiva knowledge preferred but not required

Experience

• Strong technical accounting skills, including working knowledge of U.S. GAAP, IFRS, and Broker Dealer accounting and reporting standards
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• In-depth functional and industry knowledge
• Highly flexible and adaptable to change
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills (solutions-oriented mindset)
• Client relationship focused (internal and external relationships)
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and with accuracy
• Ownership mentality with an innate commitment to continuous improvement

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package including retirement benefits (401k and pension), health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability), paid time off, parental and caregiver leave, life & accident insurance, and other voluntary and well-being benefits.

Discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component.