Trade Operations Manager

About the Role

This role is accountable for executing the trading strategy, strengthening operational controls, and reducing risk while coaching, developing, and empowering a team of traders for a growing $160B+ wealth platform. The Trade Operations Manager will drive process improvements, support cross-functional initiatives, and enhance advisor and client outcomes through strong leadership, collaboration, and performance management. We can consider candidates who accommodate a hybrid work schedule and are located near either our Phoenix, AZ or Charlotte, NC office.

Responsibilities

• Oversee team to trade client accounts timely, accurately, and with the highest quality.
• Drive scale, improve cycle time, reduce operational risk, deliver consistent trading results, and improve the advisor and client experience.
• Own and operate trading processes, systems, and controls.
• Manage operational performance by tracking key risk and performance metrics and ensuring procedures and documentation are clear, current, and executable.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of traders, fostering accountability, engagement, and accelerated professional growth.
• Set clear expectations, provide regular feedback, and ensure consistent follow-through on commitments and outcomes.
• Inspire a high-performance, client-centric mindset by reinforcing ownership, purpose, and continuous improvement.
• Actively integrate firm values into team culture through leadership behaviors, recognition, coaching conversations, and accountability practices.
• Facilitate daily operational stand-ups to identify high-risk items, assess volume and capacity constraints, prioritize work, and escalate issues as needed.
• Proactively review procedures, workflows, and controls to identify pain points, inefficiencies, and opportunities aligned with evolving business needs.
• Write clear business and functional requirements that preserve trading intent, risk considerations, and client impact while enabling effective technical solutions.
• Review and interpret test plans, test results, and defect summaries to assess operational readiness and summarize actionable recommendations.
• Support change management efforts by ensuring teams are prepared to adopt new workflows, systems, and controls.
• Anticipate downstream operational impacts of new products, volume changes, and strategic initiatives and proactively adjust processes and controls.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in financial services, securities, or wealth management, including direct experience in trade operations, portfolio trading, or managed account platforms.
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance or equivalent combination of education and relevant industry experience.
• Additional industry licensing or professional certifications such as Series 7, Series 24, Lean Six Sigma, IOC, or similar operational-focused credentials are preferred.

Skills

• Demonstrated experience leading, coaching, or supervising operational, trading, or analytical teams.
• Strong knowledge of trading workflows, portfolio rebalancing, and operational risk and control practices within advisory or asset management environments.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and drive process improvements across operations, technology, and business teams.
• Experience managing operational performance through metrics, KPIs, and risk monitoring frameworks.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret data and translate insights into actionable business improvements.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including experience documenting procedures, business requirements, or operational controls.
• Experience working within outsourced managed account platforms, wealth technology providers, or firms supporting independent financial advisors.
• Experience using data visualization and reporting tools such as Tableau, Power BI, or similar business intelligence platforms.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel.
• Familiarity with model-based trading, UMA/SMAs, or large-scale portfolio rebalancing environments.

Pay

The base salary range for this position is between $110,000 and $130,000. This position is also eligible for additional variable incentive compensation.

Benefits

• Flex Time or Paid Time Off and Sick Time Off.
• 401K with 6% employer match.
• Medical, Dental, Vision (HDHP or PPO options).
• HSA with employer contribution (HDHP only).
• Volunteer Time Off.
• Career Development and Recognition programs.
• Fitness Reimbursement.
• Hybrid work schedule.

About Us

We are AssetMark, a company shaping the future of financial services. Our mission is to help over 10,500 financial advisors make a meaningful difference in their clients’ lives by combining powerful technology, holistic support, and expert consulting. Backed by a comprehensive suite of investment solutions and a trust company with over $150B in AUM, our platform empowers advisors to deliver exceptional service and an outstanding client experience.

Our values—Heart, Client Success, Integrity, Respect, and Excellence—guide our culture and decisions. We believe in leading with heart, obsessing over client success, upholding unyielding integrity, fostering collective respect, and operating with excellence through continuous improvement and innovation.