Director of Personal Trust

Why Stifel

Stifel strives for a culture that puts its clients and associates first: a culture where everyone belongs, everyone is welcome, and everyone contributes to the success of our clients, their careers, and the firm as a whole.

Let’s talk about how you can find your place here at Stifel, where success meets success.

What You'll Be Doing

The Director of Personal Trust Administration is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Trust and Estate administration. The Director manages the team of experienced Trust Officers and Trust Associates providing guidance and leadership on administrative issues. The Director manages Trust Administration processes and staff to ensure all duties are performed according to the standards of Stifel Trust. Assigns work, provides expertise and makes high-level decisions related to a wide range of complex issues on various administrative accounts. Participates on the executive leadership team to help develop and implement Stifel Trust strategies, policies, and practices.

What We're Looking For

• Manage administrative employees including all levels of Trust Officers and Trust Associates. Conduct annual performance reviews and make recommendations for salary increases, bonus payments, and promotions where appropriate. Oversee the training and development of new employees. Coach and develop existing employees including guidance to help employees reach career goals. Interview and hire new employees as needed.
• Oversee the administration of all Stifel Trust accounts to ensure compliance with various state laws and regulations while adhering to the governing instrument. Work with Trust Officers on complex issues including communications on complaints, litigation or other sensitive matters. Communications involve attorneys, CPAs, FAs, and clients. Manage a small account load of complex trust and estate accounts.
• Approve higher-dollar discretionary distributions and all distributions of trust assets. Ensure distributions are allowed under the trust instrument and appropriate for the account.
• Sign contracts on behalf of Stifel Trust for Administrative issues. Ensure the contracts have been reviewed by legal before engaging any outside parties (attorneys, CPAs, vendors, etc.) or entering into any sale or purchase of unique assets (real estate, oil & gas interest, loans, etc.).
• Leads and/or participates on several Stifel Trust Committees to ensure new business, administration, and investment decisions and actions are in compliance with Stifel Trust policy and procedure and various regulations.
• Manages the administrative systems, processes, policies and staff to support organizational effectiveness. Reviews staffing needs and makes recommendations for increases in staff to President / COO as needed.
• Responsible for improving and maintaining department's procedures and efficiencies to cultivate and deliver excellent client experience and employee satisfaction. Review new vendors based on administrative or client needs and existing vendors to determine continued effectiveness.
• Meet with auditors and regulators as required to explain the departmental policies, procedures, and controls.
• Answer general questions from the field related to estate and trust administration - including revocable, irrevocable, charitable, special needs, and insurance trusts.

What You'll Bring

• Understand and comply with all regulations, including the Community Reinvestment Act, Bank Secrecy Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, etc.
• Expertise in the administration of trusts; thorough understanding of legal, investment and tax principals; in depth knowledge of complex estate planning and the ability to apply the concepts.
• Demonstrates professionalism, integrity, maturity, intellectual curiosity, initiative and good judgment; takes pride of ownership for wins and accountability for losses/mistakes.
• Ability to use logic and reasoning to identify complex problems; review related information and develop options and implement solutions. Ability to assess liability and react appropriately and promptly.
• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Education & Experience

• Minimum Required: Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance or related field
• Minimum Required: 15+ years' experience in Trust Administration or Estate Administration, 10+ years' experience in staff management

Licenses & Credentials

• Minimum Required: CTFA or CFP

Systems & Technology

• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook

About Stifel

Stifel is more than 130 years old and still thinking like a start-up.  We are a global wealth management and investment banking firm serious about innovation and fresh ideas.  Built on a simple premise of safeguarding our clients’ money as if it were our own, coined by our namesake, Herman Stifel, our success is intimately tied to our commitment to helping families, companies, and municipalities find their own success.

While our headquarters is in St. Louis, we have offices in New York, San Francisco, Baltimore, London, Frankfurt, Toronto, and more than 400 other locations.  Stifel is home to approximately 9,000 individuals who are currently building their careers as financial advisors, research analysts, project managers, marketing specialists, developers, bankers, operations associates, among hundreds more.  Let’s talk about how you can find your place here at Stifel, where success meets success.

At Stifel we offer an entrepreneurial environment, comprehensive benefits package to include health, dental and vision care, 401k, wellness initiatives, life insurance, and paid time off.

Stifel’s bank and trust companies are equal opportunity employers. All candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic information or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.  If you would like more information regarding Equal Employment Opportunity rights and protections, please review the following information: Know Your Rights.

Stifel is an Equal Opportunity Employer.