Foundation & Institutional Advisors (FIA) is a dedicated national practice within Northern Trust that serves nonprofit organizations, private foundations, public charities, endowments, healthcare organizations, religious institutions, and ERISA clients with at least $10 million in investable assets. We are seeking a driven, proactive, and intellectually curious Client Onboarding Specialist to join our team.

Core Responsibilities

Client Onboarding & Project Coordination
• Serve as the primary coordinator for assigned client onboarding and asset transition events.
• Develop and manage onboarding plans, milestones, and implementation timelines.
• Coordinate activities among Client Advisors, Portfolio Advisors, Operations, Legal, Risk, Compliance, and external parties.
• Facilitate onboarding meetings and provide timely status updates to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Manage multiple onboarding projects simultaneously while ensuring deadlines and service expectations are met.
• Monitor onboarding progress and proactively address risks, delays, and obstacles.

Client Engagement & Onboarding Experience
• Deliver a high-touch, white-glove onboarding experience that reflects Northern Trust's commitment to service and expertise.
• Lead onboarding kickoff meetings, introducing the onboarding process, establishing expectations, and outlining key milestones for clients and stakeholders.
• Present onboarding plans, timelines, and progress updates in a clear, professional, and engaging manner.
• Build credibility and confidence with clients by serving as a knowledgeable and trusted resource throughout the onboarding journey.
• Maintain frequent, clear, and professional communication with clients and internal stakeholders throughout the onboarding process.
• Anticipate client needs and respond to inquiries with urgency, professionalism, and a client-centric mindset.
• Navigate complex situations while maintaining composure and a solutions-oriented approach.
• Ensure a seamless transition of the client relationship to the ongoing service team upon completion of onboarding.

Risk Management & Quality Control
• Ensure adherence to onboarding policies, procedures, controls, and documentation requirements.
• Review onboarding documentation for completeness and accuracy.
• Identify potential operational, procedural, or regulatory risks and escalate concerns appropriately.
• Maintain a strong focus on quality while balancing competing priorities and deadlines.

Process Improvement & Operational Excellence
• Identify opportunities to improve onboarding processes, efficiency, and client experience.
• Document lessons learned and recommend practical solutions to recurring challenges.
• Utilize dashboards, reporting tools, and tracking mechanisms to monitor progress and identify trends.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of onboarding best practices and operational procedures.

Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of financial services, operations, onboarding, client service, or project management experience.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining accuracy and professionalism.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across multiple teams and functions.
• Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead meetings, deliver presentations, and communicate effectively with clients and senior stakeholders.
• Strong executive presence and professionalism when interacting with institutional clients and internal business partners.

Salary Range:

Salary range is a good faith estimate of base pay. Northern Trust provides a 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. Northern Trust also provides a discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component.