ABOUT THIS ROLE

Apex is seeking a highly motivated Senior Retirement Analyst to support our Retirements team. This role is integral in managing the full lifecycle of retirement account operations, from contributions and distributions to tax reporting and regulatory compliance, for our introducing broker-dealers. The ideal candidate will have experience in retirement plan administration or brokerage operations, a strong understanding of IRS rules governing retirement accounts, and the ability to apply creative solutions to operational challenges.

Key Responsibilities

• Retirement Account Operations: Process and monitor IRA contributions, Roth conversions, rollovers, Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), and retirement plan distributions across all retirement product types including Traditional, Roth, SEP, and SIMPLE IRAs, 401(k), 403(b), pension, annuity, and HSA/ESA accounts. Ensure all transactions comply with IRS contribution limits, distribution rules, and eligibility requirements.
• Tax Reporting & IRS Filing: Support the preparation, review, and filing of year-end tax forms including Form 1099-R (Distributions) and Form 5498 (IRA Contributions). Identify and resolve reporting discrepancies, process corrections, and ensure timely and accurate IRS submission through FIRE/IRIS filing systems.
• Account Maintenance & Compliance: Manage beneficiary designation updates, excess contribution corrections, recharacterizations, and account restriction monitoring. Ensure all retirement account activities adhere to IRC, ERISA, and FINRA/SEC requirements.
• Customer Support: Handle a wide range of customer inquiries and requests related to retirement accounts through email and phone, providing timely and accurate information on contribution limits, distribution options, tax implications, and beneficiary rules to enhance client satisfaction.
• Knowledge Expansion: Continuously acquire and update knowledge of IRS regulations (Internal Revenue Code), ERISA requirements, and FINRA/SEC guidelines as they apply to retirement account operations, ensuring strict compliance and operational integrity.
• Process Improvement: Actively participate in initiatives to improve procedures by reducing risks and enhancing operational efficiencies. Provide recommendations and insights that may influence the strategic direction of retirement services operations.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Accounting, or a related field.
• Proven track record in retirement plan administration, brokerage operations, or financial services operations is essential.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience: Minimum of 5 years in retirement account operations, brokerage operations, or financial services operations preferred.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel. Knowledge of SQL and data organization and Claude AI is highly desirable. Experience with tax reporting systems (FIRE/IRIS) is a plus.
• Regulatory Knowledge: SME with IRS rules governing retirement accounts (contribution limits, RMD calculations, Roth conversion rules, early distribution penalties), ERISA compliance requirements, and FINRA/SEC guidelines affecting brokerage operations. Knowledge of the full life cycle of retirements from account opening to tax reporting, including state withholding reconciliation and remittance.

Work Environment

• Analytical Skills: Ability to think critically and utilize advanced problem-solving skills to address and resolve issues promptly, particularly around tax reporting accuracy and regulatory compliance.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, capable of explaining complex retirement account rules to clients and engaging effectively with various stakeholders.
• Independence: Self-motivated with the ability to operate independently while also being a cooperative and constructive team player.
• Detail-Oriented: Exceptional attention to detail and precision in executing tasks and projects, particularly in tax form preparation and IRS filing.
• Adaptability: Quick learner with the ability to adapt to new challenges and regulatory changes within a dynamic environment, including annual IRS contribution limit updates and evolving SECURE Act provisions. Must be prepared to learn and become proficient across multiple internal systems, platforms, and tools used in daily operations.

#operations #mid-senior #full-time#LI-MJ1 #APEX

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Our Rewards

We offer a robust package of employee perks and benefits, including healthcare benefits (medical, dental and vision, EAP), competitive PTO, 401k match, parental leave, and HSA contribution match. We also provide our employees with a paid subscription to the Calm app and offer generous external learning and tuition reimbursement benefits. At AFS, we offer a hybrid work schedule for most roles that allows employees to have the flexibility of working from home and one of our primary offices.