Bank First

Sr Director, Wealth Strategy & Operations

Bank First$220K — $250K *
Finance & Insurance
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Operations, or related field, or equivalent work experience.
  • Significant experience in wealth management or related business operations.
  • Demonstrated understanding of wealth management business models and advisor workflows.
  • Strong knowledge of wealth technology platforms including CRM and financial planning tools.
  • Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives from strategy to execution.
  • Strong communication and relationship-building skills with senior leaders and business partners.
  • High level of professionalism, discretion, and integrity.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as a strategic leader, aligning people, processes, and technology.
  • Evaluate and implement wealth technology platforms and integrations.
  • Identify opportunities to streamline processes and improve data quality.
  • Support strategic planning, budgeting, and business case development.
  • Monitor industry trends and emerging technologies in wealth management.
  • Drive change management for new technologies and organizational initiatives.
  • Prepare executive-level presentations and recommendations.
  • Lead and coach teams to foster collaboration and continuous improvement.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits supporting the holistic wellbeing of associates.
  • Incentive eligibility for many roles, excluding student positions.
Full Job Description
The Senior Director, Wealth Enablement & Operations is a senior leadership role within the Wealth Management division, reporting directly to the Head of Wealth Management. This role is responsible for driving strategic execution, operational effectiveness, technology enablement, and scalable growth across the wealth business. This role will function to translate business strategy into actionable operating plan, improving processes, strengthening governance, and partnering across business lines, technology risk, compliance, finance, and operations.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities
  • Serve as a key operational and strategic leader across the wealth business, helping align people, process, technology, risk and financial priorities.
  • Evaluate, recommend, and help implement wealth technology platforms, tools, and integrations.
  • Identify opportunities to streamline processes, reduce manual work, improve data quality, and strengthen operations across the Wealth line of business.
  • Supports strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting, capacity planning, and business case development for wealth initiatives.
  • Monitor industry trends, competitor practices, regulatory developments, client expectations, and emerging technologies impacting wealth.
  • Drive change management efforts related to new technology, process changes, organizational initiatives, and business transformation.
  • Prepare executive-level presentations, recommendations, and status updates for senior management as needed.
  • Lead, coach, and influence teams directly or indirectly, fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvements.
  • Represent wealth management in enterprise initiatives that affect systems, data, digital capabilities, client experience, risk management, or operating processes.


Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed to Perform Essential Functions of the Job
  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Operations or related field, or equivalent work experience.
  • Significant experience in wealth management, financial services, banking, investment advisory, trust, brokerage, or related business operations.
  • Demonstrated understanding of wealth management business models, advisor workflows, client service models, investment operations, fiduciary considerations, and revenue drivers.
  • Strong knowledge of wealth technology platforms and ecosystem components, including CRM, portfolio management, performance reporting, trading, financial planning, and client-facing tools.
  • Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives from strategy through execution.
  • Strong communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to influence senior leaders, peers, business partners, and vendors.
  • High level of professionalism, discretion, judgement, and integrity.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including PowerPoint, Excel, and Word.


Preferred Knowledge and Skills
  • Masters degree in Business Administration, Finance, Technology, or a related field.
  • Experience supporting or leading a wealth management technology transformation, platform conversion, system integration, or digital modernization initative.
  • Experience leading teams, managing through influence, and driving changes across organization.


Level of Complexity and Scope
  • Responsible for helping shape and execute the division's strategic priorities, operating model, technology roadmap, and performance management framework.
  • Influences decisions that may affect revenue growth, operating efficiency, client satisfaction, and long-term scalability.
  • Serves as primary liaison between Wealth Management and enterprise partners on major initiatives.
  • Operates in a highly complex, regulated financial environment with multiple stakeholders, systems, products, and service models.
  • Regularly manages ambiguity, competing priorities, interdependencies, and time-sensitive initiatives.


Degree of Independence and Decision-Making
  • Uses data, business judgement, risk considerations, and stakeholder input to evaluate options and recommend actions.
  • Exercises independent judgement on complex business and operational issues while ensuring alignment with enterprise and strategic objectives.


Required Supervisory Responsibilities
  • Manages a team which may include business management, operations, platform support, project management, process improvement, reporting, or technology enablement resources.
  • Provides leadership, coaching, direction, and performance management to direct reports.
  • Sets team priorities, goals, and performance expectations in alignment with Wealth Management strategy and business objectives.
  • Conducts regular 1:1 meetings, team meetings, and development discussions.
  • Fosters a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, client focus, and strong risk management.


Physical Requirements
  • Work is primarily performed in a professional office environment or hybrid work setting.
  • Requires the ability to communicate clearly in person, by phone, and through virtual meeting platforms.
  • May require occasional travel to corporate offices, regional locations, client events, vendor meetings, conferences, or business partner sites.
  • Must be able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, including meetings, deadlines, presentations, and deliverables.


Development and Training

Pay Range:

$220,000/year to $250,000/year

Benefits

We have relevant, thoughtful benefits and programs that support every aspect of our associates' holistic wellbeing. Please review our Benefits Guide.

Incentive Eligibility

All roles are incentive eligible with the exception of Co-Op, Intern, or Student positions.

About Bank First

Bank First is a community bank that provides personal and business banking services. The bank was founded in 1894 and is headquartered in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Bank First offers a range of financial products and services, including checking and savings accounts, loans, mortgages, and investment services. The bank has over 20 locations throughout Wisconsin and Michigan. Bank First is committed to providing exceptional customer service and building long-term relationships with its customers.
Learn more about Bank First
Size
287 employees
Market Cap
$825.1 million
Industry
5 Year Trend
+17.1%
NASDAQ

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