Senior Consultant, Client Onboarding - GFO International

About Northern Trust

As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions.

Since 1889, we have aligned our efforts with our three guiding Principles That Endure: Service, Expertise, and Integrity. Together, they reflect the three cornerstones of business conduct which we strive to instill in our employees, whom we call partners, and to provide to our clients and the communities we serve worldwide.

With more than 135 years of financial experience and over 24,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

Role

The Global Family & Private Investment Offices (GFO) team is a specialist sales and client servicing group within Wealth Management, dedicated to supporting ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, typically with more than $200 million in investable assets, as well as their charities and foundations.

Reporting to the Head of Client and Asset Servicing, GFO International, the Senior Consultant will lead the implementation of complex new client relationships, asset transitions, periodic reviews and priority business projects across GFO International.

This is a senior, client-facing role with responsibility for taking complex implementations from initial requirements through to successful delivery. Acting as the principal implementation contact, the Senior Consultant will establish the project approach and governance, coordinate specialist teams across the organisation, manage risks and escalations, and ensure clients receive a seamless and well-managed onboarding experience.

Working closely with Relationship Management, Product, Operations, Technology, Legal, Compliance and other specialist partners, the Senior Consultant will translate complex client requirements into clear and executable implementation plans. The role will also provide technical and project leadership to less-experienced colleagues, supporting their development and ensuring consistently high standards of delivery across the team.

Key Responsibilities

- Lead complex client onboarding and implementation engagements from initiation through to completion, establishing scope, deliverables, responsibilities, dependencies, milestones, governance and target dates.
- Serve as the principal implementation contact for clients, taking ownership of expectations, key decisions, risks, issues and escalations throughout the engagement.
- Build trusted client relationships through clear, proactive communication and consistent delivery, helping clients understand how products, services and specialist teams come together to provide an integrated solution.
- Lead the end-to-end coordination of AML/KYC and account-opening requirements, working with clients and internal control functions to resolve complex matters and secure the necessary approvals.
- Assess complex client and ownership structures to understand risk considerations and applicable jurisdictional KYC requirements.
- Partner with Legal, Product and Relationship Management to coordinate implementation requirements associated with contract execution and support timely completion.
- Work with Product and specialist teams to validate service requirements, establish clear responsibilities and ensure proposed solutions and client expectations are appropriately aligned.
- Lead internal project and stakeholder meetings, facilitate decisions, establish clear actions and ownership, and proactively manage delivery against agreed timelines.
- Coordinate across Relationship Management, Product, Technology, Operations, Compliance, Legal and other specialist teams to identify and address dependencies, risks and implementation issues.
- Complete and oversee relevant account-opening documentation following the appropriate approvals and maintain accurate project, client and regulatory records.
- Partner with New Business Consultants and transition teams throughout the implementation process, ensuring they remain informed of key developments, dependencies and requirements.
- Support periodic client reviews, including the review and refresh of client documentation, coordination with clients and control partners, and completion of required KYC updates.
- Provide leadership and guidance to Client Project & Implementation Consultants, sharing technical expertise and supporting their professional development.
- Lead or contribute to priority projects and other strategic initiatives across GFO International as required.

Skills & Experience

- Significant experience in client onboarding, implementation, client servicing, project delivery or asset servicing within financial services. Experience within private banking, wealth management, custody, asset servicing or a similarly complex client environment would be advantageous.
- Demonstrated experience leading complex client implementations or transitions from initiation through to successful delivery.
- Strong project management and organisational capability, with experience managing multiple workstreams, stakeholders, dependencies and deadlines concurrently.
- Experience managing client onboarding, AML/KYC and account-opening requirements, including working closely with Compliance, Risk and other control functions.
- Strong understanding of complex client or ownership structures and the practical application of KYC and client due diligence requirements.
- Experience working across multidisciplinary teams including Relationship Management, Product, Technology, Operations, Legal, Compliance and Change.
- Good understanding of financial services products, operational servicing models and technology solutions, ideally including reporting, data delivery and client connectivity.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence and credibility to engage effectively with sophisticated clients, prospects and senior internal stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to identify and manage implementation risks, resolve issues, facilitate decisions and escalate effectively when required.
- Strong attention to detail, particularly in relation to client documentation, regulatory requirements and project governance.
- Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgement and maintain momentum in complex or evolving client situations.
- Willingness to travel occasionally, including internationally, where required.

Valuable Competencies

- Client leadership: Builds credibility and trusted relationships with sophisticated clients, anticipating needs and managing expectations effectively.
- Delivery focus: Takes ownership of complex engagements and drives activity through to successful completion.
- Judgement and problem solving: Navigates ambiguity, identifies risks early and brings structure and practical solutions to complex situations.
- Stakeholder influence: Builds alignment across multiple teams and senior stakeholders, facilitating decisions and maintaining momentum.
- Collaboration: Works effectively across business, operational and control functions to deliver integrated client outcomes.
- Developing others: Provides guidance, knowledge sharing and practical support to less-experienced colleagues.

Work Authorization

Applicants must have the right to work in the United Kingdom at the time of application and for the duration of employment.

Please note that Northern Trust is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role. This includes Skilled Worker visas, Global Business Mobility routes, Graduate visas, Youth Mobility Scheme, High Potential Individual visas, Scale-up Worker visas, Temporary Worker visas, and other employer-sponsored visa categories.

Working with Us

As a Northern Trust partner, you will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture, which has a strong history of financial strength and stability. Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to an inclusive workplace and assisting the communities we serve.

Philanthropy is deeply rooted in Northern Trust’s history and is an essential element of our culture. Employees around the world give their time and talent to work for the greater good of their communities.

Reasonable Accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing adjustments to individuals with health conditions and disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at [email protected] , or alternatively you can discuss your individual requirements with the recruiter you are working with.