Senior Manager, Operations

Position Summary

NorthCoast Asset Management, a Division of Kovitz Investment Group, is seeking a Senior Manager, Operations to lead key operational disciplines across Compliance, Management, Operations, Performance, and Trading. This role owns the integrity of our middle-/back-office functions, ensures robust financial and regulatory controls, and partners closely with investment, trading, technology, finance, and parent company teams. The Senior Manager will drive process excellence, data quality, and automation to support scalable growth, high service standards, and strong risk management.

This is a hands-on leadership role combining oversight, project delivery, and cross-functional execution.

To be successful in this role, in-office is required Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Primary Responsibilities

Operations - 35%

• Oversee daily reconciliation of positions (equities/options), cash, and transactions across all custodians; manage break resolution with custodians/counterparties.
• Drive data hygiene and exception management across portfolio accounting and downstream systems; ensure clean, reliable SMA data.
• Document processes, maintain procedure libraries, and support business continuity and operational resilience planning.

Trading - 30%

• Support trade execution and allocations across 7,000+ client accounts; ensure adherence to client-specific restrictions and firm policies.

• Partner with traders to research and resolve trade and position breaks with executing brokers; improve straight-through processing.
• Maintain execution data for transaction cost analysis (TCA) and assist with process enhancements, venue/broker evaluation, and best execution documentation.
• Cross-train to provide backup trade execution coverage as needed; maintain robust “four-eyes” controls and end-of-day checks.

Management - 15%

• Build a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and cross-training; mentor staff and oversee onboarding and knowledge management.
• Liaise with custodians, brokers, vendors, and the parent company to resolve escalations and advance strategic initiatives.

Performance - 10%

• Oversee performance calculation for accounts, strategies, benchmarks, and composites in accordance with GIPS; ensure accurate performance dissemination.
• Manage composite construction and maintenance; coordinate with GIPS verifiers and auditors.
• Investigate and resolve performance outliers/exceptions; improve data pipelines into performance and reporting systems.
• Enhance automation and data integrity in SS&C Sylvan and Global Wealth Platform (GWP); steward performance reporting tools and workflows.

Compliance – 10%

• Maintain and enhance internal control infrastructure to support regulatory requirements.
• Maintain policy documentation, error logs, incident reporting, and operational risk dashboards; drive remediation and preventive controls.
• Support compliance with custodial/platform operational standards and vendor due diligence; ensure adherence to internal policies and industry regulations.

Qualifications

• A positive attitude and high energy level
• High attention to detail
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience across investment operations, performance, trading support, audit/controls, or a combination thereof.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel
• Experience with SS&C systems (especially GWP and/or Sylvan); familiarity with Salesforce and/or Athena Spark a plus.
• Strong attention to detail, process orientation, and ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; proactive stakeholder management.
• Programming knowledge (VBA, Python) viewed positively.

Actual base pay could vary based on factors including but not limited to experience, subject matter expertise, geographic location where work will be performed, and the applicant's skill set.  The base pay is just one component of the total compensation package for employees.  Other rewards may include a meaningful annual cash opportunity and a comprehensive benefits package. 

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For Massachusetts Applicants: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment.  An employer who violates this shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. 

For Montana Applicants: If hired, the employment relationship is governed by the Wrongful Discharge from Employment Act. Mont. Code Ann. Section 39-2-901.

For Rhode Island Applicants: Focus is subject to Chapters 29-38 of Title 28 of the General Laws of Rhode Island and is therefore covered by the state’s workers’ compensation law. If you willfully provide false information about your ability to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, you may be barred from filing a claim under the provisions of the Workers’ Compensation Act of the State of Rhode Island if the false information is directly related to the personal injury that is the basis for the new claim for compensation.  The Company complies fully with the Americans with Disabilities Act.