THE ROLE
You will run the Trust Services team: the people, the operations, the controls and the reporting. Day to day that means workload allocation and coaching, technical guidance on complex administration matters, oversight of high-value onboarding, and the management reporting that senior management and the Board rely on. It is a leadership role in a growing group, with genuine scope to shape process rather than inherit it.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Team Leadership
- Lead, mentor and manage Trust Officers, Trust Associates, Trust Administrators and support staff.
- Own departmental resource planning, workload allocation and service delivery standards.
- Conduct coaching, performance reviews and development planning.
- Support recruitment, onboarding and retention within the department.
- Build a culture of professionalism, accountability and continuous improvement.
Operational Oversight
- Oversee daily trust administration and the timely execution of trust-related activities.
- Review complex administration matters and provide technical guidance to the team.
- Monitor productivity, service levels and operational effectiveness.
- Develop and improve operational processes, workflows and controls.
- Drive digitalisation and operational excellence initiatives.
Onboarding & Client Relationships
- Oversee and review onboarding of new trust and fiduciary clients for efficiency and compliance.
- Support the team on complex onboarding cases and high-value engagements.
- Join selected client meetings involving sophisticated structures, family succession, trust restructuring or sensitive matters.
- Maintain relationships with key clients, professional advisers, intermediaries and business partners.
Governance, Risk & Compliance
- Ensure adherence to regulatory requirements, internal policies and fiduciary obligations.
- Work with Compliance and Risk on AML/CFT, CRS/FATCA, KYC and regulatory matters.
- Identify operational risks and implement mitigation measures and controls.
- Support internal audits, regulatory inspections and compliance reviews.
Management Reporting & Strategy
- Prepare periodic management reports for senior management and the Board.
- Track departmental KPIs, operational metrics, service levels and risk indicators.
- Escalate significant issues and recommend process and resourcing changes.
- Contribute to budgeting, manpower planning and departmental performance targets.
- Represent Trust Services in management meetings and cross-functional initiatives.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
Essential
- Degree in Law, Business, Finance, Accountancy, Estate Planning or a related discipline.
- At least 5 years of relevant experience in trust administration, fiduciary services, private banking, wealth management, estate planning or legal services.
- At least 3 years of management or supervisory experience.
- Strong understanding of trust administration, fiduciary structures and estate planning concepts.
- Familiarity with AML/CFT, CRS/FATCA and the wider regulatory and compliance framework.
- Excellent report-writing, communication and presentation skills.
- Strong leadership, organisational and stakeholder management skills.
Advantageous
- Professional qualifications such as STEP/TEP, AEPP®, CPA, ACCA, CFA, CLU or ChFC.
- Experience leading a trust or fiduciary operations team through a systems or process change.
- Ability to converse in Mandarin, in order to engage Mandarin-speaking clients and their families.
HOW YOU WORK
- Confident engaging senior management, clients and professional advisers.
- Analytical and structured - you bring the recommendation, not just the issue.
- High personal standards of professionalism, integrity and attention to detail.
- Comfortable building process where none exists yet.
WHAT WE OFFER
- A leadership role with direct exposure to senior management and the Board.
- Scope to shape operational excellence and business transformation projects, including digitalisation.
- Professional development and sponsorship for relevant industry qualifications.
- Clear career progression within a growing trust and estate planning group.
- Medical and dental benefits upon confirmation.
- Annual salary review and performance-based bonus.
WORK ARRANGEMENTS
- Central (Tanjong Pagar).
- 5-day work week.
