About Coral Gables Trust Company
Coral Gables Trust Company is based in South Florida, specializing in Trust & Estate Administration, Wealth Management, and Financial Planning services. We are located in Coral Gables, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach.
Our services include Trust & Estate Services, Investment Management, Directed Trusts, Special Needs Trust, Financial Planning, Escrow Services, Cash Management, and Estate Settlement Services.
Trust Operations Lead
Serves as a senior individual contributor and informal team leader within the Trust Operations department at Coral Gables Trust Company. This role bridges the gap between the Trust Operations Associate and Manager, providing day-to-day guidance to junior staff while managing complex operational workflows, quality control, and process improvements. The Lead is expected to have deep working knowledge of trust accounting, fiduciary operations, and regulatory compliance requirements, and to serve as a subject matter resource across the department.
Primary Responsibilities
• Oversee the accurate and timely processing of complex trust account transactions, including large distributions, discretionary payments, asset transfers, real property transactions, and alternative investment funding.
• Serve as the primary operations point of contact for trust officers, relationship managers, and external advisors on account administration matters.
• Review and quality-check the work of Trust Operations Associates, providing real-time coaching and feedback to ensure accuracy, compliance, and adherence to internal controls.
• Lead the onboarding of new trust accounts and the offboarding of terminating accounts, coordinating across legal, tax, investment, and operations teams to ensure seamless transitions.
• Identify and drive process improvement initiatives, including the development and documentation of standard operating procedures (SOPs), workflow enhancements, and system utilization improvements.
• Manage exception queues, unresolved items, and reconciliation discrepancies, escalating material issues to the Trust Operations Manager with proposed resolutions.
• Support regulatory compliance efforts by monitoring adherence to Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering (BSA/AML) policies, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) screening protocols, and applicable state and federal fiduciary regulations.
• Coordinate year-end fiduciary tax preparation activities, serving as the operational liaison between the trust team and external tax preparers.
• Assist the Trust Operations Manager with capacity planning, workload allocation, and staff training during onboarding and ongoing development.
• Participate in system testing, upgrades, and data migration projects related to the trust accounting platform and ancillary systems.
• Serve as operational backup for the Trust Operations Manager during periods of absence.
Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, or a related field required.
• 3–6 years of experience in trust operations, fiduciary administration, or a related financial services role, with demonstrated progression in responsibilities.
• Solid working knowledge of trust accounting principles, fiduciary regulations, and estate administration processes.
• Proficiency in trust accounting platforms (e.g., FIS/SunGard, SEI, Innovest, or similar) and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and function effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to coach and guide junior colleagues in a constructive, collaborative manner.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; adept at working across departments and with external partners.
Benefits
Employee benefits include a 401(k) plan with matching contributions, dental insurance, a flexible spending account, health insurance, life insurance, paid time off, professional development assistance, and vision insurance.
