Process Optimization Specialist (Finance)

About Northern Trust:

Northern Trust, a Fortune 500 company, is a globally recognized, award-winning financial institution that has been in continuous operation since 1889.

Northern Trust is proud to provide innovative financial services and guidance to the world's most successful individuals, families, and institutions by remaining true to our enduring principles of service, expertise, and integrity. With more than 130 years of financial experience and over 22,000 partners, we serve the world's most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

Job Title: Process Optimization Specialist

At Northern Trust, we empower our partners with the resources, support, and opportunities to achieve their full potential. We are committed to individual career development and growth, encouraging movement within the organization and providing access to senior leaders. Join us in strengthening the communities in which we live and work.

The Process Optimization team, part of the Wealth Management (WM) Office of the Chief Operating Officer (OCOO), collaborates with teams across Wealth Management to identify, prioritize, and execute process optimization opportunities. These initiatives drive measurable benefits to the Wealth Management organization.

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Process Optimization Specialist to advance our enterprise-wide process improvement efforts. Working closely with the Process Optimization Manager, you will execute our process optimization strategy, lead key initiatives, and support prioritization across our growing project portfolio. The ideal candidate has a proven track record of delivering complex process initiatives, influencing across teams, and identifying new opportunities aligned with long-term strategic goals.

Responsibilities:

• Lead high-impact process optimization initiatives focused on efficiency, risk reduction, and client experience.
• Collaborate with the Process Optimization Manager to develop and execute strategic improvement plans and a multiyear process roadmap.
• Manage the execution of the process optimization project portfolio, ensuring timely delivery with measurable value.
• Coordinate and execute planning and initiatives with partners across Wealth Management.
• Evaluate proposed initiatives against business objectives, capacity, and readiness to support portfolio prioritization.
• Develop process governance, documentation standards, and performance metrics.
• Provide transparency into initiative progress, risks, and results through reporting and stakeholder communication.
• Identify and recommend new optimization opportunities to improve the Client and Partner experience.
• Conduct in-depth analyses, create process maps, and define KPIs to measure success and impact.
• Facilitate workshops and lead cross-functional workstreams to drive engagement and alignment.
• Adopt a team-based approach to process re-engineering with a focus on results.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's preferred (Business, Operations, Engineering, Finance, or related field).
• 10+ years of experience in process improvement, operational excellence, business transformation, or strategy execution-preferably within financial services.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and/or Black Belt preferred.
• Proven success in optimizing processes across business teams.
• Familiarity with portfolio or program management tools (e.g., Smartsheet, Jira).
• Proficiency in process mapping and design tools (e.g., Visio, Signavio).
• Exceptional communication, stakeholder engagement, and facilitation skills.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking capabilities.
• Courage to challenge the status quo.

Salary Range:
$114,700 - 194,900 USD

Salary range is a good faith estimate of base pay. Northern Trust provides a comprehensive benefits package including retirement benefits (401k and pension), health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability), paid time off, parental and caregiver leave, life & accident insurance, and other voluntary and well-being benefits. Northern Trust also provides a discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component.

Working with Us:

As a Northern Trust partner, greater achievements await. You will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture in an organization where financial strength and stability is an asset that emboldens us to explore new ideas.

Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to assisting the communities we serve! Join a workplace with a greater purpose.

We'd love to learn more about how your interests and experience could be a fit with one of the world's most admired and sustainable companies! Build your career with us and apply today. #MadeForGreater

Reasonable accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at MyHRHelp@ntrs.com .

We hope you're excited about the role and the opportunity to work with us. We value an inclusive workplace and understand flexibility means different things to different people.

Apply today and talk to us about your flexible working requirements and together we can achieve greater.