Assistant Director Finance and Administration

About the Job:

Mason Street Advisors (MSA) manages over $42 billion in assets across 34 individual funds and 2 mutual fund clients. These funds are exclusively offered through Northwestern Mutual advisory services and variable insurance and annuity products. This position is responsible for budgeting, profitability and pricing for MSA and the funds for which it serves as investment adviser. This position also supports the planning and execution of MSA’s subadvisory oversight, supervision and reporting responsibilities.  

What You'll Do

• Support the budgeting, forecasting, profitability, pricing and financial controls for MSA
• Coordinate with the Finance Department regarding revenue and expense management 
• Monitor the financial aspects and contracts of MSA’s vendors
• Maintain a keen understanding of inter-company agreements between MSA and its affiliates
• Provide financial perspective on specific business plans and initiatives relating to MSA and the funds advised by MSA 
• Prepare materials and reports to the board of directors of MSA’s mutual fund clients, with a focus on fees, expenses and profitability
• Maintain awareness of subadvisory fee trends within the industry and review existing and prospective subadvisory fee arrangements for competitiveness
• Support the day-to-day activities for the maintenance and enhancement of sub-advisory oversight and supervision, including board reporting
• Identify opportunities to increase efficiency in data collection, organization and report creation through process optimization and emerging technologies

What You'll Bring to the Role:

• Bachelor’s degree required with a major in business, economics, finance, accounting or related field, with an advanced degree (such as MBA) or designation preferred
• Minimum of 8 years’ experience, including solid knowledge of financial concepts and strategic operational planning
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in investment management and/or financial services
• Demonstrated ability to apply strategic thinking and sound judgment to support business planning and operational improvements
• Superior verbal and written communication skills
• Lead and influence others outside of a direct reporting relationship

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to prioritize and work independently
• Expertise in Microsoft Excel and Power BI
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Word and PowerPoint

Skills You Have:

• Analytical Thinking - Organizes and compares various aspects of a situation to comprehend and identify key or underlying complex issues through the use of quantitative data and analysis; leverages strong business acumen, problem solving, and interpersonal skills to think critically about situations from multiple perspectives and consistently seeks ways to improve processes.

• Attention to Detail - Focuses on specific details to spot and correct errors in advance of them being found and surpass quality expectations. Performs work with thorough proofreading for presentation, content, accuracy, and overall quality.

• Business Automation - Applies knowledge and utilizes systems that facilitate or automate one or more business application solutions, including linking rules to workflow management and requirements acquisition.

• Cross Functional Partnering & Planning - Facilitates collaboration, communication, coordination, and planning with individuals and teams from different functions within the organization, and who have different areas of expertise, to achieve common goals.

• Financial Acumen - Applies the knowledge of financial statements, financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and financial modeling to ensure decisions are fiscally sound and responsible.

Compensation Range:

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We believe in fairness and transparency. It’s why we share the salary range for most of our roles. However, final salaries are based on a number of factors, including the skills and experience of the candidate; the current market; location of the candidate; and other factors uncovered in the hiring process. The standard pay structure is listed but if you’re living in California, New York City or other eligible location, geographic specific pay structures, compensation and benefits could be applicable, click here to learn more.

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Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes talented individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which each employee can contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, assume leadership and continue to focus on meeting and exceeding business and personal objectives.