AVP, Sr. Counsel, Investment Advisory - ERISA

Alternate Locations: Philadelphia, PA (Pennsylvania); Radnor, PA (Pennsylvania)

Relocation assistance is not available for this opportunity.

Requisition #61609

About the Company

Lincoln Financial Group, a Fortune 250 company with over 10,000 employees, provides advice and solutions that help empower Americans to take charge of their financial lives with confidence. Our core business areas — Life Insurance, Annuities, Retirement Plan Services and Group Protection — focus on supporting, preserving and enhancing over 17 million customer’s lifestyles and retirement outcomes.

Headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania, Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE: LNC) and its affiliates. The company had $238 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2018.

Ranked one of the Best Large Employers in America by Forbes magazine, Lincoln Financial Group makes a serious investment in our employees’ futures through a broad range of wealth accumulation and protection plans, health and wellness programs, and career development resources designed to help each individual reach their personal and professional goals.

The Role

Lincoln Financial Network (LFN) is the retail financial distribution channel for Lincoln Financial Group. It is comprised of two dually-registered broker-dealers and investment advisers and two insurance agency channels. The AVP, Senior Counsel will be responsible for developing and assisting with the overall legal, regulatory and compliance aspects of LFN’s retail wealth management services offered with a focus on LFN’s investment advisory platform and services, retirement plan services, and LFN’s related fiduciary and best interest requirements. S/he will work closely with LFN’s senior management and compliance personnel in LFN’s advisory services, legal, finance, operations and marketing groups. The individual must possess a comprehensive understanding of investment advisory and retirement plan programs and solutions with a general understanding of the following types of services provided and products offered: managed accounts, retirement plan products, advisory platform and services, group variable annuities, etc. and their related SEC and ERISA regulatory requirements, filings, disclosures, and contractual arrangements (Form ADV, 408b2 disclosures, trust agreements, client agreements, etc.).

The AVP, Sr. Counsel will be responsible for the overall development and communication of SEC and ERISA policies, procedures, fiduciary conflicts, disclosures and contractual requirements. S/he will act as a subject matter expert on SEC and ERISA policies and partner with the Sr. Counsel in developing necessary agreements and disclosures consistent with SEC, ERISA, and fiduciary requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provides direction on complex assignments, projects, and/or initiatives to build and enhance the capability of his/her assigned area(s) of responsibility
• Directs and enhances organizational initiatives by positively influencing and supporting change management and/or departmental/enterprise initiatives within assigned area(s) of responsibility.
• Identifies and directs the implementation of process improvements that significantly improve quality across the team, department and/or business unit for his/her assigned area(s) of responsibility.
• Provides subject matter expertise to team members and applicable internal/external stakeholders on complex
• assignments/projects for his/her assigned area(s) of responsibility.
• Maintains knowledge on current and emerging developments/trends for assigned area(s) or responsibility, assess the impact, and collaborates with senior management to incorporate new trends and developments in current and future solutions.
• Partners with the Senior Counsel to oversee monitoring of complex RIA (Registered Investment Advisory) and ERISA business activities, by understanding current advisory business/models and structures and being informed of any new enhancements or changes to current LFN investment advisory functions in order to analyze the ERISA (and fiduciary) regulatory implications.
• Collaborates with the Senior Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer in developing, updating and maintaining complex compliance policies and procedures (i.e. compliance manuals, conflict of interest policies, etc.) for relevant SEC and ERISA requirements, managing readiness for DOL/SEC audits
• Leads the development of necessary agreements and disclosures consistent with ERISA and fiduciary requirements (i.e. necessary Investment Advisory agreements, Retirement client disclosures (408b-2)) and partners with Sr. Counsel for final review.
• Communicate complex policies/procedures to Designated Supervisors/Representatives of the firm to ensure proper understanding of Investment Advisory and ERISA related risks/responsibilities
• Develops and manages advisory relationships with internal/external stakeholders by understanding LFN operations in Investment Advisory capacity and familiarization with Investment Advisory programs
• As a subject matter expert acts as point of contact and provides consultation to internal/external stakeholders, specifically as it relates to advisory program compliance with ERISA requirements
• Partners with Sr. Counsel and Compliance department in keeping current Conflict of Interest Policy and the Firm’s Form ADV Brochures.
• Participate as member of various committees as the Compliance Consultant to ensure the committee’s compliance with all applicable rules/regulations.
• Develop and conduct trainings on various SEC and ERISA policies and procedures to internal/external stakeholders.

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Juris Doctor degree (J.D.) required

Experience

• 10+ years experience related to SEC, ERISA and fiduciary matters for a financial institution that directly align with the specific responsibilities for this position
• Experience in collaborating effectively and leading without authority across the enterprise; coaching and advising on talent development challenges for all levels in the organization
• Demonstrates strong project management leadership skills including, critical ability to coordinate and balance multiple projects in a time-sensitive environment, under pressure, and
• Demonstrated ability to identify and recommend processes improvements.
• Finds common ground and can gain collaboration among senior management, colleagues and peers; can influence outcomes without directing or commanding
• Demonstrated strong relationship management skills with internal clients (e.g. senior management, peers and colleagues); proven ability to develop creative and collaborative approaches.
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills with collaborative style.
• Strong presentation skills with demonstrated ability to influence at all levels of management through clear, informed and logical discussions/presentations.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret both internal and external documents such as general media/publications, professional journals, technical procedures, governmental regulations, policies, proposals, and standard operating procedures.
• Confident, comfortable communicator with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• A demonstrated track record of consistently meeting and/or exceeding performance expectations
• Possesses a bias for action and avoids workplace distractions
• Drives performance targets to completion

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This position may be subject to Lincoln’s Political Contribution Policy. An offer of employment may be contingent upon disclosing to Lincoln the details of certain political contributions. Lincoln may decline to extend an offer or terminate employment for this role if it determines political contributions made could have an adverse impact on Lincoln’s current or future business interests, misrepresentations were made, or for failure to fully disclose applicable political contributions and or fundraising activities.

Any unsolicited resumes/candidate profiles submitted through our web site or to personal e-mail accounts of employees of Lincoln Financial Group are considered property of Lincoln Financial Group and are not subject to payment of agency fees.

Lincoln Financial Group (“LFG”) is an Equal Opportunity employer and, as such, is committed in policy and practice to recruit, hire, compensate, train and promote, in all job classifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, veterans status, or genetic information. Applicants are evaluated on the basis of job qualifications. If you are a person with a disability that impedes your ability to express your interest for a position through our online application process, or require TTY/TDD assistance, contact us by calling 260-455-2558.

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