Senior Lead Business Accountability Specialist - Fiduciary Oversight Team

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Wells Fargo Wealth & Investment Management
Wells Fargo Wealth & Investment Management provides clients access to some of the United States' leading providers of financial and investment services. Through WIM's businesses, we deliver a full range of personalized wealth management, investment, planning, and retirement products and services to help meet clients' unique needs and to help them achieve financial goals.
WIM provides financial products and services through the various bank and brokerage affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company. Our clients have access to Wells Fargo Advisors, referrals from securities-registered bankers in the Consumer Bank and the Wells Fargo Private Bank, our elevated experience for high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families. WIM is also a leading provider of trust, investment, and fiduciary services, including personal trust services.
Banking, Lending & Trust COE
As part of its vision for a flatter, more nimble organization that is easier to do business with, Wealth and Investment Management (WIM) has created horizontal functions known as centers of excellence to support all client coverage channels. Banking, Lending, & Trust is a center of excellence that brings teams and functions currently found across WIM's consumer businesses under a common, WIM-level organization. The group is focused on transforming from channel-based to client-focused solutions and delivery in an effort to reduce operational risk, improve efficiency, increase consistency/coordination, and bring focus on product management / development to deliver innovative growth and improve the client experience. Additionally, the new group will deliver a WIM-level culture of product management excellence by creating a culture of innovation, product excellence, client service and risk mitigation.
About this role:
Wells Fargo is seeking a Senior Lead Business Accountability Specialist with legal and tax experience to focus on technical aspects of charitable planning and apply deep knowledge and skills relating to trusts, estates, tax, and fiduciary law in reviewing charitable trusts that name Wells Fargo Bank as initial or successor trustee. The incumbent proactively identifies and addresses technical issues relating to accepting new philanthropic accounts, including potential tax, risk management, and administration/logistical concerns... Working at Wells Fargo | Jobs and Careers at Wells Fargo (wellsfargojobs.com)
In this role, you will:

• As a Senior Lead Business Accountability Specialist on the BL&T Fiduciary Oversight team, you will provide technical fiduciary risk management expertise and leverage expertise to identify opportunities to streamline policies, procedures and controls to enhance client experience, improve efficiencies and reduce risk.
• Provide risk management at account acceptance and provide fiduciary risk guidance in relation to account specific situations.
• Analyze trusts and other complex legal documents (court orders, etc.) relating to new and potential charitable/tax-exempt trustee accounts and provide philanthropic pre-acceptance approval or recommend declining as appropriate.
• Review documents relating to future charitable trusteeship appointments even when no new account is needed currently-e.g., estate planning documents that will fund charitable trusts at a living donor's future death. Work directly with the donor's attorney and provide detailed feedback from the bank's perspective as potential trustee to facilitate the trust's acceptance and administration per donor intent as well as charitable tax qualification.
• Navigate technical hurdles relating to private foundation and public charity formation and administration, grant/scholarship programs, endowments, restricted grants, charitable deduction issues, tax-exempt status, special/illiquid asset gift acceptance, unrelated business income tax, excess business holdings, self-dealing, taxable expenditures, minimum distributions, excess benefit rules, and state law compliance (including attorney general, secretary of state, and other registration rules).
• Coordinate with internal Tax team and others in reviewing prior tax returns and account statements for successor trusteeships to identify major tax qualification concerns that might affect the bank's ability to serve as trustee, developing plans to resolve issues if possible/appropriate.
• Help internal partners prepare for philanthropic planning conversations with donors involving charitable trusteeships; communicate directly with partners and centers of influence (external attorneys/advisors) throughout the U.S. and collaborate to develop and implement creative solutions relating to charitable gift and estate planning strategies-e.g., bequests, charitable remainder trusts (CRTs), charitable lead trusts (CLTs), private foundations, donor advised funds, and other planned giving vehicles.
• Analyze and apply state-specific fiduciary and trust law requirements across a nationwide footprint and advise internal partners regarding same as they relate to philanthropic accounts and Philanthropic Services' fiduciary products and services.
• Partner directly with outside counsel for the bank to coordinate trust modification court actions and nonjudicial settlement agreements when necessary before a new charitable trust account can be opened and a Philanthropic Administrator can be assigned-e.g., when an estate will fund a new charitable trust lacking required tax language.
• Develop a deep understanding of internal policies and procedures relevant to philanthropic business and advise others regarding same. Help maintain and create policies, procedures, forms, and other internal guidance.
• Use technical expertise to assist with other duties as assigned. Examples: support successful completion of corrective actions; support Philanthropic Services team by working with audit, control management, legal, compliance, and other internal partners as well as outside trust counsel and third-party vendors.

Required Qualifications:

• 7+ years of risk management, business controls, quality assurance, business operations, compliance, or process experience, or equivalent demonstrated through one or a combination of the following: work experience, training, military experience, education

Desired Qualifications:

• JD, LL.M, or CTFA designations
• Significant experience drafting or reviewing private foundation trusts, charitable remainder trusts, and charitable lead trusts
• Experience bringing issues to closure in a decisive manner despite potential obstacles within a complex environment
• Ability to identify and manage complex issues and negotiate solutions within a geographically dispersed organization
• Strong research and documentation skills
• Ability to make timely and independent judgment decisions while working in a fast-paced and results-driven environment
• Experience resolving and working through escalated and complex issues
• Ability to assess current processes/procedures and make recommendations for efficiency
• Experience developing partnerships and collaborating with other business and functional areas
• Strong written, oral and interpersonal communication skills
• Proficient with Microsoft365 applications
• Strong analytical skills with high attention to detail and accuracy
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently and be adaptable to changing work priorities
• Superb writing skills

Job Locations:

• 550 S. 4th ST, Minneapolis MN, 55415
• 550 S Tryon, Charlotte NC, 28202
• 5301 Southwest Pkwy Ste 300, Austin TX, 78735
• 2801 Market Street, F & L Bldg, St Louis MO, 63103
• 100 N Main St, Winston Salem NC, 27101
• 6325 S Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas NV, 89118
• 111 West Ocean Blvd, Long Beach CA, 90802
• 3059 Townsgate Rd, Westlake Village CA, 91361

Job Expectations:

• This position offers a hybrid work schedule
• This position is not eligible for Visa sponsorship.
• Specific compliance policies may apply regarding outside activities and/or personal investing; affected employees will be expected to provide information to the Wells Fargo Personal Account Dealing Team and abide by applicable policy requirements if hired. Information will be shared about expectations during the recruitment process.

Pay Range
Reflected is the base pay range offered for this position. Pay may vary depending on factors including but not limited to achievements, skills, experience, or work location. The range listed is just one component of the compensation package offered to candidates.
$159,000.00 - $305,000.00
Benefits
Wells Fargo provides eligible employees with a comprehensive set of benefits, many of which are listed below. Visit Benefits - Wells Fargo Jobs for an overview of the following benefit plans and programs offered to employees.

• Health benefits
• 401(k) Plan
• Paid time off
• Disability benefits
• Life insurance, critical illness insurance, and accident insurance
• Parental leave
• Critical caregiving leave
• Discounts and savings
• Commuter benefits
• Tuition reimbursement
• Scholarships for dependent children
• Adoption reimbursement

Posting End Date:
14 Aug 2025
* Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.
We Value Equal Opportunity
Wells Fargo is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected characteristic.
Employees support our focus on building strong customer relationships balanced with a strong risk mitigating and compliance-driven culture which firmly establishes those disciplines as critical to the success of our customers and company. They are accountable for execution of all applicable risk programs (Credit, Market, Financial Crimes, Operational, Regulatory Compliance), which includes effectively following and adhering to applicable Wells Fargo policies and procedures, appropriately fulfilling risk and compliance obligations, timely and effective escalation and remediation of issues, and making sound risk decisions. There is emphasis on proactive monitoring, governance, risk identification and escalation, as well as making sound risk decisions commensurate with the business unit's risk appetite and all risk and compliance program requirements.
Applicants with Disabilities
To request a medical accommodation during the application or interview process, visit Disability Inclusion at Wells Fargo .
Drug and Alcohol Policy
Wells Fargo maintains a drug free workplace. Please see our Drug and Alcohol Policy to learn more.
Wells Fargo Recruitment and Hiring Requirements:
a. Third-Party recordings are prohibited unless authorized by Wells Fargo.
b. Wells Fargo requires you to directly represent your own experiences during the recruiting and hiring process.