Associate specialist business strategy - management

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: Associate Specialist, Business Strategy - Strategic Portfolio Management

Job Description:

The Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) team, part of the Business Enablement group, supports Northern Trust’s Wealth Management (WM) business by overseeing its portfolio of strategic initiatives and capital investments.

This team drives alignment between strategy and execution, manages the WM Capital portfolio, and leads governance and reporting processes that enhance financial and operational efficiency. The ideal candidate will bring financial acumen, strategic insight, and strong communication skills to support initiatives that improve partner and client experiences.

The Strategic Portfolio Associate Specialist will lead complex initiatives, facilitate governance, and partner with senior leadership to optimize investment decisions and ensure value realization across the WM portfolio.

Major Duties:

• Lead and improve strategic processes for developing, presenting, and reporting financial and operational analysis.

• Create and deliver analysis and presentations that distill complex data into actionable insights for senior leaders, both regularly and as needed.

• Develop and maintain portfolio reporting to provide transparency and support decision-making across Wealth Management.

• Develop advanced financial models, scenario analyses, and executive-level reports.

• Mentor junior team members and foster collaboration across SPM, Product, and Technology partners.

• Drive change management by proactively resolving issues and championing accountability.

• Build trusted relationships with Wealth Management leadership to ensure alignment and transparency.

Knowledge / Skills:

• Minimum 6 years of experience, comfortable with both tactical support and strategic thinking.

• Proven ability to translate financial and data analysis into actionable recommendations for business leaders.

• Advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to create effective presentations with data.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex analysis to senior leadership and influence decision-making.

• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and driving change in a dynamic environment.

• Demonstrates initiative and ownership in delivering results.

• Strong administrative and organizational skills.

• Highly flexible and adaptable to change.

• Proactive and self-motivated; able to drive open items to completion independently.

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within cross-functional teams.

• Strong critical and strategic thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills.

• Experience building relationships with stakeholders at all levels, including executive leadership.

• Awareness of Agile project management and development methodologies, including MVP definition and product roadmap planning techniques (recommended).

• Knowledge of Financial Services industry (recommended).

Salary Range:

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

[email protected]

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.