Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Affiliations
Timeline
Generic

Karen Schaefer

Great Falls,MT

Summary

Resourceful Vice President with over 29 years of results-oriented experience in business and operations management. Driven and ethical professional with demonstrated success in developing and implementing optimized solutions. Versatile leader recognized for driving results in collaborative, inclusive manner.

Overview

29
29
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

VP, Senior Operations Manager

D.A. Davidson Companies
Great Falls, MT
03.2022 - 02.2024
  • Developed and executed strategic plans to support the vision of the organization across business units, including Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisor, and a Trust Company.
  • Worked to reduce friction around processes to effectively streamline the business and client experience.
  • Wrote a business plan and outline to create a new team of Operations professionals servicing the business and providing concierge service for those requests that are atypical.
  • Mentored the managers working under me, elevating their job performance and capabilities.
  • Maintained positive vendor relationships including Broadridge, Envestnet, BETANxt, and Advent.
  • Promoted communication across business units to break down silos and create a better understanding of the business processes.

VP, Customer Reporting Manager

D.A. Davidson Companies
Great Falls, MT
03.2018 - 03.2022
  • Made recommendations to senior leaders on business strategy and initiatives.
  • Responsible for timely and accurate delivery of statements, confirmation, proxy, and prospectus. Managed the vendor contract for these regulatory deliveries, and made site visits to ensure best policies were followed.
  • Assumed responsibility for managing performance reporting of advisory accounts as well as monitoring that growing universe for accurate data.
  • Managed all outgoing data feeds to third parties.
  • Managed a team of Operations Professionals dedicated to accuracy in pricing, and cost basis maintenance.

AVP, Data & Reconciliation Manager

D.A. Davidson Companies
Great Falls, MT
05.2008 - 03.2018
  • Responsible for a team of Operations professionals dedicated to the daily, accurate posting and reconciliation of activity between the back office platform and performance reporting system.
  • Managed outside custodial relationships and data feeds to ensure compliance.
  • Managed pricing and ratings contracts to ensure cost efficiency and accuracy.
  • Led my team through not only a back office platform conversion, but multiple acquisitions and conversion of account data from previous sources. Used both strategic and tactical thinking to mitigate risk and ensure integrity of data.

Trust Operations Manager

D.A. Davidson Companies
Great Falls, MT
09.2003 - 05.2008
  • Joined the Operations team of Davidson Trust Company to expand my knowledge of the business on the Trust side. Worked with my team to daily post and reconcile transactions between custodial and Trust platforms.
  • Helped lead a platform conversion from a legacy platform to Reliance Trust Company, a more modern platform. Ensured accuracy of data and continuity of service during the transition.

Support Staff

D.A. Davidson Companies
Great Falls, MT
09.1994 - 09.2003
  • Learned the back office operations functions from the ground up, including security processing, where I received certificates from branches, and booked to the depository. I also worked to maintain accuracy to ensure cycle counts were completed without issue, and worked with transfer agents to process corporate actions of physical securities.
  • Worked in the mutual fund department, ensuring accurate reconciliation of Level 3 positions, as well as networking requests and resolving trade issues.

Education

Some College (No Degree) -

University of Montana
Missoula, MT

Skills

  • Client Relationship Building
  • Operations Management
  • Staff Development
  • Customer Service
  • Rules and Regulations
  • Relationship Building
  • Training and Mentoring

Certification

  • FINRA SIE, 99, and 7 current licenses

Affiliations

  • Past President Great Falls Symphony Association
  • Past President Center Stage Theater
  • Special Olympics Montana volunteer
  • American Red Cross blood donor

Timeline

VP, Senior Operations Manager

D.A. Davidson Companies
03.2022 - 02.2024

VP, Customer Reporting Manager

D.A. Davidson Companies
03.2018 - 03.2022

AVP, Data & Reconciliation Manager

D.A. Davidson Companies
05.2008 - 03.2018

Trust Operations Manager

D.A. Davidson Companies
09.2003 - 05.2008

Support Staff

D.A. Davidson Companies
09.1994 - 09.2003

Some College (No Degree) -

University of Montana

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Karen Schaefer