Due Diligence Operations Manager

Job Description

The Due Diligence Operations Manager is responsible for the operational execution, governance, and continuous improvement of processes that support the firm’s product due diligence team. This role partners closely with Due Diligence, Risk, Compliance, Legal, Product Management, National Sales, the Trading Desk and Operations to ensure due diligence activities are performed in a consistent, timely, well‑documented, and regulator‑ready manner. The role focuses on operational discipline, workflow management, issue tracking, data integrity, and reporting—enabling risk‑based product decisions while ensuring alignment with regulatory expectations (e.g., FINRA, SEC) and internal policies.

What You Will Do

• Operational Oversight & Execution
  • Own and manage end‑to‑end operational workflows supporting product due‑diligence reviews, approvals, renewals, and ongoing monitoring.
  • Ensure due‑diligence processes are executed consistently in accordance with internal policies, supervisory procedures, and regulatory requirements.
  • Coordinate intake, prioritization, and tracking of new product requests and material product changes.
  • Maintain operational readiness for audits, exams, and internal reviews by ensuring documentation, evidence, and approvals are complete and accessible.
  • Identify opportunities to streamline workflows, improve cycle times, and enhance transparency across due‑diligence activities.
  • Develop, maintain, and enhance standard operating procedures (SOPs), controls, and operational playbooks.
  • Partner with stakeholders to implement scalable solutions as product complexity, volume, or regulatory expectations evolve.
  • Support technology enablement efforts, including workflow tools, data repositories, and reporting platforms.
  • Review and respond to requests regarding product agreements/availability from auditors (both internal and external) and regulators.
  • Support the firm’s product governance framework by ensuring appropriate escalation, issue tracking, and decision documentation.
  • Monitor adherence to service‑level expectations, internal controls, and risk‑based review standards.
  • Track and report operational risks, process gaps, and remediation efforts related to product due diligence.
  • Partner with Compliance and Legal to ensure regulatory interpretations are operationalized effectively.
  • Help manage the pipeline of requested product approvals.
  • Manage the publication of Cetera’s approved product lists.
  • Develop and maintain dashboards, KPIs, and management reporting related to due‑diligence volume, turnaround times, exceptions, and trends.
  • Provide clear, concise reporting to Risk & Compliance leadership and governance committees.
  • Use data and insights to inform capacity planning, prioritization, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Process Design & Continuous Improvement
  • Identify opportunities to streamline workflows, improve cycle times, and enhance transparency across due‑diligence activities.
  • Develop, maintain, and enhance standard operating procedures (SOPs), controls, and operational playbooks.
  • Partner with stakeholders to implement scalable solutions as product complexity, volume, or regulatory expectations evolve.
  • Support technology enablement efforts, including workflow tools, data repositories, and reporting platforms.
• Risk, Governance & Controls
  • Review and respond to requests regarding product agreements/availability from auditors (both internal and external) and regulators.
  • Support the firm’s product governance framework by ensuring appropriate escalation, issue tracking, and decision documentation.
  • Monitor adherence to service‑level expectations, internal controls, and risk‑based review standards.
  • Track and report operational risks, process gaps, and remediation efforts related to product due diligence.
  • Partner with Compliance and Legal to ensure regulatory interpretations are operationalized effectively.
  • Help manage the pipeline of requested product approvals.
• Reporting & Metrics
  • Manage the publication of Cetera’s approved product lists.
  • Develop and maintain dashboards, KPIs, and management reporting related to due‑diligence volume, turnaround times, exceptions, and trends.
  • Provide clear, concise reporting to Risk & Compliance leadership and governance committees.
  • Use data and insights to inform capacity planning, prioritization, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration
  • Act as a key operational liaison between Product Due Diligence, Compliance, Risk, Legal, Product, Operations, and Technology teams.
  • Work with Cetera IT to troubleshoot any issue with data feeds that share approved product information to AdviceWorks (our internal website) and to our approved custodians.
  • Assist recruiting team in researching whether older products were approved by Cetera or if we have a servicing agreement, and determining if products can be transferred/held at Cetera.
  • Facilitate alignment across stakeholders to support informed product decisions while balancing risk, compliance, and business needs.
  • Support governance forums, committees, and working groups as needed.
• Additional Responsibilities
  • Manage the AI Insight training and education system for alternative investments.
  • Respond to general department inquiries, as needed.
  • Prepare product activation notices for approved products.
  • Maintain documentation related to product compensation and interface with commission/operations teams to provide necessary information.

What You Need To Have

• Bachelor’s degree in finance or a related field or equivalent.
• Minimum of 5 years of due diligence experience in a broker‑dealer.
• Operational Excellence: Strong ability to design, execute, optimize complex workflows, manage high volumes under tight deadlines.
• Risk & Control Mindset: Comfort operating within a highly regulated, risk‑based environment.
• Stakeholder Influence: Ability to partner effectively across functions without direct authority.
• Analytical & Detail‑Oriented: Strong attention to accuracy, documentation, and data integrity.
• Communication: Clear, concise communicator capable of translating complex issues for diverse audiences.
• Change Leadership: Able to drive improvement while balancing speed, quality, and compliance.

What’s Nice To Have

• Salesforce experience preferred.
• FINRA registrations, risk/compliance credentials preferred.

Travel Requirements: Up to 10%

What We Give You In Return

• Inclusive health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans built to support diverse lifestyles, offer preventative care, and protect against hardship.
• Easy access to mental health benefits to meet our team members and their families where they are.
• 20+ days of paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, and 2 paid wellness days to give our employees the time they need to stay close with their loved ones, recharge, and give back to their communities.
• 401(k) savings plan with a generous company contribution (up to 5%), and access to a financial professional to offer our employees the opportunity to plan‑ahead for a strong financial future well beyond their working years.
• Paid parental leave to support all team members with birth, adoption, and fostering.
• Health Savings and Flexible Spending Account options to help you save money on healthcare, daycare, commuting, and more.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP), LifeLock, Pet Insurance and more.
• Paid caregiver leave to provide time away from work when caring for an ill or recovering family member.
• Additional benefits such as an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), identity theft protection (LifeLock), pet insurance, and other voluntary benefits to provide extra peace of mind.

About Cetera

Cetera Financial Group® (Cetera) is a leading network of independent retail broker‑dealers and registered investment advisers empowering the delivery of objective financial advice to individuals, families, and company retirement plans across the country through trusted financial advisors and financial institutions. Cetera is one of the largest independent financial advisor networks in the nation and a leading provider of retail services to the investment programs of banks and credit unions.

Cetera Financial Group (Cetera) is a network of independent retail firms, including those that are members of FINRA/SIPC: Cetera Advisors LLC; Cetera Wealth Services, LLC; Cetera Investment Services LLC; and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC. Entities registered as investment advisers with the Securities and Exchange Commission include Cetera Investment Management LLC and Cetera Investment Advisers LLC. Cetera’s principal office is located at 655 W. Broadway, 11th Floor, San Diego, CA 92101.

Cetera Financial Group is committed to providing an equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. For us, this is the only acceptable way to do business. Accordingly, all employment decisions at Cetera Financial Group, including those relating to hiring, promotion, transfers, benefits, compensation, and placement, will be made without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, age, physical and/or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic characteristics, religion, religious dress and/or grooming, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, U.S. military status, political affiliation, or any other class protected by state and/or federal law.