Senior Trust Officer - BankWest

Senior Trust Officer – Bank West – South Dakota (Location Negotiable)

We are seeking a Senior Trust Officer to manage complex personal trust accounts and provide high‑touch trust and estate administration services for high‑net‑worth clients in South Dakota.

• Administer a book of complex trust accounts, including multigenerational, directed, special‑needs, and irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs), in accordance with governing instruments, applicable laws, and company policies.
• Interpret trust documents and manage distributions, tax reporting, and legal compliance.
• Serve as the primary relationship manager for high‑net‑worth clients and family offices, addressing fiduciary matters.
• Collaborate with co‑trustees, trust protectors, distribution committees, and family governance entities.
• Assist with estate settlement: marshal assets, pay debts, file required tax returns, and distribute assets.
• Review and monitor accounts holding unique or illiquid assets such as closely held business interests, real estate, and alternative investments.
• Participate in trust committee meetings and provide recommendations regarding discretionary distributions and account management.
• Partner with other Bank West departments to drive business development and close new Trust business through prospecting activities.
• Proactively identify and harvest opportunities to deepen relationships within the current client base.
• Maintain relationships with key clients, identify issues, new business opportunities, and provide trust, estate, and wealth transfer planning guidance.
• Engage other departments within Bank West to best meet client needs.
• Provide leadership in onboarding new business and overseeing account acceptance processes.
• Identify and mitigate fiduciary risks and appropriately elevate concerns.

• Work with departmental counterparts on planning and implementing assigned projects and products.
• Participate on various committees and project teams as deemed appropriate by management.
• Attend and actively participate in organization‑specific training, quality service programs, and job‑specific learning opportunities.
• Adhere to all applicable policies and procedures of Bank West.
• Community involvement is strongly encouraged.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education

• A Bachelor’s Degree in a related field.
• Applicable experience and/or related certifications may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• JD, CTFA, CPA, or other relevant professional designations strongly preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of experience in trust administration, with at least 5 years focused on complex or South Dakota situs accounts.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to work dependently and/or independently, under pressure, meet deadlines, and adjust work schedules as needed to complete job responsibilities.
• Ability to organize and handle multiple responsibilities while delivering quality external and/or internal customer service.
• Strong interpersonal skills to ensure effective communication with external and/or internal customers.
• Knowledge or ability to learn regulatory requirements pertinent to performance of specified duties in job description.
• Knowledge of trust terminology and procedures.
• Proven ability to handle complex family structures, charitable trusts, and business ownership issues.
• Adapt at managing competing priorities and delivering timely, accurate work under pressure.
• Expert knowledge of fiduciary principles, trust and estate administration, and federal and state tax implications.
• Familiarity with South Dakota’s directed trust framework, trust protector roles, and privacy and decanting statutes.
• Knowledge of Bank West products and services.
• Ability to skillfully use a variety of application software, learn computer programs, and comprehend the program output.
• Adhere to Federal Privacy Standards in addition to following Bank West requirements for electronic communication and social engineering standards.
• Bank West is a “Sales Organization” and all employees are expected to participate directly or indirectly with increasing Bank West’s presence in their markets as appropriate.

• Mid‑Senior level

• Full‑time

• Finance and Sales