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Mutual Fund Administration Specialist

Northwestern Mutual · Milwaukee, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 25, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you found an error in a financial statement or report before it went out.

What they are checking: Whether they review carefully and catch problems before they become public.

Describe a project you worked on involving a new product, fund or regulation.

What they are checking: Whether they can learn new requirements and turn them into working processes.

What would you do

A pricing vendor's price for a bond moved sharply overnight with no market news. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they challenge suspicious prices before they flow into a fund's published value.

How would you explain to a marketing partner why a performance number can't be shown the way they want?

What they are checking: Whether they can hold the line on compliance while staying helpful to internal customers.

How do you stay organized when daily controls, a quarterly filing and an ad hoc request all hit at once?

What they are checking: Whether they protect daily valuation controls while still meeting other deadlines.

About the work

How is a mutual fund's daily NAV calculated, and what controls would you want around it?

What they are checking: Whether they understand daily valuation well enough to oversee it and spot a wrong price.

Our fund accounting is outsourced. How would you oversee a service provider without redoing all their work?

What they are checking: Whether they understand risk-based oversight of vendors rather than blind trust or full duplication.

What SEC filings are you familiar with for registered funds, and what have you helped prepare?

What they are checking: Whether they have real exposure to fund regulatory reporting like N-PORT, N-CEN or shareholder reports.

What is a book-to-tax difference, and can you give an example for a mutual fund?

What they are checking: Whether they grasp why tax and accounting income differ, which drives distribution and excise tax work.

Why do mutual funds care about excise tax distribution requirements?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that funds must distribute enough income to avoid a tax that hurts shareholders.

What do you know about variable annuity and variable life separate accounts?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the insurance products this team also accounts for, not just retail funds.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Mutual.

About The Job The Mutual Fund Administration (MFA) division is responsible for fund administration related to the Northwestern Mutual Series Fund which consists of 30 portfolios. MFA is also responsible for accounting and financial reporting related to Northwestern Mutual’s variable annuity and variable life separate accounts. What You'll Do: • Perform oversight of outsourced service providers including but not limited to fund accounting and pricing services • Execution and coordination of controls over daily valuation of mutual funds. • Preparation and review of financial statements and related financial materials and disclosures. • Provides financial information to meet the needs of internal and external customers, including preparing regulatory filings for the Securities and Exchange Commission, performance calculations and marketing information. • Responsible for mutual fund compliance with the IRS, SEC and all other regulators. • Researches and engages in various projects associated with new products, new funds, new regulations, system enhancements and ad hoc requests. • May be asked to assist on projects. • May be asked to Identify book to tax differences and oversee the preparation of the excise and fiscal tax calculations for the mutual funds. • Demonstrates ability to work with internal and external contacts such as information systems, investment traders, auditors, brokers, custodians and investment advisors. What You'll Bring: • Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance • Three years or less of prior accounting experience • High degree of self motivation • Proven ability to meet strict deadlines • Strong oral and written communication skills • Ability to work well with limited guidance • Analytical and problem solving ability • Ability to retrieve and use information from accounting system and other sources • Previous mutual fund accounting or administration experience a plus. • A working knowledge of GAAP accounting for investments. • Ability to work well in a team environment Skills You'll Have: • Applies knowledge and utilizes systems that facilitate or automate one or more business application solutions, including linking rules to workflow management and requirements acquisition. • Establishes, analyzes and interprets compliance metrics. Defines and implements monitoring controls in order to communicate compliance status, risks, trends and monitors results to stakeholders • Facilitates collaboration, communication, coordination, and planning with individuals and teams from different functions within the organization, and who have different areas of expertise, to achieve common goals • Prepares and presents financial statements accurately and reports that summarize the financial performance and position of NM's products and services, adhering to accounting principles and regulatory requirements. This includes analyzing financial data, reconciling accounts, and effectively communicating financial information to internal and external stakeholders to facilitate decision-making and ensure transparency and compliance. #LI-Hybrid Compensation Range: Pay Range - Start: $60,880.00 Pay Range - End: $91,320.00 Geographic Specific Pay Structure: Structure 110: $66,960.00 USD - $100,440.00 USD Structure 115: $70,000.00 USD - $105,000.00 USD We believe in fairness and transparency. It’s why we share the salary range for most of our roles. However, final salaries are based on a number of factors, including the skills and experience of the candidate; the current market; location of the candidate; and other factors uncovered in the hiring process. The standard pay structure is listed but if you’re living in California, New York City or other eligible location, geographic specific pay structures, compensation and benefits could be applicable, click here to learn more. Grow your career with a best-in-class company that puts our clients' interests at the center of all we do. Get started now! Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes talented individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which each employee can contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, assume leadership and continue to focus on meeting and exceeding business and personal objectives.

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