Trust Fund Manager

A trust fund manager is an individual that is responsible for the management of investment funds. Sometimes referred to as a fund portfolio or mutual fund manager, the trust fund manager oversees all aspects of fund management from the initial transaction to the close of the investment on the portfolio. There are several types of investment funds that a trust fund manager must deal with: mutual funds, hedge funds or private investments. Unlike mutual funds, hedge funds and private investments carry a high risk for investors so the trust fund manager must be well equipped to handle the operations of these funds.

Mutual funds are managed by mutual fund accountants and trust fund managers. These individuals are considered private accountants and managers because they work from the mutual fund company and not a public firm.

A trust fund manager handles the accounting functions for the mutual funds the company is responsible for. The accounting functions include: maintaining balances in the accounts, making sure the company is compliance with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), provides detailed annual and monthly reports on profit/loss and fund values, calculate the Net Asset Value (NAV) on each fund the company has, determine the current cash value on each fund the company has, and acts as a liaison between investors and internal management.

Qualifications for a trust fund manager are: a 4 year business degree preferably in Accounting or Finance and possess excellent mathematical and computer skills. Some employers require a Masters degree in Accounting or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification excellent mathematical and computer skills.

Salaries for mutual fund accountants depend on the level of experience and education the individual has. Entry- level trust fund accountants can start from $40,000-$60,000 per year. Experienced trust fund accountants can earn from $60,000-$100,000 per year.

Also, a trust fund manager is responsible for managing the daily financial happenings of an investor’s portfolio. Depending on the size of the company, the fund manager could oversee several portfolios. The trust fund manager takes care of buying and selling of securities and reworking of the portfolio if the funds take a hit on the market. Unfortunately, trust fund managers are the first people to take the brunt of when a fund does not perform well. Mutual fund managers are asked to discuss how the fund is performing to internal management as well as investors but are not allowed to discuss how much the company holds in any mutual fund.

In addition to certifications, trust fund accountants and managers must maintain professional credits in order to be in good standing with governing boards.