Operations · Finance · Leadership
James P. Rutherford
Ten years building the operational infrastructure of global finance, from Euroclear settlements to wealth management. Now applying that same precision to what comes next.
Operator.
Leader.
Author.
I spent the better part of a decade inside the operational backbone of global finance, at Bank of New York Mellon / Pershing and Merrill Lynch: managing high-volume settlement workflows, leading hybrid teams across U.S. and offshore locations, and building the controls that keep complex systems accurate under pressure.
That work demands precision, composure under deadline, and clear-eyed judgment when things go sideways. I have delivered across Euroclear settlements, international client processing, and wealth management operations supporting advisors and institutional clients.
Outside of formal roles, I completed my MBA while serving as Treasurer on a nonprofit board, real fiduciary responsibility rather than a title, and authored a book on applied AI for non-technical readers. This is a track record of stacking capabilities, not chasing pivots.
Experience
Where I have worked and what I built
A decade across two of the most respected names in financial services: leading teams, improving processes, and delivering results in regulated, high-stakes environments.
Founder & Principal
Established an independent financial services LLC for operational consulting and investment services. Maintaining active Series 7 licensure while conducting independent research, managing personal investment accounts, and building the service framework for launch.
Lead Analyst, Team Manager, Euroclear Settlements
Led daily operations for a high-volume global settlement unit. Managed a hybrid team of 7 to 9 analysts across the U.S. and Chennai, including performance reviews, cross-shift coordination, and 24-hour market coverage. Designed process improvements that reduced errors, led UAT for system updates, and delivered risk-focused reporting to senior leadership.
Sr. Representative, International Settlements
Managed high-volume international settlement workflows with strict compliance requirements. Reconciled cash and position breaks, resolved escalated operational issues, trained new analysts, and participated in system enhancement rollouts.
GWIM Senior Operations Representative
Supported financial advisors across Merrill Lynch One and Pro platforms. Guided portfolio execution, tax strategy processing, and managed account workflows. Trained advisors on platform best practices and resolved complex account and trade issues.
What I bring
Core capabilities
Operations Leadership
Led hybrid teams across time zones, coordinated global market workflows, and built controls that hold up under high volume and regulatory scrutiny.
Process Improvement
Identified workflow gaps, designed fixes, and implemented changes that reduced errors and improved SLA adherence across complex settlement operations.
Financial Reporting
Prepared performance metrics, exception reports, and risk summaries for senior leadership to support staffing and control decisions.
Regulatory Compliance
Operated inside FINRA-regulated environments with Series 7 licensure. Monitored sanctions, market disruptions, and policy changes affecting international settlements.
Staff Development
Trained, mentored, and formally evaluated analysts. Built onboarding frameworks that improved consistency and reduced repeat processing errors.
AI & Automation
Published author on applied generative AI. Actively exploring AI-assisted tools for financial analysis, reporting automation, and workflow efficiency.
Research & tools
White papers and tools
Data-led research written in plain English, and simple browser-based tools you can use right now. Everything here is educational, not advice.
White papers
View all →The Equity Divide: How the Middle Class Changed Since the 1970s
A data-led look at how the American middle class changed since the 1970s, and a test of one idea: that most of the top 1 percent are a professional class, and the genuinely new top tier is built on equity ownership rather than wages.
Read →White paper · Sep 8, 2026The American Household Balance Sheet
A population-level view of household income, net worth, and where families actually hold their money, from employer retirement plans and IRAs to taxable brokerage accounts.
Read →Tools
View all →Calculators and planning tools are coming soon. They run entirely in your browser, and nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
Applied AI fluency
A finance professional who uses AI, not one who just talks about it
Not a course completionist. Not an enthusiast. A practitioner with published work to show for it, building at the intersection of financial operations expertise and applied AI capability, where the real leverage is.
How to Write Your Dream Book with AI
Real-world application of generative AI tools: structured thinking, practical execution, and proof of capability beyond theory.
Google AI Professional Certificate
Formal, structured training in AI fundamentals to complement applied experience.
Finance + AI = practical leverage
Exploring AI-assisted financial analysis, reporting automation, and workflow optimization. Not AI for its own sake, but for operational impact.
Contact
Let’s connect
Open to senior operations, finance, and leadership roles. Also available for consulting conversations.
Actively exploring senior operations and finance leadership roles in regulated environments. MBA completed 2025. Series 7 active. Based in Sanford, FL, open to remote and hybrid arrangements.