Senior Business Analyst - Asset Transition Management

At M&G our purpose is to give everyone real confidence to put their money to work. As an international savings and investments business with roots stretching back more than 170 years, we offer a range of financial products and services through Asset Management, Life and Wealth. All three operating segments work together to deliver attractive financial outcomes for our clients, and superior shareholder returns. Through our behaviours of telling it like it is, owning it now, and moving it forward together with care and integrity; we are creating an exceptional place to work for exceptional talent. We will consider flexible working arrangements for any of our roles and also offer workplace accommodations to ensure you have what you need to effectively deliver in your role.

Function Overview: The role of Business Solutions is to provide an analysis, design, and implementation capability across Investment Management for product launches and related changes, ensuring that M&G Investment’s operating models are robust, scalable, and flexible. We also provide a transition planning and execution capability to enable the safe transition of assets to and from our clients or funds during the onboarding of new mandates or closure/merger of any of our current product range. This involves scoping and assessing change across the end-to-end investment value chain. Typically the team will work closely with colleagues from across the organisation such as Investment teams, Risk, Compliance, Technology, Operations as well as with our external supplier network.

Role Overview: Reporting to a Business Solutions Design Lead, this role is primarily responsible for developing and executing the implementation approach for asset transitions. This colleague will work with a Business Solutions Design Lead through feasibility and early planning as required, and ensure that execution aligns to the intended client outcome. This is a pivotal role that requires active participation in feasibility and assessment activities, with the ability to identify key transition risks and potential solutions at an early stage to ensure appropriate processes and mitigations are built into the implementation plan. This will cover a range of technical areas, such as portfolio realignment strategy, liquidity analysis, security and cash custody transfers, restricted market exposures, novation or transfer of derivatives, currency and cash management, accounting treatment and cost tracking. From time to time, the role may also require involvement in broader product change activity affecting the end-to-end operating model, such as fund launches.

Key responsibilities for this role:

• Leads the design and execution of efficient transition plans, meticulously following and enhancing established run books and adhering to agreed timelines.
• Collaborates with the investment and dealing teams to ensure any requirements for portfolio realignment are understood and delivered in the most cost-effective manner.
• Owns the end-to-end Operational Model impact analysis and design to ensure the transition approach is appropriate for the portfolios and products in scope.
• Supports the relevant Business Solutions Design Lead by providing a leading point of contact for key internal and external stakeholders for operational feasibility and implementation through all stages of the project.
• Ensures that scalability, operational risk and regulatory compliance are considered in the execution plan for every initiative.
• Manages internal and external party interaction and ensures appropriate level of engagement across all impacted stakeholders.
• Drives forward the analysis, development, testing and delivery of new transition techniques.
• Performs end-to-end set-up and ensures operational readiness activities are complete.
• Ensures procedures, processes and controls are complied with and kept up-to-date, communicating any changes effectively.
• Contributes to continuous improvement initiatives and ideas.
• Provides support and guidance to less experienced team members, through informal mentorship, on-the-job coaching and general performance guidance.

Key Skills, Competencies & Experience:

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify key areas of transition risk and complexity at an early stage and determine mitigating strategies and methodologies.
• Proactive and delivery focused with excellent planning skills and the ability to manage, recognise and prioritise deadlines, while responding with agility to live technical and high-risk issues as they arise.
• Ability to challenge the status quo and see “big picture” solutions to increase efficiency, but equally drill down to low-level detail when required.
• Takes ownership of client outcomes and drives projects forward to completion.
• Advanced Excel skills with ability to interrogate big data and simplify outputs into a digestible format suitable for different audiences.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to present issues and ideas confidently to key stakeholders.
• Ability to present complex technical details at senior level and produce appropriate supporting material.
• Strong facilitation skills to elicit information or decisions from key stakeholders, both internally and externally.
• Ability to form working relationships and demonstrate credibility with internal and external stakeholders in order to facilitate outcomes and influence decisions.
• Self-starter willing to research new concepts and fill gaps in knowledge.
• Competence in delivering knowledge-sharing sessions to improve cross-team knowledge and contribute to overall best practice.
• Ability to think laterally and generate creative solutions.

Experience:

• Proven experience in asset transition management within the UK or European asset management landscape.
• Demonstrated track record of successfully planning and executing asset transitions with a focus on optimising client outcome and minimising costs.
• End-to-end understanding of the asset management operating model, and knowledge of the product and instrument types, regulatory environment and clients managed.
• Strong understanding of asset classes i.e. equities (public and private), fixed income (public and private), derivatives (ETDs and OTCs), FX and money markets.
• Understanding of transition costs and associated cost tracking methodologies.
• Familiarity with core fund accounting principles highly beneficial.
• Experience of end-to-end operating models and change design desirable i.e. as a business analyst or subject matter expert.
• Knowledge or experience of standard technology platforms and outsource services used widely in asset management, BRS Aladdin experience desirable.
• Broad industry awareness and familiarity with issues impacting asset management as a whole.
• Awareness of ESG principles and their practical implications on day-to-day fund management activities desirable, but not essential.
• Experience in delivering continuous improvements desirable, but not essential.

We have a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture at M&G plc, underpinned by our policies and our employee-led networks who provide networking opportunities, advice and support for the diverse communities our colleagues represent. Regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, nationality, disability or long term condition, we are looking to attract, promote and retain exceptional people. We also welcome those who take part in military service and those returning from career breaks. M&G is also proud to be a Disability Confident Leader, and we welcome applications from candidates with long-term health conditions, disabilities, or neuro-divergent conditions. Being a Disability Confident Leader means that candidates who meet the minimum criteria of a job will be offered an interview if they 'opt in' to the scheme when applying. If you need assistance or an alternative means of applying for a role due to a disability or additional need, please let us know by contacting us at: careers@mandg.com