Director/ Senior Director, Trading Practices Compliance in London

At Barings, we are as invested in our associates as we are in our clients. We recognise those who work diligently for us and reward them for personal and professional integrity, communication skills, distinct competencies and expertise in specific strategies, ability to collaborate as a team member and true dedication to the interests of our clients.

Barings is a leading global financial services firm dedicated to meeting the evolving investment and capital needs of our clients and customers. Through active asset management and direct origination, we provide innovative solutions and access to differentiated opportunities across public and private capital markets. A subsidiary of MassMutual, Barings maintains a strong global presence with business and investment professionals located across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

Job Summary

This position is responsible for overseeing and conducting daily surveillance of the Firm’s trading activities across multiple functions, private and public asset classes and regulated entities. This role focuses on assessing trading risks and detecting any breaches of established policies. It requires applying policies and procedures, along with leveraging both manual and automated systems, to mitigate risks and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. This highly visible position regularly collaborates with Portfolio Management, Trading, Legal, Risk, and Operations teams.

This position is vital to the success of the organization’s trading practices compliance function. Given the volume and types of investment activity occurring, it is important that there be adequate trade compliance coverage. This position will have a direct impact on the firm’s ability to conduct business in accordance with applicable law, thereby protecting the firm from adverse regulatory exposure and minimising litigation risk, as well as damage to the firm’s industry reputation.

Primary Responsibilities

• Support surveillance and oversight efforts related to various trade surveillance topics (i.e. best execution, fair allocation, conflicts of interest, market abuse, firewall).
• Address or escalate trading compliance issues and provide actionable guidance to business units.
• Draft, update, and improve policies and procedures governing trading practices and regulatory compliance.
• Develop and deliver targeted training on trading-related rules, regulations, and internal policies to relevant stakeholders.
• Participate in developing reporting and periodic presentation to governance forums as needed.
• Represent the firm in client meetings and contribute to presentations and discussions.
• Collaborate with IT, front office, and stakeholders to implement solutions that address new and evolving regulatory regulations.
• Stay informed on regulatory developments and enforcement actions in relevant jurisdictions relating to trade surveillance and investment-related Compliance generally, and advise management on significant issues and emerging risks.
• Lead or participate in departmental and corporate initiatives as needed.
• Provide cross-functional compliance support across global locations.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of investment adviser or financial service experience with emphasis on trade compliance. Experience with various asset types including private lending, private investment funds; registered funds; bank loans; derivatives, real estate investments and corporate securities is required.
• Deep understanding of the Compliance function and its strategic relationship with business operations.
• Proven experience working within a global, matrixed investment management organization, with demonstrated ability to influence and communicate effectively with key stakeholders.
• Experience with Firewalls, Insider Trading, Market Conduct, and other conflicts of interest strongly preferred.
• Strong Knowledge of the provisions within the FCA Handbook, UCITS, MAR, AIFMD, MIFID II and other applicable regulations (i.e. Investment Advisers Act, Investment Company Act, ERISA).
• Experience interacting with regulatory agencies (e.g., FCA, SEC) and/or a corporate audit environment a plus.
• In-depth understanding of front-office controls from a second-line monitoring perspective.
• Experience in project management and addressing ad-hoc data analysis requests.
• Highly effective team player with strong interpersonal skills, and analytical abilities, and meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional organizational skills with a proven track record of meeting deadlines.
• Self-motivated and proactive, with the ability to engage and negotiate effectively with internal stakeholders, including senior management.
• Strong aptitude for interpreting and applying complex regulatory requirements.
• Committed to continuous learning and professional development.
• Ability to handle high volumes of work under tight deadlines while maintaining accuracy and minimising risk.
• Management experience required.