Fund Reporting and Accounts Operations Specialist

Department: Group Operations

Location: Bolton

Hours of work: Monday to Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm

Holiday Entitlement: 25 days plus statutory bank holidays

Role Purpose: To support the Operations Manager in maintaining a strong operational control environment across Transfer Agency, Fund Accounting, Middle Office and Fund Reporting and account activities. The role is operations focused and includes the review, challenge and coordination of outputs produced by SS&C, including 100% review of fund reports and accounts before completion. Support key stakeholders in respect of outsourced operational services, ensuring the operational effectiveness of systems and controls intended to achieve compliance with applicable regulations, ensuring that the firm adheres to its obligations to both the regulator and its clients. To be point of contact with the auditors for fund audit engagements, to ensure audits are completed in a professional and timely manner, in conjunction with the outsourced service provider, and that all resulting management actions are followed up to a high standard and in accordance with all stipulated deadlines.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ongoing operational monitoring and due diligence to ensure adherence to, and clear management of any deviation from contractual key performance indicators and service level agreements in respect of outsourced operational services.
• Working with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that appropriate systems and controls are in place to enable the firm to comply with its obligations.
• Review and challenge outputs from third-party service providers to confirm that operational standards, regulatory requirements and agreed service expectations are being met.
• Carry out 100% operational review and challenge of fund reports and accounts prepared by SS&C, ensuring outputs are accurate, timely, regulatory compliant and progressed through the required review and approval process.
• Monitor and assess regulatory, accounting and industry guidance changes affecting fund reports and accounts, coordinating operational impact assessments and required actions with SS&C and internal stakeholders.
• Support operational control and service delivery by reviewing outsourced operational activities against business requirements, agreed controls and regulatory standards, including the identification and escalation of operational risks.
• Assist with providing support and guidance on projects and business changes that have an impact on the firm's obligations within fund operations.
• Independently manage allocated operational projects from planning through to completion, maintaining clear actions, timelines, stakeholder engagement and escalation where required.
• Reviewing breaches, providing specific direction and support to the relevant risk owner to ensure appropriate remediation action and escalation is being taken.
• Continually review controls to ensure any risks are managed effectively.
• Ensure the timely and accurate response to queries raised by both the outsourced service provider and the firm's delegates and clients.
• Preparing and presenting high quality, accurate and meaningful MI for the firm's Operations Committees.
• Attend Service Review Meetings and Due Diligence assessments, as required and provide input for reports to senior management on findings.
• Maintain the delivery of continuous improvement plans.
• Monitor and challenge continuous improvement plans of the third-party service providers.

Knowledge, Skills & Qualifications

Essential Skills:

• Attention to detail
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to problem solve and deal with complex, time-sensitive projects
• Ability to prioritise and work to strict deadlines
• PC literacy and internet skills

Essential Qualifications:

• IOC (Investment Operations Certificate)
• Appropriate CPD

Beneficial Qualifications:

• Degree in a business-related discipline

Essential Experience:

• In-depth experience of outsourced operation services, operational controls and service provider management
• Proven, demonstrable experience of working within and maintaining an operation control environment
• Experience of reviewing fund reports and accounts delivered by a third-party administrator, including guidance change assessment, operational coordination, issue tracking and stakeholder management.

Essential Personal Qualities:

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to influence at all organisational levels, and with external stakeholders
• Ability to work under pressure
• Flexibility and resilience
• Positive, collaborative attitude
• Ability and desire to make a positive contribution to both the team and the firm
• Ability to identify potential issues and escalate and articulate appropriately
• An excellent team player who operates collaboratively and with transparency
• Self-motivated and able to work autonomously where required

Other Entitlements:

• Competitive salary with annual salary reviews
• 9% non-contributory pension
• Annual discretionary bonus scheme
• Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP)
• Private Healthcare Scheme with Dental and Optical Care
• Death in Service at 5x Annual Salary
• 35 Hour working week
• Training for IOC and other relevant qualifications
• Study Leave
• Cycle2Work Scheme
• Eye Test Reimbursement
• Your Birthday off
• 13 weeks full paid maternity leave
• 2 weeks full paid paternity leave