At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global operations and drive change in investment management.
- Company: Mercer, a leader in investment management with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, international travel opportunities, and a dynamic work environment.
- Other info: Join a team that values collaboration and innovation in a fast-paced industry.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact in a senior role within a global organisation.
- Qualifications: 15+ years in asset management with strong operational leadership experience.
The predicted salary is between 120000 - 150000 £ per year.
Mercer is recruiting an experienced COO to drive global operations and change activities of the Direct Investment Unit, oversee technology infrastructure and coordinate support teams that enable and support investment activities.
Key Responsibilities
- Delivery of mid- and back-office functions in a cost‑effective and operationally sound manner.
- Outsourcing operational functions that are not strategically value‑added.
- Working with regional COO teams in launching and managing pooled funds to meet ongoing business needs.
- Implementing new technology platforms in collaboration with Mercer Investment Technology.
- Providing systems infrastructure to support the business.
- Developing modern data architecture, data infrastructure and data engineering capabilities.
- Ensuring fit‑for‑purpose change‑management resources are in place.
- Delivering large‑scale change‑management projects, notably Project Everest.
- Managing custodians, pooled‑fund providers and other strategic outsourced relationships.
Qualifications
- At least 15 years’ experience in asset management, culminating in a senior operations role.
- Proven success in leading a complex investment operations organization with strong client delivery, developing a robust control environment and leading through meaningful change.
- Deep expertise across operations, technology and operating‑model design.
- Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks.
- Experience is more important than academic or professional qualifications; further education to degree level is expected. MBA or IMC could be a nice to have.
Experience
- Deep experience in asset management, culminating in an operations leadership role.
- Operational capability to deliver derivatives (OTC and exchange‑traded), funds and cash securities.
- Change‑management experience implementing new systems infrastructure (e.g., Charles River, Broadridge, Bloomberg, Aladdin).
- Launch and management of pooled funds, potentially with third parties.
Specialist Knowledge / Skills
- Understanding of UK, European and US asset‑management regulatory landscape (MiFID, EMIR and others).
- Knowledge of key pooled‑fund structures relevant to UK, European and US institutional investors.
- A broad awareness of the technological underpinnings of operational systems and their evolution.
- Comprehensive knowledge of regulatory and compliance implications.
- Understanding of data management and analytics to improve business value.
- Ability to apply technology for standardisation and operational efficiency.
Competencies and Characteristics
- Collaborative team player who will lead, motivate and empower colleagues.
- Pragmatic, organised and results‑oriented.
- Strategic by nature and able to switch between big picture and detail.
- Delivery-focused with high energy and drive.
- Ability to cut through complexity and provide simple, pragmatic solutions.
- Ability to constructively challenge at all levels and pull together teams to resolve issues.
- Communicates with impact and focus, and can navigate a large global organisation to get things done.
- Willing to work internationally, with some travel between offices.
Equal Opportunity
Global COO – Investment Management, Direct Investment Unit employer: Marsh
Mercer is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters collaboration and innovation within the investment management sector. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, Mercer provides opportunities for meaningful contributions to large-scale change initiatives while ensuring a supportive culture that values diverse perspectives. Located in a vibrant global hub, employees benefit from access to cutting-edge technology and a network of industry leaders, making it an ideal place for those seeking to advance their careers in a forward-thinking organisation.
