At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead operations for a global financial services leader, ensuring top-notch service delivery and compliance.
- Company: Join Northern Trust, a pioneer in wealth management and asset servicing since 1889.
- Benefits: Enjoy a flexible work culture, career growth opportunities, and a commitment to community service.
- Other info: Be part of an inclusive workplace that values philanthropy and community engagement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a senior leadership role within a dynamic, multi-location team.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in Transfer Agency or asset servicing with strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
About Northern Trust
As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world's most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions. Since 1889, we have aligned our efforts with our three guiding Principles That Endure: Service, Expertise, and Integrity.
The UK Transfer Agency-Head of Operations position is a critical senior leadership role within UK Transfer Agency (UKTA), accountable for operational leadership, service delivery, governance and control oversight across UK, Ireland and India activity.
The role supports the Head of UKTA by leading BAU operational management, maintaining an effective control environment, driving regulatory compliance, supporting client and prospect engagement, and delivering strategic priorities across service, risk, efficiency and transformation.
Key accountabilities include:
- Operational delivery and service management: Lead UKTA Operations to ensure sustained delivery of agreed service standards, KPIs, KRIs and client commitments across dealing, registration, settlement, distributions, commissions, statements and investor servicing activity.
- Operating model and transformation: Lead the evolution of the UKTA regional operating model, partnering with TA executive leadership to scale processes, simplify activity, implement automation and deliver strategic change initiatives.
- Risk, control and governance: Maintain a robust operational control environment, ensuring that risks, incidents, breaches, audit findings and control gaps are identified, assessed, escalated and remediated in line with governance expectations.
- Regulatory and compliance oversight: Ensure operational processes remain aligned to relevant regulatory obligations, including CASS, AML/FCC, Consumer Duty, operational resilience, data privacy and applicable fund administration requirements.
- Client and stakeholder engagement: Support RFPs, prospect presentations, due diligence activity, new business onboarding, existing client engagement and senior client escalations on behalf of UKTA Operations.
- Escalation and issue management: Act as a senior escalation point for regulatory, operational, service and client-impacting matters, ensuring decisions are appropriately framed, documented, escalated and resolved with urgency and control.
- Business continuity and resilience: Support business continuity activity, operational management of outages, SLA-critical incidents and operational resilience events, ensuring clear ownership, communication and recovery discipline.
- People leadership: Provide leadership, coaching and guidance to operational teams and specialist individual contributors, fostering a culture of accountability, inclusion, teamwork, continuous improvement and positive client and consumer outcomes.
- Performance and talent management: Conduct performance management, succession planning, career development and talent review activity for direct reports, ensuring capability is developed across the UKTA Operations leadership bench.
- Financial and resource management: Own workforce planning, budget discipline, expense management, recruitment input and salary review processes for UKTA Operations.
- Industry and governance representation: Represent UKTA in relevant internal governance forums, client meetings, executive updates and external industry forums, ensuring the operational perspective is clearly articulated.
The ideal candidate should have a fair amount of the following skills & experience:
- Senior operational leadership: Significant experience in Transfer Agency, fund administration, asset servicing, investment operations or a comparable regulated financial services environment.
- Transfer Agency expertise: Detailed understanding of end-to-end Transfer Agency operational processes, including dealing, registration, settlement, distributions, commissions, investor servicing and operational oversight.
- Regulatory awareness: Strong knowledge of collective investment schemes, Authorised Contractual Schemes, Long Term Asset Funds and relevant regulatory frameworks, including CASS, AML/FCC, Consumer Duty, operational resilience and data privacy.
- Leadership capability: Proven ability to lead, develop and scale large multi-location operations teams, including senior managers and specialist individual contributors.
- Control and risk judgement: Strong judgement in operational risk, issue management, incident resolution, root cause analysis and control remediation, with the ability to operate effectively under pressure.
- Transformation experience: Track record of delivering operating model change, process improvement, automation, workflow enhancement, technology adoption or cross-jurisdiction programme delivery.
- Client and executive communication: Strong stakeholder management, presentation and communication skills, with experience engaging senior leadership, clients, auditors, regulators, oversight teams and offshore or nearshore partners.
- Commercial and financial discipline: Ability to manage resources, budgets, capacity, workforce planning and service priorities in a controlled and commercially effective manner.
- Familiarity with Transfer Agency platforms: Workflow tools, client servicing systems and reporting solutions.
- Strong understanding of payment: Settlement, reconciliation, investor record keeping and operational data processes.
- Demonstrated ability to use MI: Dashboards, KPI/KRI reporting and trend analysis to manage service, risk, capacity and efficiency.
- Working knowledge of automation: Workflow improvement, control design and operational process optimisation.
- Degree-level education: or equivalent industry experience is expected.
- Relevant financial services qualifications: Transfer Agency, fund administration, risk, compliance or investment operations qualifications would be beneficial.
- Project, change, Lean, Six Sigma, Agile: or process improvement qualifications would be advantageous.
Work Authorization: Applicants must have the right to work in the United Kingdom at the time of application and for the duration of employment. Please note that Northern Trust is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role.
Working with Us: As a Northern Trust partner, you will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture, which has a strong history of financial strength and stability. Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to an inclusive workplace and assisting the communities we serve.
Reasonable Accommodation: Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing adjustments to individuals with health conditions and disabilities.
Summary Location: London, United Kingdom Type: Full time
UK Transfer Agency (UKTA) Head of Operations in London employer: Northern Trust
Northern Trust is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Greater London that fosters professional growth and development. With a strong emphasis on employee well-being, we provide comprehensive benefits and a collaborative culture that values innovation and excellence in service delivery. Join us to be part of a team that prioritises meaningful client relationships and supports your career aspirations in the financial services sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land UK Transfer Agency (UKTA) Head of Operations in London
✨Tap into Campus Networks
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We think you need these skills to ace UK Transfer Agency (UKTA) Head of Operations in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Northern Trust.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Northern Trust
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Northern Trust.
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✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Northern Trust employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
