Director, EMEA Head of Investment & Data Operations in City of London

Overview

Director, EMEA Head of Investment & Data Operations role at Russell Investments. This leadership position oversees trade support, investment operations and risk/control processes to ensure the integrity of the investment lifecycle. The role bridges front office and back office to drive operational efficiency, control and scalability in a complex multi-asset environment. The role sits within Global Operations and reports to the Global Head of Operations.

Responsibilities

• Leadership: Lead and develop the middle office team, fostering accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement; ensure integration of the Mumbai hub into investment operations processes; drive strategic initiatives to improve efficiency, automation and scalability; act as a senior escalation point for operational issues across trading, investment operations and data operations.
• Investment Operations & Trade Support: Oversee trade capture, confirmation and settlement across multiple asset classes; ensure accurate trade booking, reconciliations and position management with portfolio managers and custodians; monitor and resolve breaks, discrepancies and exceptions; deliver accurate and timely information to downstream stakeholders (IBOR).
• Risk & Control: Design and maintain a robust control environment to mitigate operational and investment risks; improve procedural documentation; partner with compliance and risk to meet regulatory requirements; implement KPIs and KRIs to monitor operational health.
• Stakeholder Management: Manage key vendor relationships (e.g., SS&C, RIMES); act as primary liaison between front office, back office, custodians, prime brokers and external service providers; support client servicing with timely operational data; collaborate with technology partners to enhance middle office systems and tools.
• Change & Transformation: Lead operational readiness for new products, markets and strategies; manage system upgrades, vendor relationships and workflow automation projects; drive process re-engineering and data management initiatives to improve accuracy and efficiency.
• Management & Global Operations: Allocate resources to meet operational and project requirements; build and maintain a high-performing team; establish and monitor KPI’s; coordinate regulatory reporting across regions (e.g., EMIR, MiFID I/II, ASIC); support continued globalisation of the Investment and Data operations team.
• Operations & Change Management: Provide problem resolution, training, analysis and reporting; identify and execute change initiatives to meet evolving business needs; streamline operations across product lines; reduce duplicative processes.
• Service Provider Management: Oversee service providers to ensure agreed services are delivered per SLA.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification.
• Solid understanding of the investment industry, financial markets, trading operations and regulatory requirements.
• Significant investment-related experience.
• Bloomberg AIM experience preferred.
• Clearing broker experience would be an advantage.
• Reconciliation and third-party vendor oversight experience preferred.
• Product experience highly desirable.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to adapt communication style as appropriate.
• Advanced interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Keen interest and knowledge of global capital markets and how investment managers operate; actual portfolio management experience desirable but not necessary.
• Strong technological aptitude to identify effective use of technology for a scalable operational model.
• Experience in leading teams to meet objectives and drive results; ability to inspire high performance and change.
• Establishes clear priorities, plans and controls for major projects with cross-functional teams.
• Strong relationship management, negotiation skills and client-facing exposure; capacity to influence others to achieve goals.
• Demonstrates confidence, authority, and enthusiasm; natural leadership ability and charisma.
• Is accessible, engaged and a positive force for change; fosters trust and morale.

Seniority level

• Director

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Finance and Sales

Location

London, England, United Kingdom