Head of Onboarding UK

For over 20 years, Waystone has been at the cutting edge of specialist services for the asset management industry – partnering with institutional investors, investment funds and asset managers. We work with our clients to help build, support, and protect investment structures and strategies worldwide. Our success depends upon our ability to attract and retain the best, most diverse talent and provide our employees with a broad spectrum of professional development opportunities. Our workplace environment is an inclusive one, where employees can be themselves, reach their full potential and drive business results.

The Head of Onboarding in the UK will be an integral part of the Waystone team and will play a pivotal role in proactively managing and supporting clients and funds from a commercial and governance perspective as well as representing Waystone at external events.

• In country lead, management and delivery of all Onboarding projects for UK clients and a key member of the Product Development team in the UK and wider Client Onboarding global leadership team.
• Support the Head of Product Development, and the Business Development and Relationship Management teams to ensure proactive engagement with prospective and existing clients and investment managers.
• Responsible for supporting the Onboarding team in project management of new clients and funds dealing with senior management, external service providers and internal support teams.
• Leadership of the Onboarding team in the UK.
• Responsible for guiding, supporting and managing GCC team in collaboration with country Heads in Lux & Ireland.
• Act as lead contact person with the ACD Board and committees, Investment Managers and service providers, principally the Fund Administrator, Depositary, Auditors and Legal Advisors in the launch phase of new funds.
• Oversight of the projects to ensure they remain operationally efficient and financially profitable as well as managing planning for future expected launches and resource allocation.
• Timely reporting of deliverables and milestone achievements to stakeholders and sponsors.
• Contribute to the design and execution of an effective organizational structure to support onboarding activities.
• Act as an escalation point for team members and assist them in addressing and resolving any issues on fund launches and acting as an interface to senior management of function or operational teams.
• Ensure current knowledge of regulations and updates as and when they are circulated by reading and implementing processes to adhere to this changing regulation, specifically, UK UCITS, AIFs (e.g., QIS, LTAFs, NURs, etc.), AIFMD and MiFID, and applicable FCA regulations (e.g. COLL, PROD, FUND).
• Attending, when available, training sessions on relevant topics and ensuring all teams are onboard with the changing environment.
• Assist in establishing robust control environments and documentation procedures in accordance with regulatory requirements and industry standards.
• Drive enhanced efficiency and productivity, resource utilization and client experience within the Waystone Group.
• Develop a commercially aware culture within the team to ensure team members can identify cross sell or repeat business opportunities for clients.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

An internationally recognized professional qualification.

Minimum 10 years’ experience in an investment funds environment. Knowledge of UK fund structures and regulatory frameworks, including AIFMD, UCITS or MiFID. Client facing background with presentation skills.

• Motivated individual with enhanced interpersonal skills and adept at building client relationships.
• Strong attention to detail and keen on delivering quality work.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (both written & verbal).
• A team player, enthusiastic, and self-motivated.
• Analytical skills - collect and analyze information, problem-solve, and make decisions under minimal supervision.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of business environments.
• Strong team and people management experience.