Assistant Manager, Financial Reporting Oversight FTC in Leeds

Please note, this is a 12 month fixed-term contract. 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.

Role Purpose

The Financial Reporting Oversight Team's ultimate goal is oversight and governance of outsourced services ensuring outputs are timely, accurate and compliant; ensure that all stakeholders receive an ongoing high quality service; ensure that accounting standards and policies are continually maintained. The Financial Reporting Oversight Assistant Manager supports the Financial Reporting Oversight Manager(s) with any queries, escalations and process improvements. The Assistant Manager leads the Oversight team in the day-to-day oversight activities and is responsible for the supervision of team members involved with the oversight of annual and interim reports and financial statements for unit trusts and open-ended investment companies (“funds”) and delivery of training/procedural improvements.

Accountabilities & Main Responsibilities

• Ensure work is allocated to the team in a timely manner and completed in accordance with pre-set deadlines, procedures and (where applicable) relevant service levels;
• Responsible for correct implementation of the oversight governance and procedures on an ongoing basis and identification and management of the risks presented;
• Take responsibility for and implement any relevant and agreed improvements to current procedures and ensure these are applied to allocated work;
• Identify and deliver training needs to team members;
• Keep abreast of changes in regulations and industry practices, in particular the authorised funds SORP and taxation changes;
• Support departmental Senior Manager, Manager(s) and office-wide initiatives;
• Liaise with third party administrators, Trustees/Depositaries, Investment Managers/Advisers, external auditors, custodians and other third parties;
• Ensure all queries from internal and external parties are responded to in a timely and accurate manner;
• Assist manager(s) with third party due diligence and other client service meetings.

Essential Qualifications and Skills

• Knowledge of accounts preparation and review;
• Able to pick up new technical concepts quickly and be adaptable;
• Methodical, process driven and with an attention to detail;
• Ability to maintain quality under time pressure;
• Well organised and able to prioritise their own workload;
• A proactive approach to problem solving, logical thinker with a good mathematical background;
• At least three years’ experience in an accounting environment and/or fund administration team;
• Experience of leading small teams, coaching and/or mentoring experience;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal;
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft applications (e.g. Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint);
• Proven ability to operate independently and take the initiative.

Desirable

• Previous experience of auditing or preparation of fund accounts;
• Delivering training skills;
• ACA or ACCA qualified;
• Relevant regulatory exams (e.g. IOC).

Competencies

• Experience of producing annual and interim report and financial statements for UK funds either gained with an asset manager or service provider;
• Good knowledge of the SORP and accounting standards to which UK funds must comply;
• Knowledge of regulations pertaining to the production of report and accounts;
• Experience of liaising with auditors;
• Strong communication skills;
• Well organised and forward thinking;
• Operationally risk aware;
• Innovation, change and continuous improvement;
• Communication;
• Results focused;
• Technical awareness;
• Commercial awareness;
• Leadership and performance;
• Customer service;
• Team working;
• Risk and conduct management.

Seniority level: Mid-Senior level

Employment type: Full-time

Job function: Accounting/Auditing and Finance