Team Leader, Fund Operations

Overview

Responsible for managing and developing a team of Fund accountants and Senior Fund accounts. To act as the subject matter expert in Fund operations – Cash recon, position, recon, NAV calcs and reviews. Work with various internal business units to improve processes and procedures; work with the client service team to deliver high quality services to existing clients and support new client or products.

Key Accountabilities and main responsibilities

Strategic Focus

• Lead, develop and manage a team of Fund accountants and Senior fund accountants’.
• Provide leadership and guidance to staff, fostering an environment that encourages employee engagement, teamwork and communication
• Lead and facilitate performance management and career development processes with staff. Make decisions for staffing and provide training to staff.
• Develop periodic goals, organize the work, set short-term priorities, monitor all activities, and ensure timely and accurate delivery of the work by the team.
• Monitor work distribution and ensure resources are used effectively both within the team. Adapt the team structure as required to meet the evolving needs of the business and clients.
• Initiate, develop and implement short- and long-term plans to improve the effectiveness of team processes and functions.

Operational Management

• Act as the subject matter expert and direct the activities of the team to prepare standard, complex and ad hoc NAV calculations including trade, position and cash recons and tax reporting which supports highly sophisticated institutional clients, investment professionals and marketing materials.
• Proactively ensure a strong understanding of end-to-end processes, controls, data flows, roles and responsibilities involved in performing Fund accounting responsibilities.

People Leadership

• Evaluate opportunities to improve processes and procedures to ensure optimal productivity and quality of output to deliver client satisfaction.
• Influence and partner with the operations and technology teams and service providers / vendors to ensure data quality, identity and resolve issues related to performance and reporting as needed.
• Ensure all client queries / issues raised are responded to in a timely and appropriate manner.

Governance & Risk

• Ensure effective policies, procedures and controls are in place, well documented and maintained.
• Calculate and/or review NAVs and all end to end related processes.
• Ensure SLA are met with minimal to no exceptions or escalations.
• Get involved in migration to a new accounting system and help in cross training the team with the new system and processes..
• Ensure management fees and performance fees are calculated as per the fund document.
• Foster a risk management and compliance culture within the team.

The above list of key accountabilities is not an exhaustive list and may change from time-to-time based on business needs.

Experience & Personal Attributes

• Graduate or relevant professional qualification (CA/MBA Finance).
• Fund accounting and NAV calculation experience (7+ years) from either the custody or funds management industry
• Proven experience developing, motivating and managing a End to end NAV calculations.
• Excellent analytical skills, with ability to identify and resolve problems.
• Ability to manage detail whilst maintaining a strategic view in an environment of ambiguity and change.
• Effective communicator with the ability to concisely articulate complex concepts and problems across the business and to clients.
• Strong understanding of financial markets, investment management processes and operational support functions.
• Proficient in data and reporting automation with strong Microsoft Excel and VBA skills.
• Demonstrable skills in managing end to end process and controls.
• Proven track record in the ability to critically assess processes, controls and issues implementing both tactical and strategic solutions.
• Adept at leading and managing change within reporting teams, identify solutions and enhancement the overall reporting process.
• Ability to work in a fast paced and ever-changing environment which can be quite pressurized at times, managing the team to work to tight deadlines.
• Good academic record, very strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Positive, proactive and flexible attitude.