Head – Investment Operations

Summary

Head – Investment Operations is a key senior member of our fast growing and energetic team. He/she will be building investment products for our target customer segments across asset classes and strategies. You will also be responsible for growing assets under management (AUMs) through structuring client solutions, offer solutions regarding the operations of the business, and leveraging data to drive decisions. The right candidate should have experience in investment advisory, portfolio management & investment operation management within top tier financial organizations with a track record in successfully leading the development of wealth management platform and the launch of investment products for retail, mass affluent, and private banking investors.

Major Responsibilities

• Lead automation and integration of investment operations management requirements within our digital wealth management platform with a focus on investment reports, NAV calculations and timely updates of prices from alternative investment managers and recording these prices accurately for valuation purposes.
• Lead the ongoing management, restructuring and rebalancing of investment portfolios (including of unlisted and alternative investments), Investment operations management of discretionary portfolios from on-boarding, report preparation, reconciliation, to investment transactions, and settlements.
• Spearhead the build-up of the investment and fund management platforms including launch of several in-house managed funds / vehicles across strategies for retail, mass affluent, and private banking customers.
• Opportunistically lead client proposition presentations engaging research/analysts, to deliver product programs.
• Preparation of concept papers/product proposition and governance across product families with cross functional engagement.
• Produce high impact with product/opportunity collaterals (teasers, pitchbooks, memorandums, etc.), and ensuring training & development and client interaction for propositions and life-cycle management across institutional, elite, private banking and key clients group.
• Act as first line of defence by appropriately assessing risks when business and investment decisions are made with particular consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding the group, its clients and assets by building the investment governance processes and frameworks, driving compliance with regulatory requirements and applicable laws, rules and regulations, adhering to policy, conduct and business practices, escalating, managing and reporting control issues with transparency.
• Lead and manage overall channels and distribution, and third party relationships (custodians, service providers, brokers, external fund managers, and management companies).
• Lead deal souring & top quartile GP selection, due diligence, negotiation and investment in collaboration with company analysts.
• Provide Managed Fund and Private Equity transactional processing oversight and support to service centers and stakeholders.
• Provide oversight of all aspects of product launch including website, operations, service, marketing and sales, and compliance.
• Administer the daily oversight and governance of the offshore entities and functions
• Deliver content, legal agreements, T&Cs of investment product offerings for inclusion in digital wealth platform.
• Manage and implement a variety of discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, investment products and credit solutions to meet investor needs.
• Deliver significant direct business revenue results and authoritative advice regarding new revenue channels and initiatives.
• Lead a number of workstreams to drive awareness including: content creation and digital posts, organizing investor call plans and roadshows, attending events, and hosting virtual events with key speakers.
• Conduct due diligence, negotiate and execute agreements with third party product providers.
• Act as subject matter expert internally on all matter related to investment operations and fund accounting.
• Responsible in monitoring current and future investment strategies and lead rebalancing of portfolios.
• Coordinate with brokers and custodians for operational on-boarding and setting up operational parameters.
• Ensure adherence to investment strategies and procedures for the various portfolios and products.
• Management of the operational input for information and reporting tasks towards relevant third parties.
• Manage all operations related to money market, fixed income, equity, capital market transactions, derivatives, commodities and all related treasury and global markets products.
• Manage all trades confirmations, settlements/payments, proceeds, dividend reclaims, corporate actions and broker/custodian reconciliations.
• Create roll-out plan those addresses training needs of team members with a focus on investment management, operations management, and regulatory compliance by creating Investment and operations certification modules and training pathways.
• Define objectives, roles, and manage the performance of direct reports.
• Perform gap analysis and identify requirements, develop and customize value-added investment process system in order to improve and streamline the entire investment transaction process flow.

Knowledge & Skill Requirements

• In-depth knowledge of financial details like investment operations, fund management and accounting, compliance, financial statement analysis, securities / stock markets, and investment strategies.
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong PowerPoint and Excel skills
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Proper knowledge of data analysis and preparation of investment plans using the latest technologies.

Qualification

• Masters degree in Finance from a reputable university with solid exposure to Accounting & Operations area for Investment Banking
• CFA, CAIA, CMA or relevant certifications are a plus.

Experience

• Over 15 years of professional experience with minimum of 10 years of experience in a similar role within top tier investment houses and financial institutions.
• Have in-depth knowledge of the financial details like fund management and accounting, compliance, analysis of financial statements, securities and stock market working and investment strategies.
• Experience in Investor Reporting, Investment Accounting and Operations. (Both Proprietary and Client Portfolio Investment Activities)
• Mid & Back office operations experience for digital wealth platform & client portfolio management.
• Experience in settlement operations for Fixed Income Securities using Euclid – Euroclear.
• Accounting & Operations for Income generating instruments (shariah compliant and conventional)
• Familiar with collateralized securities lending and trading facilities
• Experience in data migration project and investor related Cash & Security positions, and historical transactions.
• Strong analytical skills, strong PowerPoint and Excel skills.
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
• Proper knowledge of the analysis of data and preparation of investment plans using the latest technology.