Assistant Manager, Corporate Actions and Settlements

Ambition Recruitment; Sydney; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Ambition Recruitment supports a global custodian bank in Sydney seeking an Assistant Manager to join the Banking Services Operations team on a permanent basis. You will oversee onshore and offshore processing that support local custody offerings for AU and NZ markets.

The role involves escalation management, SME coverage across settlement and corporate actions, and driving improvements with offshore teams. There is opportunity to line manage a graduate and contribute to regulatory reporting.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in financial services with strong knowledge of local custody operations.
• Hands-on experience in settlements and corporate actions within a custodian environment.
• Degree in Business, Accounting, Economics or related discipline preferred.
• Proficient in MS Office; familiarity with automation tools is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Act as first escalation point for onshore settlements and corporate actions.
• SME across AU/NZ settlement and corporate action processes.
• Develop team members; strengthen operating model, risk and controls.
• Resolve reconciliation breaks for onshore teams.
• Oversee offshore settlement and corporate actions; ensure onshore/offshore engagement.
• Partner with BSO account management on service delivery and queries.
• Drive platform enhancements with change management; lead testing requests.
• Engage with ASX, NZX, NZClear; contingency testing.
• Support timely regulatory and tax reporting.
• Potential to line manage a graduate.
• Assist with client service reviews and due diligence.
• Step in as acting General Manager when needed.

Skills

Local custody operations

Settlements

Corporate actions

People management

Automation opportunities

Education

Business/Accounting/Economics degree

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

Word

Job description

Assistant Manager, Corporate Actions and Settlements

Assistant Manager, Corporate Actions and Settlements

Our client is a global custodian bank delivering local custody services to Australian and New Zealand clients across clearing, settlements and corporate actions. They are now seeking an Assistant Manager to join their Sydney based Banking Services Operations team on a permanent basis.

This role oversees service delivery across onshore and offshore processing teams supporting local custody offerings, spanning custody clearing, settlements and corporate actions for AU and NZ markets.

The Team

The Corporate Actions team researches and processes fixed income and equity corporate actions across AU and NZ markets, including complex events. The Clearing and Settlements team handles settlement of equities, fixed income and associated cash across both markets, including physical certificate securities. The Corporate Actions function is already running smoothly and proficiently, so the immediate priority for this role is bringing cohesion and oversight to the Settlements team.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as first point of escalation for onshore settlements and corporate actions team members
• Serve as SME across AU/NZ settlement and corporate action processes
• Support the development of team members, building strong understanding of operating models, risks and controls
• Own resolution of reconciliation breaks assigned to onshore teams, applying appropriate typology codes
• Support management with oversight of offshore settlement and corporate actions teams, ensuring strong onshore/offshore engagementPartner with BSO account management teams and CSMs on service delivery and query resolution
• Work with the BSO change management team to implement enhancements, drive efficiencies and submit development requests for platform releases
• Lead 1LOD and 2LOD testing requests, closing actions within agreed timeframes
• Engage with market infrastructure providers such as ASX, NZX and NZClear, including annual contingency testing
• Support timely, accurate delivery of regulatory and tax reports
• Opportunity to line manage a graduate within the corporate actions team
• Assist with documentation for client service reviews, RFPs and due diligence sessions
• Step in as acting General Manager during the manager's absence

About You

• 5+ years' experience in financial services with strong knowledge of local custody operations
• Hands on experience in settlements, covering cash, equities and overall settlement processes, ideally within a 2S custodian environment (not CIB)
• Working exposure to corporate actions and corporate announcements, though deep expertise here isn't essential
• Back office experience within a custodian bank
• Full working rights in Australia required; unfortunately WHV holders cannot be considered for this role
• Degree qualified in Business, Accounting, Economics or a related discipline preferred
• Proficient in PowerPoint, Word and Excel, with familiarity applying digital automation tools to operational processes
• Strong people management skills, with the confidence to build relationships across a diverse team
• A project mindset, keen to identify automation and efficiency opportunities that save measurable time
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complexity and present confidently
• A collaborative approach, comfortable liaising between team members, the manager and senior leadership