Director, Fund Accounting

Highvern; Saint Helier; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Highvern in Jersey seeks an experienced senior leader to manage and grow the fund administration clients. You will oversee the funds accounting team, ensure timely financial statements and regulatory reporting, and drive enhancements to the technology platform.

You will apply extensive fund accounting expertise, lead a high-performing team, and collaborate across the business to support growth and governance in Jersey.

Qualifications

• 10 years’ relevant industry experience in funds.
• Experience as principal person in funds sector preferred.
• Knowledge of IFRS and UK GAAP.
• Ability to manage and develop fund administration teams.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage the team to ensure up to date bookkeeping for fund client structures.
• Deliver financial statements and reporting within client/regulatory timescales.
• Drive technology platform enhancements to improve process efficiency and output quality.
• Provide proactive query management with clients, advisors and auditors.
• Maintain accounting policies, procedures and controls underpinning service excellence.
• Oversee third parties involved in accounting/reporting to ensure quality and consistency.
• Support business development and client relationship management, including demonstrations of system capabilities (travel possible).
• Lead recruitment, training and motivation of the accounting team and knowledge sharing across the business.

Skills

Fund accounting

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Business development

Client relationship management

People management

Cross-functional collaboration

IFRS/UK GAAP knowledge

Education

Chartered accountant or equivalent

Job description

Role Purpose

Working closely with the wider director team and the Jersey Head of Funds, you will play a key role in managing and growing our fund administration services business in Jersey.

Key Accountabilities:

• Manage the team to ensure up to date and accurate book-keeping of all fund client structures

• Ensure delivery of financial statements, specialised investor and other reporting (varying complexity) within client / regulatory timescales

• Optimise use of the technology platform, including detailed input into capability in support of process efficiency, quality of output and proposition extension. Working with senior management to implement cutting edge fund technology platforms

• Provide proactive query management and resolution for items raised by colleagues, clients, their advisors and auditors

• Maintenance of book-keeping and accounting policies, procedures & controls that underpin service excellence and efficiency

• Highly effective management of any 3rd parties involved in the accounting / reporting process, ensuring quality consistency

• Contribution to business development and client relationship management incl. demonstrating system capabilities (some travel)

• Resourcing, training and highly motivational leadership of the accounting team, and knowledge share across the wider business

• Compliance (own and team) with all relevant policies, accounting standards and regulations impacting the services delivered

• Collaboration across the wider business to support revenue growth, governance, planning and continuous improvement

Requirements:

• Authorised corporate and client signatory in line with approved limits

• Principal person for JFSC purposes if required

• Acting as a Director on client boards

• Within scope as carrying out senior management functions under the Financial Services Commission (Amendment No.8) (Jersey) Law 2022

• Maintenance of CPD and up to date technical awareness and industry / regulatory knowledge

• 10 years’ relevant industry experience and must have demonstrable experience of working in a funds environment

• Proven enhanced technical expertise in the accounting of private capital strategies, such as private equity and venture capital

• Ideally, previous principal person experience in funds sector, but not a prerequisite

• Business development experience, including pitching to prospective clients

• Up to date and strong knowledge of IFRS and UK GAAP

• Up to date knowledge of regulatory and legal requirements

• Deadline oriented; ability to work collaboratively and flexibly

• Proven, collaborative team player with strong interpersonal skills

• Alignment to a culture of excellence and continuous improvement through coaching, motivation and leadership

• Management experience of recruiting, retaining and motivating team members

• Good knowledge and experience of basic tax reporting, such as local filing requirements, NRL, VAT, ATED etc

• Comprehensive understanding and knowledge of relevant regulatory and legal requirements

• Track record demonstrating ability to progress range of issues and projects simultaneously including business development, team management, client management, compliance and related matters

• Proven ability in developing relationships with fund clients and senior industry professionals

• Management experience of recruiting, retaining and motivating teams

• Collaborative team player with strong interpersonal skills

• High quality communication skills – verbal, presentational and written

• Professionally qualified either as a chartered accountant, CA / ACCA / ACA / ICAS