Director of Investment Operations & Reporting

Just Group Plc; City Of London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services company in the UK is seeking a Director of Investment Operations and Reporting to lead investment teams and drive significant improvements. The ideal candidate will have experience in financial services, especially life insurance, with a strong grasp of liquidity risk management and team leadership. This role offers competitive salary and benefits including private medical cover and career progression opportunities.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Pension scheme

Life assurance

25 days annual leave plus birthday off

Private medical cover

Income protection

Bonus scheme

Career progression opportunities

Access to Headspace

Employee Assistance Helpline

Qualifications

• Experience leading middle and back-office investment activities in complex financial services.
• Strong understanding of performance drivers in life insurance organizations.
• Exposure to short/medium-term liquidity risk management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the validation of trade instructions' execution.
• Devise tools for managing liquidity.
• Lead the generation of accounting records and analyses of invested assets.
• Build a high-performing team and participate in governance committees.

Skills

Leadership in investment activities

Balance sheet management

Liquidity risk management

Strong problem-solving skills

Education

Treasury or investment qualification

Job description

Overview

We help people achieve a better later life. That's our purpose and it's the reason we exist. We are a fast-growing FTSE 250 company helping customers enjoy the retirement they deserve. We do this through a variety of market leading, award-winning products and services, delivered by a diverse team of over 1,400 purpose-led colleagues who genuinely put the customer at the heart of everything we do.

This is a brilliant time to join our business. We are on an exciting growth journey to become the UK's most loved retirement expert.

We are looking for a Director of Investment Operations and Reporting to lead the investment operations and reporting teams, assuming accountability for its outcomes (including planning, prioritization, and execution). The role involves providing leadership, interfacing/partnering with other business areas, driving significant change & improvements, and contributing to the overall growth of the organization.

You will be responsible for driving BAU, change, and improvements across Middle Office, Back Office, short-term liquidity risk management, and collateral management. Additionally, overseeing the Treasury Management System ("TMS") - Quantum.

Responsibilities

Middle Office

• Lead the validation of trade instructions\' execution with third parties and internal investment teams.
• Build and leverage third-party relationships, including oversight of custody, asset managers, and banks.
• Oversee the validation and settlement of investment fees with third parties.
• Manage the accuracy of information flowing to the Datawarehouse and inputs to actuarial/finance processes.

Liquidity Management

• Lead the risk framework and policy for short-term liquidity.
• Devise tools for managing liquidity, including active deployment of excess liquidity into appropriate return-yielding investments.
• Oversee the production of MI regarding cash and liquidity, including cash flow forecasts and PRA Reports.
• Ensure liquidity risk is managed per policies and stress testing is conducted regularly.
• Manage and report on collateral, including execution of instructions for collateral moves.

Investment Accounting

• Lead the generation of accounting records and analyses of invested assets.
• Develop and operate external debt operational accounting & reporting processes.
• Report on IFRS, Solvency II, and other regulatory requirements.
• Manage independent price verification of publicly traded assets.

Team Management

• Build a high-performing team, improving skills and capabilities.
• Ensure proper maintenance and actioning of Risk Sword / OneSumX for risks, controls, and incidents.
• Participate in key governance committees such as ALCO, Matching Adjustment Committee, Credit Committee, and Complex Assets Valuation Committee.

Skills and Experience

• Experience leading middle and back-office investment activities in complex financial services, ideally in life insurance.
• Strong understanding of balance sheet management and performance drivers in life insurance organizations.
• Exposure to short/medium-term liquidity risk management.
• Treasury or investment qualification is desirable.
• Strong problem-solving and influencing skills, with the ability to persuade at senior levels.

Benefits

Benefits include a competitive salary, pension scheme, life assurance, 25 days of annual leave plus your birthday off, private medical cover, income protection, a bonus scheme, and opportunities for career progression. Additional benefits include access to Headspace, Employee Assistance Helpline, and various employee-funded benefits.

Why Just?

At Just, you\'ll develop your career while making a difference. We\'re ambitious, curious, and collaborative, with a culture centered on being Just and delivering the best outcomes for our customers. We\'re committed to sustainability and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) initiatives, aiming to create a supportive and innovative workplace.