Head of Derivative Services & Oversight - UK - 298

Schroders; Greater London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A global investment manager is seeking a leader for its Derivative Services & Oversight Team. This role involves managing operational performance, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, and overseeing the smooth execution of derivative transactions. Candidates should have a strong understanding of derivative products and demonstrated problem-solving skills. The position offers opportunities for continuous process improvement within the team in a dynamic work environment.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of OTC and exchange-traded derivative products.
• Ability to interpret data and identify process gaps.
• Experience in operational risk management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Derivative Services team and manage operational performance.
• Oversee daily operations performed by resource partners.
• Ensure compliance with internal and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Understanding of derivative products

Knowledge of derivative trade lifecycle

Familiarity with collateral management

Strong problem-solving skills

Risk-aware mindset

Strong communication skills

Organizational skills

Proficiency with operational systems

Tools

MarkitWire

DTCC

TriResolve

Job description

Job Description

The Derivative Services & Oversight Team is responsible for ensuring the effective management, monitoring, and control of derivative operations within the firm. This includes working with our resource partners, ensuring compliance with internal policies, industry standards, and regulatory requirements, and supporting the smooth execution of derivative transactions across all asset classes. The team acts as the first line of defence for operational risk management in derivatives, providing assurance to senior management and investment teams that processes are efficient, accurate, and well‑controlled.

Overview of Role/Principle Responsibilities:

The team will be responsible for daily delivery of defined operational processes and the oversight of operations performed by external resource teams. All team members will be expected to be multi‑skilled and be able to cover across the responsibilities to provide operational resiliency and coverage.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership of the Derivative Services & Oversight team with accountability for operational performance and delivery of the team and resource partners.
• Responsible for overall management and development of staff within the team.
• Managing team members performance; conducting 1:1s, appraisals and enforcing group policies.
• Setting the business goals and the vision for the teams in line with wider Company and Module goals.
• Ensure the functions are meeting the needs of our business partners and internal clients.
• Oversee daily operational activities performed by resource partners, including trade capture, confirmation, settlement, and collateral management.
• Handle escalations of unresolved issues.
• Monitor lifecycle event processing (e.g., resets, expiries, credit events, corporate actions) to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
• Processing bespoke and complex trades and events.
• Agreeing new confirmation templates with Investment and Legal.
• Validate valuation, margin, and collateral processes, ensuring consistency with internal and regulatory requirements.
• Review exception reports and escalate issues in a timely manner.
• Ensure robust operational controls exist to mitigate risks associated with derivative trading.
• Perform periodic control testing and risk assessments across derivative operations.
• Monitor KPIs and service‑level agreements (SLAs) with outsourced providers.
• Participate in incident management, root‑cause analysis, and remediation tracking.
• Ensure all errors are reported in a timely manner and recorded in the appropriate systems.
• Oversee OTC reconciliations to ensure completeness, accuracy and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Contribute to continuous process improvement and automation initiatives.

Skills and Behaviours Required:

• Strong understanding of derivative products (OTC and exchange‑traded), including swaps, options, forwards, Repo and futures.
• Knowledge of end‑to‑end derivative trade lifecycle and operational processes.
• Familiarity with collateral management, margining, and valuation methodologies.
• Awareness of key regulations impacting derivatives (e.g., EMIR, Dodd‑Frank, MiFID II).
• Strong problem‑solving skills and ability to investigate and resolve complex operational issues.
• Risk‑aware mindset with experience in control frameworks and operational risk management.
• Ability to interpret data, reconcile discrepancies, and identify process gaps.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with ability to influence service providers and internal teams.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills for reporting, issue escalation, and stakeholder engagement.
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritise effectively, and manage multiple deliverables.
• Proficiency with operational systems (e.g., MarkitWire, DTCC, TriResolve, collateral platforms)
• Has a good understanding of either Aladdin Recs, Deco or other key modules that are used to manage Derivatives.

We recognise potential, whoever you are

Our purpose is to provide excellent investment performance to clients through active management. Diversity of thought, facilitated by an inclusive culture, will allow us to make better decisions and better achieve our purpose. This is why inclusion and diversity are a strategic priority for us and why we are an equal opportunities employer. You are welcome here, regardless of your age, disability, gender identity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, socio‑economic background, or any other protected characteristic.

About Us

We’re a global investment manager. We help institutions, intermediaries and individuals around the world invest money to meet their goals, fulfil their ambitions, and prepare for the future.

We have around 6,000 people on six continents. And we’ve been around for over 200 years, but keep adapting as society and technology changes. What doesn’t change is our commitment to helping our clients, and society, prosper.