Operations Analyst

William Blake Group; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

William Blake Group, a newly established FCA-regulated investment management firm, seeks an analytical Operations Analyst to shape the firm's risk, governance and control frameworks and oversee outsourced investment operations.

You will document RCSAs, KRIs and management reporting, collaborating with Investment Operations, Risk, Compliance and Technology to embed robust controls. The role progresses into broader investment operations duties within a regulated environment.

Qualifications

• Experience with Risk & Control Self-Assessments (RCSAs) and control documentation.
• Knowledge of FCA-regulated environments and investment operations.

Responsibilities

• Support development and maintenance of Risk & Control Self-Assessments (RCSAs).
• Review and document end-to-end operational processes, identifying control enhancements and efficiency improvements.
• Assist with operational resilience, outsourcing and third-party risk management frameworks.
• Support control testing, assurance activities and ongoing governance initiatives.
• Maintain accurate policies, procedures and control documentation.
• Develop and maintain operational policies, process maps and operating manuals.
• Engage stakeholders to document business processes and operating models.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement, standardisation and automation.
• Produce management information and governance reporting for senior stakeholders.
• Develop operational dashboards and reporting metrics.
• Analyse operational data, trends and risk indicators.
• Support committee reporting and governance papers.
• Work closely with Investment Operations, Risk, Compliance, Finance, Technology and Investment teams.
• Coordinate cross-functional initiatives focused on governance, controls and operational resilience.
• Oversight of outsourced investment operations service providers.
• Monitor service delivery against agreed service levels and control standards.
• Reviewing operational activities including cash management, corporate actions, trade support and investment accounting processes.
• Supporting service review meetings and governance activities.
• Assisting with operational due diligence reviews and supplier assessments.
• Monitoring operational incidents, breaches and remediation activities.

Skills

Process docs

Business analysis

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Written comms

Problem solving

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Attention to detail

RCSAs

Risk reporting

Outsourcing oversight

Education

Degree-qualified or equivalent

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Job description

Our client is a newly established, FCA-regulated investment management business created to provide investment services to a large group of institutional pension investors. The organisation is building a modern investment platform focused on long-term value creation, strong governance, responsible investment and operational excellence.

As a growing investment manager, the business offers a unique opportunity to help shape a newly formed organisation from the ground up, working alongside experienced investment, risk and operations professionals within a collaborative and purpose-driven environment.

About the Role

They are seeking an analytical and detail-oriented Operations Analyst to support the development of the firm's operational risk, governance and control framework, while assisting in the oversight of outsourced investment operations providers.

Initially, the role will focus on documenting and enhancing Risk Control Self-Assessments (RCSAs), Key Risk Indicators (KRIs), management information reporting, policies, procedures and internal control frameworks across the organisation. As the business evolves, responsibilities will broaden to include wider Investment Operations activities and third-party oversight.

Working closely with Investment Operations, Risk, Compliance, Technology and Investment teams, the successful candidate will help ensure critical business processes and controls are effectively documented, monitored and embedded.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to develop a career spanning investment operations, operational risk, governance and asset management within a regulated investment management environment.

This position reports to the Head of Investment Operations

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the development and maintenance of Risk & Control Self-Assessments (RCSAs).
• Review and document end-to-end operational processes, identifying control enhancements and efficiency improvements.
• Assist with operational resilience, outsourcing and third-party risk management frameworks.
• Support control testing, assurance activities and ongoing governance initiatives.
• Maintain accurate policies, procedures and control documentation.
• Develop and maintain operational policies, process maps and operating manuals.
• Engage stakeholders to document business processes and operating models.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement, standardisation and automation.

Management Information & Reporting

• Produce management information and governance reporting for senior stakeholders.
• Develop operational dashboards and reporting metrics.
• Analyse operational data, trends and risk indicators.
• Support committee reporting and governance papers.

Stakeholder Management

• Work closely with Investment Operations, Risk, Compliance, Finance, Technology and Investment teams.
• Facilitate workshops and meetings to gather requirements and document processes.
• Coordinate cross-functional initiatives focused on governance, controls and operational resilience.

Investment Operations Support

As the role develops, responsibilities will expand to include:

• Oversight of outsourced investment operations service providers.
• Monitoring service delivery against agreed service levels and control standards.
• Reviewing operational activities including cash management, corporate actions, trade support and investment accounting processes.
• Supporting service review meetings and governance activities.
• Assisting with operational due diligence reviews and supplier assessments.
• Monitoring operational incidents, breaches and remediation activities.

Experience Required

• Experience within Investment Management, Asset Management, Investment Operations, Financial Services, Risk, Compliance or Governance.
• Strong process documentation and business analysis skills.
• Understanding of front, middle and back-office investment workflows.
• Experience developing policies, procedures, process maps or control documentation.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and stakeholder management skills.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word skills.
• Excellent written communication and attention to detail.
• Exposure to FCA-regulated environments.
• Experience with operational risk frameworks, RCSAs or control assessments.
• Experience producing management information and risk reporting.
• Knowledge of investment operations outsourcing oversight.

Qualifications

• Degree-qualified or equivalent industry experience.
• Demonstrable commitment to ongoing professional development.

Preferred

• IMC, IOC, CISI, IRM or similar industry qualifications.
• Business Analysis, Change Management or Process Improvement certifications.
• Progress towards CFA, CISI, IRM or equivalent professional qualification.

What's on Offer

• Opportunity to join a newly established and growing investment management business.
• Broad exposure across investment operations, governance, risk and control functions.
• Chance to help shape operating models, processes and governance frameworks from an early stage.
• Collaborative culture with direct exposure to senior leadership.
• Strong long-term career development opportunities within a regulated investment environment.