Practice Manager, Implementation Services, Charles River Development, Vice President

State Street; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution in the UK is seeking a Practice Manager to oversee consulting teams, implement investment management solutions, and drive client success. The ideal candidate will have over 8 years of experience in the field, with strong leadership skills and a knack for client relationship management. This role requires a relevant degree and the ability to travel as needed. Join us to make a significant impact in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

Generous medical care

Flexible work program

Paid volunteer days

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in investment management or consulting is preferred.
• Experience managing teams and knowledge of investment management solutions.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage staffing and optimise team utilisation.
• Lead development of implementation best practices.
• Provide support and career path guidance for team members.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert in CRIMS implementations.
• Educate clients on CRIMS functionalities.

Skills

Client relationship management

Problem solving

Team leadership

Analytical skills

Strong communication

Education

Four-year degree in finance or technical field

Advanced degree or CFA

Job description

What we are looking for

Practice Managers have two overall responsibilities. They serve as managers of a speciality consulting team, or Practice. They also contribute to individual projects while serving as senior subject‑matter experts. As a manager, Practice Managers lead teams of consultants who are subject‑matter experts in the implementation of the Charles River Investment Management Solution (CR IMS).

• Hiring and staff development of team members as well as all administrative responsibilities including objectives, reviews, promotion recommendations and time & expense approval.
• Utilisation of their team in order to deliver successful projects while meeting financial goals.
• Development of the ‘Best Practices’ which govern CRIMS implementations in their speciality area.
• Define and maintain best practise Implementation and delivery patterns for common solutioning areas in conjunction with Technical Implementation Practise Lead; provide leadership for Solution Architecture Practise members; liaise with counterparts in NA and APAC to ensure consistent global approach and standards

Their contributions as expert‑level project resources include defining client requirements, configuring and tuning the solution to the client’s business and technical needs, training clients, testing workflows and resolving issues before taking the client “live”. Practice Managers should also have advanced consulting skills. This includes the ability to build effective working relationships, manage difficult situations and influence key decision‑makers. They should also be able to evaluate these skills in their team members and provide feedback.

Why this job is important to us

The team you will be joining is a part of Charles River Development (or CRD), that became a part of State Street in 2018. CRD helps create enterprise investment management software solutions for large institutions in the areas of institutional investment, wealth management and hedge funds. Together we have created the first open front‑to‑back platform – State Street Alpha, that was launched in 2019. Join us if delivering next generation infrastructure, using emerging technologies like AI and Blockchain sounds like a challenge you are up for.

What you will be responsible for

• Manage staffing to optimise utilisation of your team. Use project assignments to expand your team’s skillset. Provide career path guidance. Partner with the recruiting team to hire talent at junior and senior experience‑levels. Set objectives and evaluate team members. Make promotion recommendations.
• Lead efforts to develop implementation Best Practices in your team. Promote your team's effective use of Best Practices in their projects. Manage your team’s relationship with Product Management. Optimise Product's involvement in projects so that they are providing necessary implementation guidance and receiving useful feedback from the field.
• Provide a support network for your team to leverage during their project work. This is critical to project success as well as staff retention efforts.
• Ensure your team is supporting the staffing process, time & expense process, technology adoption and other organisational initiatives. Job Description Creation Date:
• Lead the development of domain expertise in your team. Build awareness within your team of the emerging business & technical drivers which are impacting our customers. Help to create or drive forums to share expertise throughout CRD.
• Serve as subject‑matter expert within CRIMS implementation and upgrade projects. Analyze and evaluate requirements while providing product expertise and guidance throughout the project. Ensure the solution meets the client’s business needs and that the client is prepared to assume ownership and operate the solution after go‑live.
• Analyse and evaluate client requirements in order to help Charles River respond to sales opportunities. Contribute to sales presentations and proof‑of‑concept projects to demonstrate the potential of CRIMS to satisfy specific client needs.
• Educate clients on the functionality provided by CRIMS. Advise on best practices regarding the implementation and operation of Charles River solutions and services.
• Monitor and evaluate client requirements to identify potential enhancements to Charles River solutions and services. Document and communicate product improvements as part of client‑specific implementation projects or in response to trends in the marketplace.
• Contribute to software quality by clearly communicating defects to Technical Support and Product Management.

What we value

• Experience managing investment professionals. Experience managing consulting teams is preferred.
• Experience supporting or implementing investment management solutions within a bank, hedge fund, asset manager or wealth management firm. Experience with order management and compliance solutions is especially valuable.
• Knowledge of all asset classes including equity, fixed income, and derivatives.
• A strong record of client service. Practice Managers must understand client needs and build effective relationships. Must have the ability to work within a team environment and be focused on providing high‑quality service to our clients.
• Team player who shares knowledge and experience openly. Mentor less‑experienced colleagues while leveraging the expertise of more‑experienced colleagues.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills including the ability to convey plans, issues and risks to clients and team members in a clear and concise manner.
• Strong problem‑solving skills. Analytical thinker who can decompose complex issues into components and perform root cause analysis.
• Strong time management skills including the ability to manage multiple projects in parallel.

Education & Preferred Qualifications

• Four (4) year degree in a business or technical field such as Finance, Mathematical Finance, Economics, Engineering, or Computer Science. An advanced degree or industry certification such as the CFA is a strong plus.
• 8+ years of experience

Additional Requirements

• The ability to travel to client sites throughout the United States and Canada as well as the ability to work effectively when remote from clients. Travel of 30‑50% is typical but may exceed that at any given year.

About State Street

State Street is one of the largest custodian banks, asset managers and asset intelligence companies in the world. From technology to product innovation we’re making our mark on the financial services industry. For more than two centuries, we’ve been helping our clients safeguard and steward the investments of millions of people. We provide investment servicing, data & analytics, investments research & trading and investment management to institutional clients.

What we do.

State Street is one of the largest custodian banks, asset managers and asset intelligence companies in the world. From technology to product innovation we’re making our mark on the financial services industry. For more than two centuries, we’ve been helping our clients safeguard and steward the investments of millions of people. We provide investment servicing, data & analytics, investments research & trading and investment management to institutional clients.

Work, Live and Grow.

We make all efforts to create a great work environment. Our benefits packages are competitive and comprehensive. Details vary in locations, but you may expect generous medical care, insurance and savings plans among other perks. You’ll have access to flexible Work Program to help match your needs. And our wealth of development programs and educational support will help you reach your full potential.

Inclusion, Diversity, and Social Responsibility.

We truly believe our employees’ diverse backgrounds, experience and perspective are a powerful contributor to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive and reach their maximum potential while adding value to both our organization and our clients. We warmly welcome the candidates of diverse origin, background, ability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and personality. Another fundamental value at State Street is active engagement with our communities around the world, both as a partner and a leader. You will have tools to help balance your professional and personal life, paid volunteer days, matching gift program and access to employee networks that help you stay connected to what matters to you.

State Street is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

Company: Charles River Development

Discover more at www.StateStreet.com/careers

About State Street

Across the globe, institutional investors rely on us to help them manage risk, respond to challenges and drive performance and profitability. We keep our clients at the heart of everything we do, and smart, engaged employees are essential to our continued success.

We are committed to fostering an environment where every employee feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. As an essential partner in our shared success, you’ll benefit from inclusive development opportunities, flexible work‑life support, paid volunteer days, and vibrant employee networks that keep you connected to what matters most. Join us in shaping the future.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we consider all qualified applicants for all positions without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, age, disability, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship and marital status among other characteristics protected by applicable law.

Discover more information on jobs at StateStreet.com/careers

Read our CEO Statement