Core Operations, Officer

State Street Asia Ltd; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 600,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

State Street Asia Ltd in Hong Kong is seeking an experienced payments operations leader to manage the team responsible for daily EST operations, FX instructions, and risk controls. You will coordinate with the Assistant Vice President, ensure adherence to procedures, and drive service excellence for internal and external clients.

The role emphasizes process improvement, people management, and contingency planning, including business continuity and regulatory compliance, while balancing deadlines

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Finance, Business or related field preferred.
• Relevant experience in the financial services industry, especially treasury and broking products.
• Proven capabilities in operational and staff management.
• Ability to manage, negotiate and meet training needs of staff.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the operational management of the payments team and ensure daily tasks meet procedures and deadlines.
• Ensure FX standing instructions are executed accurately and timely.
• Monitor team workflows and risk controls, and escalate issues per policy.
• Oversee preparation of risk and sign-off reports and distribute to senior management.
• Adhere to corporate policies, SOPs, legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Lead staff resourcing, development, and performance feedback.

Skills

People Management

Client Service

Risk Management

Operational Excellence

AML Compliance

Team Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance or Related Field

Tools

Financial Systems

Job description

Responsible for the operational management of the payments team in co-ordination with the Assistant Vice President. Direct responsibility for managing internal and external deliverables; and a team of resources to meet the daily operational needs of our business and clients. Client service focus is paramount and involves both internal and external client groups. Understanding and actively managing the team’s operational risks, processes and procedures is essential. Provide assistance to senior management in providing best practice implementation, risk management, client relationship and client service services to clients.

What you will be responsible for

Risk and Compliance

• Ensure that all daily tasks are completed in accordance with current operating procedures and prescribed deadlines
• Ensure FX standing instruction placed by clients are executed accurately in timely manner
• Monitor the payment team’s daily workflows, particularly the IBS queues ensuring that all transactions are released
• Ensure the timely completion of error/loss memo reports by the relevant supervisor, review and initiate appropriate action/s. Distribute to the senior management in a timely manner
• Ensure all information in operating procedures is accurate and current at all times
• Responsible for the ongoing review of current operating procedures to eliminate processing deficiencies, detect major areas of risk and implement best practice recommendations. Communicate changes to the relevant staff and management
• Ensure all information prepared by the team has adequate and appropriate sign off supervision and control
• Ensure full adherence and implementation of the State Street’s Corporate Policies, Standard Operating Procedures, relevant legislation and regulatory requirements
• During the course of normal day to day operations, responsible for identifying any unusual or potentially suspicious transaction activity and reporting and/or escalating in accordance with corporate policy and guidelines details in relevant operating procedures
• Design and enhance the team’s risk reports to incorporate the businesses changing risk profiles and needs.
• Be aware of all business contingency plans; assist both the department’s representative and the relevant business BCP manager as needed.
• Annually review the business continuity plan for areas of responsibility. Invoke contingency procedures as required. Communicate actions to management and staff
• Contribute to the preparation of the departments corporate audit

Staff Management and Resourcing

• Responsible for managing all aspects of resourcing within teams, including leave and shift coverage, overtime and staff retention
• Manage workflows to ensure an equitable distribution of work amongst staff is achieved
• Provide appropriate sign off supervision and control on days where team supervisors are out of the office
• Provide direct, understandable and timely feedback to staff in order to improve on the job performance
• Create an environment which promotes teamwork, motivates, rewards and supports staff
• Ensure appropriate resources and support, including training and industry sessions, are available to enable staff to achieve business and personal objectives
• Monitor training in line with local regulatory and accreditation requirements
• Develop staff so that they have the required skills to complete their job and are cross trained across both teams to provide coverage

Client Service / Relationship

• Keep current on the status of open items with State Street custody, local banking agents, correspondent banks (general, CLS, Equity Funding); participate in the resolution of problems as required
• Keep State Street custody informed of changes in processes and market requirements
• Approve the processing of late payment requests
• Respond promptly to client (internal / external) concerns, needs and requests
• Ensure all agreed deliverables and standards are met
• Provide 3rd party (correspondent banks, local agents) feedback, to the relevant relationship owners
• Work with senior management to escal an items requiring action and put in to place tools to monitor
• Develop and sustain relationships by initiating communication on a regular basis, both by telephone and in person
• Constantly review client utilisation of deliverables; eliminate unnecessary services provided

Change Management

• Promote and support change / initiatives within Global Services (locally / globally)
• Act as local / regional (where applicable) contact point for technology and procedural changes that effect the payment and investigations team
• Ensure all tasks for initiatives are detailed and monitored for completion, developing and coordinating a local implementation approach. Delegate tasks where appropriate
• Provide local management with regular updates of all open initiatives
• Participate in the departments business planning and goal setting

Products / Services Supported

• China-HK Connect FX processing
• HKD self clearer for State Street Bank and Trust, Hong Kong
• CLS settlement monitoring
• Custody Payment Processing
• Funding Secondary, Primary & Equity Trading Nostro Accounts
• Reconciliations and Investigations

REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience

• Bachelor degree or equivalent in Finance, Business or related field preferred
• Relevant experience and demonstrated knowledge in the financial services industry in particular treasury and broking products
• Proven capabilities in operational and staff management
• Ability to manage, negotiate and meet training needs of staff.

Skills/Knowledge

• Effectively communicate with clients and managers, as well as staff and peers within State Street
• Demonstrate the ability to analyse a problem, obtain and evaluate information, and make sound decisions
• Good knowledge of Global Services & SSGM’s product and services and; the working relationship between front and back offices
• The ability to make a strong contribution within a team environment
• Embrace State Street’s “corporate values” and foster a work environment reflective of those values
• AML Compliance