Alternative Investment Operations Director – Derivatives Services

Manulife Business Processing Services (MBPS); Quezon City; On-site; PHP 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

A financial services company in Quezon City is seeking an Alternative Investment Operations Director to lead Derivatives Operations. Responsibilities include overseeing operational risks, driving transformation initiatives, and managing service delivery of Derivative Services. Candidates should have 10+ years of experience in financial services with a strong focus on derivatives. The role offers a flexible environment that promotes inclusion and career development.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in financial services focused on Derivatives operations.
• Experience managing operational budgets.
• Ability to work in a broad Matrix organization with influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide functional oversight to enable the Derivative Services teams.
• Drive strategic transformation initiatives.
• Manage and mitigate operational risk.

Skills

Leadership

Change management

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Negotiation

Education

University degree in accounting, finance, or business management

Job description

Overview

Reporting directly to the GBS Service Delivery Head for Retail, Wealth, Alternatives, and Fund Services Operations, the Alternative Investment Operations Director – Derivatives Services is primarily responsible for leading the Derivatives Operations, Support and Solutions teams supporting Asia, North America, and UK in ensuring timely, accurate, and effective delivery of services that are in scope. The role also oversees Securities Lending function for GWAM.

Responsibilities

• Provide functional oversight to continuously enable the Derivative Services teams to efficiently deliver on change initiatives, while continuing to produce consistent, high quality, delivery of BAU services for both the General Accounts and Asset Management businesses.

• Drive strategic transformation and change management initiatives to deliver risk-averse scalability, transparency, and synergistic alignment across the function.

• Foster sharing of best practices, collaboration, and innovation across teams within the group.

• Provide senior management support with a focus on digitizing governance and oversight, interfacing with key Business Unit decision makers.

• In partnership with the business, be accountable for the execution of key transformation strategies, including strategic reviews of existing processes, submitting business cases for prioritization, and ensuring smooth execution of active transformation programs.

• Champion and foster an innovation culture by encouraging teams to step outside their comfort zones and supporting them through obstacles.

Operational Risk

• Manage and mitigate operational risk and ensure issues are escalated and resolved timely and effectively.

• Validate the accuracy of operational risk heat maps and other risk assessments.

• Collaborate with local and segment risk functions. Ensure effective cascade and communication of operational risk awareness and management practices.

• Drive periodic scenario-based tabletop exercises for business continuity planning to prevent service disruption.

• Accountable for timely and effective closure of audit points.

Service Delivery

• Ensure customer-centered outcomes and enable feedback channels to align expectations and priorities.

• Define and refresh service level standards across the teams within the domain and manage the delivery and reporting of KRIs and KPIs as defined in SLAs and the Schedule of Services.

• Manage direct and indirect costs, providing cost transparency to Finance and Business Units as needed.

• Oversee annual business planning and business unit goal setting.

• Contribute to development of procedures and policies adhered to by subordinate leaders/teams.

• Ensure timely/accurate information for performance and risk reporting, dashboards, governance reporting, and other decision-making metrics.

• Ensure successful transitions of work toward a global business shared services operation model that is scalable and efficient.

Leadership

• Manage a growing team with responsibility for hiring, compensation, promotion, and performance management.

• Develop the group’s capability through training, coaching, talent management, succession planning, and mobility support.

• Foster career progression through talent development and internal mobility with succession plans in place.

• Engage teams with recognition and feedback, and treat all members with dignity and respect.

• Embrace and champion diversity, ensuring recruitment reflects a diverse candidate pool.

Preferred Qualifications

• University degree in accounting, finance, or business management. Recognized investment, finance, or accounting designation preferred.

• Minimum 5+ years in a senior role leading and developing global operations/large teams across geographies/time zones. Experience in a captured shared services environment is an advantage.

• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in financial services with a strong focus on Derivatives operations, collateral management, clearing, and trade support.

• Industry certification such as CAIA, CFA, or FRM is a plus.

• Experience in managing operational budgets, including forecasting and monthly tracking (discretionary spend and fixed costs).

• Extensive knowledge of derivative products (Swaps, Options, Futures, Forwards, etc.) and their accounting in investment book of records, trading platforms, custody records, and SWIFT messages.

• Broad knowledge of life insurance and asset management businesses, audit methodologies, control frameworks, and risk management techniques.

• Participation in educational opportunities and professional networks to stay up to date on job knowledge.

• Innovative thinker with the ability to negotiate, influence, and challenge the status quo to improve processes and collaborate across cultures.

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to handle complex financial issues.

• Familiarity with project management approaches and the project lifecycle, including continuous improvement projects.

• Ability to work in an ambiguous environment and adapt to fast-paced change while meeting deadlines.

• Flexible on shift and working hours to meet business deadlines.

• Experience working in a broad Matrix organization with influencing skills to achieve goals.

• Experience across geographies/time zones with strong interpersonal, communication, and cross-cultural skills.

When you join our team

We’ll empower you to learn and grow the career you want. We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words. As part of our global team, we’ll support you in shaping the future you want to see.