Analyst - Fund Accounting - Hedge Daily - Reconciliation

The Catalyst Group; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 250,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in hedge fund administration is seeking an 'Analyst - Fund Accounting' in Cape Town. The successful candidate will ensure accurate fund reconciliations, manage data and client communications, and uphold high valuation quality standards. This role is ideal for newly qualified graduates with relevant academic backgrounds and some practical experience in fund administration.

Qualifications

• 1-2 years of experience in fund administration with focus on reconciliations.
• Newly Qualified Graduate acceptable.
• Ability to communicate in English, Portuguese is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Conduct fund reconciliations across multiple sources and ensure accuracy.
• Manage client queries and deliver reconciliation reports.
• Ensure compliance with reconciling processes and support governance frameworks.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Problem-Solving

Communication

Attention to Detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Economics or Finance

Tools

Reconciliation software

MS Excel

SQL

Business Intelligence (BI) tools

Job description

Analyst - Fund Accounting - Hedge Daily - Reconciliation

Core Details and Responsibilities

This role is based in our office in Cape Town, South Africa. As an Analyst - Fund Administration (Reconciliations) - Hedge Daily Fund Administration. You will report to the Associate Director.

The Analyst plays a critical role in the daily operations related to fund reconciliation and portfolio management for a diverse range of client funds, ensuring accuracy and compliance in all deliverables. This position is designed for an experienced reconciliation professional who will be responsible for the accurate reconciliation of cash, positions, market value, and corporate actions, and for ensuring that these data points are correctly managed within the portfolio systems. The role also includes responsibilities around data management, reporting, and valuation quality assurance, supporting both internal stakeholders and clients on a day-to-day basis. This position requires a strong analytical mindset, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively across teams to enhance operational efficiency and client service excellence.

From a high-level perspective, the core responsibilities that form your role are broken down into the following 6 categories:

Reconciliation Management

Data Management and Process Improvement

Communication and Client Interaction

Valuation Quality Assurance

System Expertise & Development

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Risk and Compliance Responsibilities

Your Daily Tasks

The following are the tasks linked to the Core Responsibilities that will be expected as part of this role:

1. Reconciliation Management

Includes (but not limited to) the following tasks:

Wholesale & Fund-Specific Reconciliations: Perform daily, weekly and monthly reconciliations for client funds, ensuring that all cash, positions, interest, dividends, and market events (such as corporate actions) are accurately reconciled across multiple sources (e.g., brokers, managers, custodians).

Position Reconciliations: Perform daily position reconciliations for clients, ensuring that all discrepancies are flagged, investigated, and resolved promptly.

Market Value Reconciliations: Oversee the reconciliation of market values for securities in client portfolios, ensuring that valuations are accurate and consistent across all data sources.

Cash Reconciliations: Perform daily, weekly and monthly cash reconciliations for clients, ensuring that all discrepancies are flagged, investigated, and resolved promptly.

Ad hoc duties that may be assigned from time to time.

2. Data Management and Process Improvement

Includes (but are not limited to) the following tasks:

Trade, Price, Security & Corporate Action Data: Manage the data entry, monitoring, and exception clearing processes for trades, prices, securities, and corporate actions. Ensure that the correct data is entered into portfolio management systems and discrepancies are promptly addressed

Raise the relevant inconsistencies relating to the static data for portfolio systems when performing reconciliations for all data points such as security identifiers, asset classes, and other relevant information to be updated accurately and consistently.

System-Based Query Resolution: Proactively identify and resolve complex system-related issues affecting the accuracy of position and P&L valuations. Collaborate with IT and other operational teams to resolve data discrepancies and optimize processes.

3. Communication and Client Interaction:

Includes (but are not limited to) the following tasks:

Client Query Management: Respond to queries from clients and internal stakeholders, particularly from the North and South American offices. Address complex reconciliation-related inquiries and provide clear and timely responses.

Reporting to Clients: Manage and deliver regular reconciliation reports to clients, ensuring they are comprehensive and error-free. These may include daily, weekly, or monthly reports depending on client requirements.

NAV & Reporting Support: Support NAV leaders and managers in resolving complex queries related to fund valuations, reconciliations, and data discrepancies

4. Valuation Quality Assurance:

Includes (but are not limited to) the following tasks:

Quality Reviews: Conduct periodic reviews of valuation processes and reconciliation outputs to ensure high-quality, accurate, and timely valuations are produced. Perform quality assurance checks on all daily, weekly and monthly reconciliations.

Operational Excellence: Continuously monitor and review reconciliation and data management processes to ensure adherence to operational best practices, industry standards, and regulatory requirements.

5. System Expertise & Development

Includes (but are not limited to) the following tasks:

Advent Geneva Expertise: Develop and maintain expertise in Advent Geneva Portfolio and General Ledger modules. Ensure that the system is being utilized effectively for the completion of reconciliation tasks and the production of fund valuations.

System Improvements & Upgrades: Actively contribute to the improvement and optimization of reconciliation and portfolio management systems. Collaborate with IT and other departments on system upgrades and troubleshooting.

Continuous Learning: Keep up to date with new developments in portfolio management and reconciliation systems. Participate in training sessions and workshops to enhance your technical skills.

6. Cross-Functional Collaboration

Includes (but are not limited to) the following tasks:

Process Improvement: Identify opportunities for process optimization within the reconciliation team and broader fund administration function. Share insights and suggest improvements to increase operational efficiency and enhance client service.

Collaboration with Other Teams: Work closely with operations staff, project managers, implementation teams, and other business units to ensure the successful implementation of new products and solutions that support the reconciliation and portfolio management processes.

7. Risk and Compliance Responsibilities:

Includes (but not limited to) the following tasks:

Compliance Tasks: Perform routine compliance checks and adhere to company risk and compliance processes and policies.

Control Testing: Participate in testing of operational controls and report findings.

Compliance Culture - Working in tandem with Manager and Risk and Governance colleagues to instill a culture that is centered around good governance and compliance

Support Investigations: Assist in compliance investigations and gather necessary information along with assisting in preparation and gathering of documentation for SOC audits.

Ensure reconciliation processes adhere to SOC (SOC 1/ISAE 3402) requirements by meticulously documenting reconciliation procedures, controls, audit trails and raise any inconsistencies.

Support governance frameworks by adhering to established reconciliation policies, controls, and escalation protocols, ensuring data accuracy and integrity in line with regulatory and organizational standards. Identify potential reconciliation-related risks and implement controls to mitigate them.

Additional Strategic Expectations

• Share insights to enable development of new processes and procedures that will create business efficiency and support delivery of client excellence in service.
• Maintain awareness of industry, regulatory, jurisdictional, and other trends that could affect the business.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with operations staff, business users, project, and implementation managers to achieve desired and elegant solutions.

Required Skills & Experience

Are you getting excited? We are! Before we get too carried away, there are a few requirements you'll need to check off before you can apply for the position:

• A Bachelor's degree / Diploma in Accounting, Business Administration, Economics or Finance or similar field
• Newly Qualified Graduate
• 1-2 years of experience in fund administration with a focus on reconciliations, preferably within the hedge fund industry would be advantageous
• Ability to communicate (high standard of speaking and writing) in English, Portuguese will be advantageous
• Proficiency with reconciliation software and fund accounting systems would be advantageous
• Advanced Excel skills and familiarity with SQL or other data analysis tools
• Knowledge of BI Tools: Familiarity with MS Power Apps and Business Intelligence (BI) tools is a plus.
• Problem-Solving & Analytical Skills: Strong ability to analyze issues, identify root causes, and implement effective solutions, particularly in relation to complex financial data and reconciliations.
• Basic SQL development and server maintenance experience is required.