Investment Operations Specialist (Settlements and Trade Support)

CA Financial Appointments; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 480,000 - 750,000; Full time

Job summary

CA Financial Appointments is seeking an experienced settlements professional to help build the Operations function in the new Cape Town office. You will own day-to-day settlement and trade support activity and collaborate with teams in SA and the UK, with exposure to international investment operations.

You will manage SA domestic settlements and international processes, perform reconciliations, and drive improvements across processes and data systems. The role offers growth as the team expands.

Qualifications

• Experience in financial services operations, settlements or trade support.
• Hands-on knowledge of South African domestic settlements and STRATE.
• Strong Excel skills with data handling.
• Experience performing reconciliations and investigating settlement, trade or cash discrepancies.
• Strong attention to detail and a control‑focused approach.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Experience dealing with custodians, CSDPs, brokers or investment banks.

Responsibilities

• Manage and monitor South African domestic settlements and related international processes.
• Track trades through the settlement lifecycle and resolve unmatched, failed or outstanding transactions.
• Liaise with custodians, CSDPs, brokers, counterparties and internal teams to resolve settlement queries.
• Perform reconciliations, validations and control checks.
• Maintain trade and product data across Salesforce, Excel and internal systems.
• Investigate discrepancies and drive issues to resolution.
• Maintain operational records, controls and procedures.
• Support operational reporting and management information.
• Identify process improvements, controls and efficiency opportunities.
• Support rollout of new products, platforms and projects.
• Collaborate with UK and SA operations.

Skills

Settlement processes

Excel proficiency

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Independent & team work

Deadline management

Problem solving

Tools

Salesforce

STRATE

Euroclear

Job description

Do you thrive on getting trades over the line accurately and on time? We’re looking for an experienced settlements professional to help build the Operations function in the new Cape Town office of a growing international investment business.

Why join this team?

This isn’t a role where you simply process transactions. You’ll own day-to-day settlement and trade support activity and help shape how the local Operations function works. You’ll work closely with colleagues in South Africa and the UK and gain exposure to international investment operations. As the team grows, so will your scope.

What you will be doing:

• Managing and monitoring South African domestic settlements, alongside international processes including Euroclear
• Tracking trades through the settlement lifecycle and investigating unmatched, failed or outstanding transactions
• Liaising with custodians, CSDPs, brokers, counterparties and internal teams to resolve settlement queries
• Performing operational reconciliations, validations and control checks
• Maintaining accurate trade and product data across Salesforce, Excel and internal systems
• Investigating discrepancies and owning issues through to resolution
• Maintaining operational records, controls and procedures
• Supporting operational reporting and management information
• Identifying improvements to processes, controls and efficiency
• Supporting the rollout of new products, platforms and projects
• Working closely with colleagues across UK and South African operations

What we are looking for:

• Experience in financial services operations, settlements or trade support
• Hands‑on experience and strong understanding of South African domestic settlements and STRATE
• Good understanding of the trade lifecycle and post‑trade settlement process
• Strong Excel skills and confidence working with financial and transactional data
• Experience performing reconciliations and investigating settlement, trade or cash discrepancies
• Strong attention to detail and a control‑focused approach
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet settlement deadlines
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Salesforce experience in an operational environment
• Exposure to structured products
• Experience dealing directly with custodians, CSDPs, brokers or investment banks
• Knowledge of international settlement processes
• Experience with investment funds or other financial instruments
• Experience contributing to process improvements, automation or systems development

Are someone who is?

• Organised, methodical and accountable
• Proactive and solutions-focused
• Confident resolving problems rather than simply escalating them
• Comfortable working across teams and jurisdictions
• Adaptable and keen to take on more as the business develops