Settlements Officer

Prescient; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 350,000 - 650,000; Full time

Job summary

Prescient Fund Services is seeking a skilled trade settlement specialist to support clients with end-to-end trade matching and settlement across multiple asset classes. The role emphasizes timely processing, accuracy, and strong client and counterparty relationship management.

You will contribute to risk controls, assist with project take-ons, and handle queries from brokers and custodians in a collaborative fund services environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in a similar role is essential.
• A relevant tertiary qualification is advantageous but not required.
• A relevant postgraduate qualification in Finance or related field would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Assist Prescient Fund Services (PFS) clients with trade matching and settlement processes.
• Capture, process, match and settle trades to the accounting system timeously for various instruments (Equities, Fixed Income, Derivatives, Unit Trusts/CIS, SWAPs, FX, etc).
• Prepare manual instructions for unlisted trade settlements when needed (Physical MM, Private Placements, Off Market trades, Offshore investments, Fund of Fund investments).
• Ensure broker/counterparty account and trade details reconcile with records and manager notifications align with counterparty confirmations.
• Send settlement instructions to custodian for matched trades via SWIFT.
• Maintain broker settlement details, contact details and brokerage rates.
• Compile incident reports and resolve external/internal trade queries from brokers, clients, and custodians, building healthy relationships.
• Handle ad-hoc queries and tasks, supporting management and coordinating team deliverables for projects and new client take-ons.
• Implement controls to mitigate risk.

Skills

Self-starter

Team player

Positive attitude

Flexibility

Honesty & integrity

Pro-active

Initiative

Attention to detail

Job description

Duties and responsibilities:

Purpose of role:

This role’s main focus is to assist Prescient Fund Services (PFS) clients with the trade matching and settlement process.

The main duties include but are not limited to:

You will ensure all capturing / processing, matching and settlement of all trades to the accounting system timeously which include Equities, Fixed Income, Derivatives, Unit Trusts / CIS investments, Call Transfers, SWAPs, FX deals etc.

• Preparing manual instructions for any unlisted trade settlements where necessary: Physical MM, Private Placements, Off Market trades, Offshore investments, Fund of Fund investments, validate account details on Swap agreements, etc.
• Ensure trades are matched between client notification and counterparty confirmation:
  • You will ensure broker / counterparty account and trade details reconcile with our records.
  • You will ensure that the managers notification reconciles with the counterparty confirmation.
• Sending settlement instructions to custodian for all trades timeously via SWIFT as necessary only once deals have been matched to the counterparty confirmations.
• Maintaining broker settlement details, contact details and brokerage rates.
• Compiling of incident reports.
• Resolving external and internal queries relating to all trades from brokers, clients and custodians:
  • You will need to build and maintain healthy client and counterparty relationships to ensure resolution of settlement issues identified.
• Adhoc queries and tasks.
• Ensure appropriate controls are in place to mitigate risk.
• Supporting the management and co-ordination of team deliverables relating to projects and new client take-on’s.

Required qualifications and experience:

• A minimum of 3 years' relevant experience in a similar role is essential.
• A relevant tertiary qualification is advantageous but not required.
• A relevant postgraduate qualification in Finance or a related field would be advantageous.

Key competencies:

• Self-starter who is willing to take on responsibility for a wide array of tasks in a small company.
• Ability to work under limited supervision.
• You are a team player, putting the interest of the team ahead of your own personal interests.
• Positive and enthusiastic attitude.
• Willing to work extra hours when required.
• Honesty, integrity and mutual respect for co-workers. You have the ability to deal with different cultural and business situations.
• A person who is very diligent and thorough in their daily duties.
• Understanding of the financial markets and instruments.
• Pro-active and able to grasp concepts quickly.
• Ability to use initiative and multitask.
• Strong attention to detail under immense pressure.

Why this role:

Join Prescient Fund Services and play a key role in the settlement of investment transactions across multiple asset classes. This is an excellent opportunity to build specialist expertise in investment operations, gain broad industry exposure, and develop your career within a collaborative, fast-paced fund services environment.