Specialist - Operational Controls and Oversight

theapexgroup; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Apex Group in Cape Town seeks a Specialist to provide high-level oversight across reconciliation and reporting for our clients. You will ensure timely completion of data loads, validation of inputs, and proactive management of exceptions, coordinating with global teams to maintain accuracy and deadlines.

The role emphasizes risk mitigation, client relationship management, and ongoing process improvements across reconciliation platforms and middleware systems.

Qualifications

• Tertiary accounting qualification (minimum B.Com or equivalent) and experience in reconciliations.
• Asset manager background advantageous.
• Experience with monitoring, ensuring quality of output, and process review.

Responsibilities

• Provide high level oversight across reconciliation and reporting processes.
• Ensure data loads (R120, MT940, MT535) completed and trigger requests sent to Reconciliation team in India.
• Manage client data and requests pro-actively within SLA via Cherwell or email.
• Oversee exception reporting and mitigate risks timeously.
• Validate and process manual inputs from Reconciliation team in India, considering funds valuation points.

Skills

Reconciliations

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Process improvement

Audit support

Education

B.Com or equivalent

Tools

Power BI

SSRS

Xceptor

Job description

The Apex Group was established in Bermuda in 2003 and is now one of the world's largest fund administration and middle office solutions providers.

Our business is unique in its ability to reach globally, service locally and provide cross-jurisdictional services. With our clients at the heart of everything we do, our hard-working team has successfully delivered on an unprecedented growth and transformation journey, and we are now represented by over circa 13,000 employees across 112 offices worldwide.Your career with us should reflect your energy and passion.

That's why, at Apex Group, we will do more than simply 'empower' you. We will work to supercharge your unique skills and experience.

Take the lead and we'll give you the support you need to be at the top of your game. And we offer you the freedom to be a positive disrupter and turn big ideas into bold, industry-changing realities.

For our business, for clients, and for you

Specialist - Operational Controls and Oversight

Cape Town, Apex House

Description

The primary responsibility of this role is to provide a high level of oversight across the reconciliation and reporting processes for Apex clients. The individual will be accountable for ensuring that all tasks performed within the team are executed accurately, efficiently, and in line with established daily and monthly deadlines.

Job specification

Operational Management

• Ensure that all applicable data loads have been completed (R120, MT940, MT535 etc) and provide trigger request to Reconciliation team in India at start of day.
• Ensure that all new account set ups has been completed on the applicable reconciliation platform and that required swift messaging has been arranged via the On-boarding team, Client or 3rd party.
• Manage all client data and requests pro-actively and within agreed timelines as per the SLA - Cherwell or email.
• Ensure all exception reporting is managed on the day and any potential risk mitigated timeously.
• Ensure that all manual processing provided by the Reconciliation team in India is validated and processed timeously, taking into consideration the applicable funds valuation point as well as client specifics with regards to bps impact.
• Post notification from the Reconciliation team in India, perform oversight of the completed recons (cash, scrip or call) and distribute via the standard RPA process.
• Perform required interest and expense calculations as required, distribute to client for sign off, process based on approval and send confirmation to the Reconciliation team in India.
• Assist the Reconciliation team in India with GAP record identification and loading of required entries on the reconciliation platform
• Actively assist in the scoping, developing and testing of additional auto match rules to enhance business efficiency.
• Manage daily stats via both platforms (Power BI dashboard & Manual stats file) - to ensure high levels of oversight is maintained with key focus on breaks aged > 5 days.
• Take first line ownership and accountability for the following middle ware systems linked to the Reconciliation process: SSRS Reporting portal, Xceptor data tables, closing balance file linking and distribution, Rec Summary Variance reporting"
• Play a key part during transitions / fund restructures - including attending runbook meetings and ensuring that all criteria are received timeously and aligned with standard operating models
• Ad hoc request as and when required by the business

Risk Management

• Assessing opportunities for improved efficiencies within the reconciliation process, including new technologies and tools.
• Perform daily / weekly / monthly Risk and Age analysis.
• Attend client meetings and drive a collaborative approach to break management and resolution with our external Clients.
• Provide input on incident reports as and when requested
• Assist with Audit queries as required for: Client Financial Year end ISAE3402

Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external clients regarding matters pertaining to break investigation and resolution.
• Build strong working relationships with external parties / vendors (Custodian, Clearing House, Manco etc).

Qualifications

• A tertiary accounting qualification (minimum B.Com or equivalent);
• Previous experience at an Asset Manager will be an advantage
• Previous reconciliation experience with full exposure to all types of financial instruments in the market
• Previous experience in monitoring and ensuring quality of output;
• Previous experience in process review;

IT and Systems Skills and Knowledge

• Proven competence and an aptitude for working with systems;

Skills and Abilities

• Detailed understanding of reconciliations, and links between independent reconciliations;
• A good practical knowledge of the asset management industry;
• Detailed understanding of the independent administration process;
• Previous experience in dealing with clients;
• Excellent communication skills (both writt