Functional Ops Business Analyst

**Role Summary**

Project New Star is a significant, complex transformation and change programme undertaken by our client for its Group Investments team across multiple geographical regions/entities. It is organised into different programs, e.g. front office, middle/back office, data etc.

To ensure success, an Operations SME must participate in the project to ensure that all operational processing areas and requirements impacted by the program have been adequately captured and target solutions agreed upon. The Ops SME lead will work with the relevant BAs / Vendors / relevant stakeholders to ensure accuracy and completeness of the documented workflow/business requirements, including participating in developing mutually agreed solutions.

To facilitate the release of the Operations SME lead into the project, our client is looking for suitable backfills to cover the day-to-day activities of the Senior Manager of both Trade & Cash Processing BAU areas.

The incumbent will report into the section head of the Operations team and will be responsible for managing the day to day activities of the trade & processing teams. He/she will also work with the Section Head on various operational responsibilities that may arise from time to time including ensuring the risk and controls assessment are carried out and updated for the Trade Processing-Cash Ops team.

**Main Responsibilities**
- Trade Processing Activities
- Oversees and manages the team to ensure daily critical functions are carried out within timelines and adheres to procedures and guidelines.
- Checks and authorizes instructions processed by staff: Custodian instructions, Bloomberg AIM transactions.
- Monitors & reviews broker performance in relation to back office functions.
- Resolve escalated issues from various stakeholders (Eg. Citibank/HSBC/BNP/IACOE/Finance/Broker).
- Review security holdings reconciliation between Bloomberg AIM/Custodians/IBOR.
- Guides and assists staff in streamlining new workflow & processes - Supports asset transfers requests by Portfolio Managers/Clients.
- Represent Settlement Team to participate in projects relating to BU migrations and onboarding of new accounts and ensure Settlement Team’s readiness for the take-ons.
- Review current processes & controls and ensure team members adhere to the internal controls.
- Assist in performing due diligence on service providers (eg Smartstream).
- Cash Processing Activities
- Oversees and manages the team to ensure daily critical functions are carried out within timelines and adheres to procedures and guidelines.
- Checker and authorizer for tasks performed by the Cash Ops staff for cash-related activities such as payment and remittance instructions, Spot FX and FD instructions in custodian platforms.
- Checks and authorizes instructions processed by staff in Bloomberg AIM for interface to downstream and service provider system, if applicable.
- Review cash reconciliation between Bloomberg AIM and custodian performed by Cash Ops staff, IBOR cash reconciliation performed by outsourced party (GIPS Ops) and escalate if necessary.
- Participate in projects under the group initiatives for areas that impact cash operations. This includes front office system change, fund restructuring exercise etc. Review Operating Memorandum with Clients for any change or new client onboarded.
- Liaise with auditors on requests relating to our clients’ portfolios
- Resolve escalated issues from various stakeholders eg DMO/IBOR team, Custodians, Service Providers, Finance, Brokers etc.
- Review existing workflow and processes and work with IT team for streamlining and automation of processes.
- Key goals
- Trade/Cash processing & settlement: Minimize failed settlement caused by cash processing error, Minimize financial loss due to settlement instruction error / oversight, Minimize failed trade caused by settlement error, Minimize financial loss due to settlement error / oversight.
- Cash reconciliation: Breaks are investigated and resolved timely, Minimize clients complains on operations supports, All tasks/transactions are performed/processed in accordance with the cutoff timings.
- Corporate actions: FM decisions on voluntary events are instructed to custodian before deadline.
- Position reconciliation: Breaks are investigated and resolved timely.

**Qualifications & Experience**
- Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy, Business Administration, Business Management, Banking and Finance or relevant fields.
- At least 10 years of experience in a similar role working in investment operations support of a fund management company or investment department of an insurance company.
- Settlement knowledge of various investment instruments.
- Project management skills
- Good communication and interpersonal skills.
- Good knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
- Strong initiative, able to multi-task and work under pressure.