AVP/ Account Transitions Lead

Company Description

As a leading global investment management firm, AB fosters diverse perspectives and embraces innovation to help our clients navigate the uncertainty of capital markets. Through high-quality research and diversified investment services, we serve institutions, individuals, and private wealth clients in major markets worldwide. Our ambition is simple: to be our clients’ most valued asset-management partner.

With over 4,400 employees across 51 locations in 25 countries, our people are our advantage. We foster a culture of intellectual curiosity and collaboration to create an environment where everyone can thrive and do their best work. Whether you're producing thought-provoking research, identifying compelling investment opportunities, infusing new technologies into our business, or providing thoughtful advice to clients, we’re looking for unique voices to help lead us forward. If you’re ready to challenge your limits and build your future, join us.

Summary

Account Transitions provide a high level of support for the take on and ongoing service of AB Institutional clients as well as Private Clients with DvP mandates. The individual will be responsible for managing a Team that project manage these activities from an OP’s perspective.

The key objective is to achieve internal and external client satisfaction during any ‘transition’ event lifecycle – be that an a/c opening, closing or BaU event.

The role necessitates constant emphasis on attention to detail and adherence to deadlines but also requires an ability to ensure prompt and appropriate response to a broad range of enquiries from internal and external clients. An understanding of the implications of a global model is extremely important, as our accounting systems are at the heart of our systems infrastructure and the impact of any change to data or flow can be fundamental.

Responsibilities/Prime Functions 

• Work closely with internal stakeholders to manage fund/mandate launches, closures, and transition events (Custodian Changes, Name changes, In Specie Transitions, Benchmark Changes)
• Project Manage the end-to-end process and mitigate risks associated with fund/mandate launches, closures, and transition events
• Manage communication with external parties e.g. custodians, administrators, transition managers and in some instances the underlying client throughout the life cycle of the event
• Manage communication internally and externally during events to ensure all stakeholders are aware of progress and are contributing towards the target completion dates
• Maintain awareness of internal team’s processes and controls as well as the changing regulatory environment
• Foster and maintain strong working relationships with other functional areas of the business as required
• Build and maintain strong relationships with external service and system providers
• Manage the operational set up of each transition event on internal systems and establish custodial accounts and linkage
• Ensure that market openings for new clients are completed in advance of funding date and new market requests are completed on a timely basis for existing clients

• Co-ordinate the review and approval of Operating Memorandum Reviews and Operational SLA’s (legally contractual documents outlining the services the asset manager commits to provide to client and or their administrator).
• Work Closely with the Derivatives Administration team to facilitate the set-up of Trading Agreements for trading of derivatives 
• Adhere to SLA’s as defined within the Client Servicing procedures.

Secondary Functions: 

• Participation with respect to the completion of specifically allocated tasks within the scope of department projects and initiatives.
• Ongoing review of current systems, procedures and processes, making recommendations for improvement, where required.
• Participate in Operational Risk initiatives as required.

Skills / Experience required

• Candidates will have a degree or alternatively minimum A Level standard of education with a solid track record in Transitions and client relationship management to be considered.
• Relevant industry professional qualifications (such as the IMC or IAQ’s) are desirable, but not essential.
• Minimum 2 years dedicated Client Servicing / Account Transition / OP’s experience
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Strong industry knowledge regarding Operations Middle and Back Office functions; Settlements, Confirmations, Reconciliation, Client Reporting, Performance, Pricing & valuation, Corporate Actions, Client Guideline Management.
• Experience of financial systems, e.g. SWIFT, TLM, Bloomberg, custodian proprietary systems, Portfolio Accounting Systems (e.g. HiPortfolio, Portia, etc).
• Competent user of MS Office suite.
• Strong experience of manual and automated reconciliations.
• Strong knowledge of Investment Product Classes; Equity, Fixed Income, Forwards, Derivatives, Alternatives
• Strong knowledge of Trading and Investment principles.
• Experience in liaising with brokers, custodians and fund accountants.
• Flexible approach to a multi-tasking work environment.
• Demonstrates an ability to work with minimal supervision, as well as within a team environment
• Demonstrates an ability to identify and evaluate potential risks, and escalate items appropriately.

Skills

• List of soft and hard skills required for job

Special Knowledge (if applicable)

Provide details if there are unique platforms or tech skills needed for role, they can be added here (this section is sometimes rolled into Skills)