WHO WE ARE
Aberdeen Investments is part of Aberdeen Group plc, one of the UK’s leading Wealth & Investments groups. Strengthening talent and culture is one of our strategic priorities. We strive to make Aberdeen a great place to work so that we can attract and retain the industry’s best talent. Our people put our stakeholders at the heart of everything they do by helping us to make a positive difference to the lives of our clients, customers, colleagues, shareholders and society. We are repositioning our specialist asset management business to meet client demand and are committed to providing excellent client service, supported by leading technology and talent.
As a global business, Aberdeen consists of three divisions: Investments, Adviser, and interactive investor (ii). Each division is dedicated to meeting and adapting to our clients' evolving needs.
In the Americas, our sole focus is on the investments business. We have offices in Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Miami, and Sao Paolo. Our breadth of experience gives us close proximity to the companies we invest in and the markets we operate in.
Purpose of the Position:
The Investor Services & Intermediary Oversight Associate supports the delivery of a high-quality investor and intermediary experience across Aberdeen's U.S. product range, including mutual funds, ETFs and separately managed accounts. The role supports oversight of third-party transfer agents, financial intermediaries, investor servicing providers, and intermediary compensation arrangements to help ensure services are delivered effectively within an appropriate operational control environment. Working with Distribution, Product, Compliance, Legal and other Operations teams, the Associate serves as an operational partner to resolve servicing matters, support intermediary and platform relationships, enable new business opportunities, and implement product and operating model changes.
Key Responsibilities
Transfer Agency & Investor Servicing Oversight
- Provide day-to-day oversight of third-party transfer agents and other investor servicing providers supporting Aberdeen's U.S. wealth management business.
- Monitor service delivery, operational performance, controls, incidents and outstanding issues, coordinating resolution and escalation as appropriate.
- Participate in service provider governance, due diligence and periodic oversight reviews.
- Serve as an operational point of contact between Aberdeen, its transfer agents and internal business partners.
Financial Intermediary Oversight
- Support Aberdeen's financial intermediary oversight program through operational due diligence, ongoing monitoring and review of intermediary servicing activities and control environments.
- Support the onboarding and maintenance of intermediary, broker-dealer and platform relationships, including changes to existing arrangements.
- Coordinate operational requirements associated with intermediary selling and servicing agreements.
- Research and coordinate the resolution of intermediary servicing and control issues, escalating matters that require management attention.
- Support the oversight and validation of financial intermediary compensation arrangements, including 12b-1, shareholder servicing, sub-transfer agency, administrative servicing and revenue-sharing arrangements, as applicable.
Distribution & Sales Enablement
- Provide operational guidance to Wealth Management Distribution on intermediary requirements, servicing arrangements and product capabilities.
- Complete operational components of client and intermediary questionnaires, due diligence reviews and other information requests.
- Partner with internal teams and external providers to develop practical solutions to new or evolving distribution requirements.
Mutual Fund, ETF & SMA Operations
- Develop and maintain strong working knowledge of Aberdeen's U.S. product structures, including mutual funds, closed end funds, ETFs and separately managed accounts.
- Coordinate operational readiness across the product lifecycle, including new products, product changes, mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, conversions, liquidations and operating model changes.
- Maintain working knowledge of relevant industry infrastructure and distribution platforms, including DTCC/NSCC and other applicable market utilities.
Governance, Controls & Continuous Improvement
- Monitor operational issues and exceptions, supporting root-cause analysis, remediation and timely escalation.
- Maintain appropriate procedures, controls and operational documentation.
- Develop and maintain management information and reporting for service provider and intermediary oversight.
- Identify opportunities to simplify, automate and strengthen Investor Services processes.
- Support initiatives involving regulatory change, technology enhancements and operating model improvements.
- Contribute to materials and reporting provided to Fund Boards and other governance forums.
Qualifications & Experience
Required
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
- Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience within asset management, mutual fund operations, ETF operations, transfer agency, intermediary operations, fund administration or a related financial services function.
- FINRA Series 7 and Series 63 licenses are required for this position. Candidates who do not currently hold these licenses must successfully obtain both within 90 days of commencing employment.
- Strong understanding of the operational lifecycle of U.S. registered investment products.
- Experience working with transfer agents, financial intermediaries, broker-dealers, distribution platforms or other financial services providers.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to research issues, evaluate information and drive matters through resolution.
- Strong attention to detail and a demonstrated risk and control mindset.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with internal stakeholders and external business partners.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment.
- Strong Microsoft Excel skills and comfort working with operational data.
Preferred
- Knowledge of U.S. mutual fund distribution and shareholder servicing arrangements.
- Experience with DTCC/NSCC processes and related industry infrastructure.
- Knowledge of financial intermediary compensation, including 12b-1, shareholder servicing, sub-transfer agency and revenue-sharing arrangements.
- Experience with financial intermediary oversight, operational due diligence and outsourced service-provider governance.
- Experience supporting mutual funds, ETFs and/or separately managed accounts, including launches or other significant product events.
- Familiarity with operational risk management, control assessment and issue remediation.
Key Competencies
- Operational ownership: Takes accountability for issues and drives them through resolution.
- Risk and control mindset: Understands the importance of effective controls, appropriate challenge and timely escalation.
- Relationship management: Develops productive working relationships across internal teams, service providers and financial intermediaries.
- Commercial awareness: Understands how Operations can support Distribution, client experience and business growth while maintaining appropriate controls.
- Problem solving: Applies sound judgment and analytical thinking to complex operational and servicing matters.
- Continuous improvement: Looks for opportunities to simplify processes, improve controls and build greater scalability.
- Collaboration: Works effectively across Operations, Distribution, Product, Compliance, Legal and other functions.
- Adaptability: Operates successfully across multiple products and priorities in a changing asset management environment.
WHAT WE OFFER:
- Best in class Medical, Dental, and Vision plans with well-known carriers; Telehealth and Health Concierge services.
- Health, Dependent and Commuter Flexible Spending Plans.
- Employer provided Life Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Short Term and Long-Term disability with additional optional coverage options.
- Investing for your Future - 401(k) Retirement Savings plan with top notch company Profit Sharing contribution which is immediately vested!
- Generous time off starting day one with 4+ weeks annual vacation plus 9 paid holidays.
- Paid Parental, Adoption, and Family Sick/Caregiver leave programs.
- Volunteer Days and Study Time to focus on what is important to you!
- Make a donation to your favorite Charity and Aberdeen will match up to $500 per year!
- Employee Assistance, Travel and Discount Programs. From helping you navigate the healthcare system, to providing resources and assistance to parents and caregivers of children with development disabilities.
- Flexible, voluntary benefits including Accident Insurance, Identity Protection, and Legal Assistance.
- Wellness program including Nutritional Counselling and Gym Membership Reimbursements.
HOW WE CREATE VALUE:
Our strategic drivers are the foundations from which we deliver for all our stakeholders: High Impact Intelligence, Enduring Relationships, Connections without borders and Future fit. You can find out more about our values here.
OUR INCLUSIVE CULTURE:
We are committed to exploring the possibilities of working smarter. This means we’d like to hear from you, whatever way you like to work. We have a long-term commitment to building inclusive workplaces; we value diversity in our workforce and welcome enquiries from everyone. If you need assistance or a reasonable adjustment due to a disability please let us know as part of your application and we will assist. You can find out more about our inclusive culture here. Aberdeen is an affirmative action - equal opportunity employer.
If you need assistance or an adjustment due to a disability please let us know as part of your application and we will assist.
