Senior Business Manager - Governance, Processes & Controls (Retained Organisation)

Employer: DWS Group
Title: Senior Business Manager - Governance, Processes & Controls
Location: Luxembourg

About DWS:

Today, markets face a whole new set of pressures – but also a whole lot of opportunity too. Opportunity to innovate differently. Opportunity to invest responsibly. And opportunity to make change.

Join us at DWS, and you can be part of an industry-leading firm with a global presence. You can lead ambitious opportunities and shape the future of investing. You can support our clients, local communities, and the environment.

We’re looking for creative thinkers and innovators to join us as the world continues to transform. As whole markets change, one thing remains clear; our people always work together to capture the opportunities of tomorrow.

As investors on behalf of our clients, it is our role to find investment solutions. Ensuring the best possible foundation for our clients’ financial future. And in return, we’ll give you the support and platform to develop new skills, make an impact and work alongside some of the industry’s greatest thought leaders.

This is your chance to invest in your future.

Team / division overview

The Team

To oversee outsourced processes, DWS has implemented a robust framework that meets internal requirements, service standards and regulatory obligations.

All vendors undergo rigorous checks in advance and must meet various internal standards. Relevant assessments are repeated at regular intervals throughout the duration of the contracts. DWS currently has a diverse and enthusiastic team responsible for major strategic outsourcing arrangements and for overseeing internal and external service providers. The scope of services is broad and covers all areas of the value chain.

Your responsibilities:

Governance & Controls

• All services are monitored using performance metrics and unannounced controls. Depending on the criticality of the outsourced activity, performance is discussed with the service provider on a weekly, monthly or quarterly basis, and process improvements are implemented jointly. Your responsibilities will include:
• Creating, updating and coordinating the service catalogue, Service Level Agreements, management information and Key Performance Indicators
• Conducting and documenting service review meetings, due diligence reviews and management escalation meetings
• Contributing to the annual outsourcing reports for the relevant DWS entities
• Ensuring compliance with regulatory outsourcing requirements in Germany and Luxembourg

Contract Governance

• You will be familiar with all contracts and Service Level Agreements and monitor compliance with them
• You will be responsible for regularly reviewing and updating contracts in line with regulations, policies and changes to services
• You will support Procurement with contract negotiations

Service Management

• As the central point of contact for the service provider, you will be the first point of contact for enquiries of all kinds
• You will be involved in resolving and/or coordinating general or specialist enquiries, complaints and escalations
• You will manage the joint project book of work, which includes regulatory and strategic projects, and monitor their implementation
• You will be responsible for continuously analysing processes, developing improvement opportunities for decision-makers and overseeing their implementation
• Within Issue & Incident Management, you will monitor the timely resolution of problems
• You will support the vendor with questions relating to the outsourced services

Financial Management

• You will be responsible for the annual budget planning process and budget tracking, acting as the main point of contact for the Finance team regarding actuals, plans and forecasts
• You will validate and approve invoices covering a wide range of fee types
• You will monitor the repayment of service credits and manage the budget for project costs
• Where required, you will issue invoices to the vendor

We are looking for:

• In-depth industry knowledge of wealth management, asset management or the pensions business
• More than five years’ experience in pensions, asset management, registrar services or transfer agency
• Professional experience in Vendor Management, Procurement or Finance would be beneficial
• Good knowledge of German and Luxembourg outsourcing regulations would be an advantage
• Strong communication and influencing skills, including when engaging with senior management
• Confident written and verbal communication in both German and English, with a clear understanding of how to cooperate efficiently and build successful long-term relationships with internal and external specialists
• Strategic and connected thinking, together with sound judgement in complex situations
• A high degree of initiative, with a considered and confident approach to decision-making
• Proven ability to leverage AI tools to enhance productivity, optimise workflows to solve business problems, while applying critical judgment to ensure responsible and ethical use of data and AI outputs.

What we’ll offer you:

At DWS we’re serious about diversity, equity and creating an inclusive culture where colleagues can be themselves sand it’s important to us that you enjoy coming to work - feeling healthy, happy and rewarded.

At DWS, you’ll have access to a range of benefits which you can choose from to create a personalised plan unique to your lifestyle. Whether you’re interested in healthcare, company perks, or are thinking about your retirement plan, there’s something for everyone.

DWS’ Hybrid Working model is designed to find the right balance between in-person collaboration and engagement in the office, which is core to our working culture, and working from home. Each business group varies on the split between time spent in the office and at home, but this will be discussed and made clear as part of your application and interview process. We will continue to review and evolve our working environments and methods to ensure that we are working in the best way possible for our people.

We at DWS are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, one that embraces dialogue and diverse views, and treats everyone fairly to drive a high-performance culture. The value we create for our clients and investors is based on our ability to bring together various perspectives from all over the world and from different backgrounds. It is our experience that teams perform better and deliver improved outcomes when they are able to incorporate a wide range of perspectives. We call this #ConnectingTheDots.