Fund Operations Analyst - 12 month FTC London (GB)

LGT Wealth Management UK LLP is a UK-based partnership, wholly owned by the private banking group LGT, which is in turn owned by the Princely Family of Liechtenstein. When we set up LGT Wealth Management in 2008, our aim was to offer a fresh approach to wealth management. Alongside the LLP we also have two other entities which focus on US and Jersey based clients. Our head office is based in London however we have a presence in Edinburgh, Jersey, Leeds, Birmingham and Bristol. The plan was simple: put our clients first by providing a transparent service, designed around what is right for each of them. By drawing together in-depth knowledge and experience from across the industry, we provide a flexible, bespoke service adapted to each of our clients’ needs.
Our mission is to create long-term value for all stakeholders. Our culture encourages individuals to generate, develop and implement ideas which will strengthen our business. Belonging, respect, integrity, conviction and entrepreneurship are our core values. As our brand recognition grows, we are fast becoming an employer of choice in our sector. We have over £29 billion in funds under management and circa 700 staff.

Business Unit:

The Fund Operations Team sits within the wider Fund and Product Services Department, which provides ownership and support for all services relating to non-custodied investments. This includes:

• External Asset Managers (EAM) operations with banks and platforms
• Lending facilities with our parent bank
• Fund Operations
• Product Development and Management
• Solvency II Reporting
• Alternative trading solutions
• Supporting activities with pension and offshore bond providers

The Team is responsible for supporting the on boarding and maintenance of non-standard investment solutions and ensuring that such solutions meet the needs of our Front Office whilst also fitting in seamlessly with the firm’s operational infrastructure.

The team is also responsible for the development, launch, investment operations and ongoing management activities of the firm’s fund range. At present, the firm manages circa 28 funds across the UK, Ireland and Jersey, as well as third party funds.

Brief Role Objective:

The role holder will carry out day-to-day fund administration and middle office tasks as required for the Firm’s range of UCITS and third-party funds. This includes trade life-cycle management, corporate actions, cash management, reconciliations and NAV oversight. The role holder will also support the Fund Operations Manager in building out the Team’s processes, as well as production of management information and any ad-hoc project work as necessary. Knowledge around how funds function operationally including the day-to-day reconciliation and administration of the funds is essential. Working knowledge of hedged share classes and subsequent administration is desirable.

Key Responsibilities:

• Day to day fund administration of in-house managed funds including:
  • Trade matching and confirmation
  • Trade settlements and queries
  • Failing trade monitoring and resolution
  • Daily stock position reconciliation
  • Transaction Reporting
  • Daily subscription and redemption monitoring
  • Cash management to include overdraft monitoring and hedging oversight
  • NAV Oversight
  • Cash payments and settlement monitoring
  • Investment team queries and support
• Corporate Actions processing:
  • Monitoring upcoming events
  • Manage and submitting elections
  • Processing events on pay date

• Corporate Actions processing:
  • Monitoring upcoming events
  • Manage and submitting elections
  • Processing events on pay date
• System Data Management
  • Managing flow of custodian data
  • Maintaining custodian and counterparty SSIs
  • New counterparty/broker setup
• Production and maintenance of policies, procedures and workflows relating to the creation and day to day maintenance of fund management
• Assist in the production of Management Information as required
• Assist in analysis and implementation of new funds as required
• Assist in project work relating to fund and EAM activity as required

Technical Requirements:

• In-depth understanding of fund operations
• Solid understanding of Asset Management services and the industry as a whole
• Ideally 2-5 years experience within Asset Management, however, graduates with sufficient understanding of the industry or relevant degree would also be considered.
• Understanding of the trade lifecycle and associated areas within investment operations
• Excellent communication skills to manage internal and external relationships
• Capacity and willingness to develop knowledge across a variety of products and services to perform the role to a competent standard.
• Technically minded with the ability to create new processes from scratch, such as analysis on service profitability and reconciliation processes.

Other skills, competencies and attributes:

• Skill in prioritisation, planning, monitoring and self-management
• The ability to work independently as well as part of a team
• Ability to generate new ideas/initiatives to promote efficiency or improve performance
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and verbally) with a wide range of stakeholders from investment managers to technical experts

IT Skills

• PC Literate
• Excellent Microsoft product skills, especially Excel
• Third party reconciliation software knowledge would be advantageous
• Bloomberg AIM and DTCC CTM/Alert experience would be advantageous

Qualifications

• Investment Operations Certificate or another entry level qualification is preferred