Head of Investment Operations / SVP

About Northern Trust:

Northern Trust, a Fortune 500 company, is a globally recognized, award-winning financial institution that has been in continuous operation since 1889.

Northern Trust is proud to provide innovative financial services and guidance to the world’s most successful individuals, families, and institutions by remaining true to our enduring principles of service, expertise, and integrity. With more than 130 years of financial experience and over 22,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

About Northern Trust Asset Management:

Northern Trust Asset Management is a trillion dollar investment management firm entrusted by investors around the globe to help them navigate changing market environments, so they can confidently realize their long-term objectives. 

Role/ Department:

Based in London, this Head of EMEA Investment Operations will be lead the day to day management of the EMEA Investment Operations whilst supporting the wider global Operations function with growth, development and change needs.

The role reports to both the Global Head of Operations and the EMEA COO and works in concert with global teams and specialists to support the ongoing Operational needs of the business.  The individual must act as a senior stakeholder representing Operations at governance and decision making groups.  

This is a hands on Senior Investment Operations role which is required to be an FCA Certified position covering Operations.  

The key responsibilities of the role include:

• Managing a team focused on achieving operational excellence in the non-investment front office and client operations of a fast growing division of Global Asset Manager. Function undertakes a broad range of operational activities including but not limited to Front office trade support, Client Onboarding and Servicing, Investment Guideline Monitoring, Cash and Liquidity support, Corporate Actions,  and Client Reporting.
• Responsible for the oversight and occasional completion, of all day to day tasks, such as trade process management, cashflows, Client queries and Client reporting for both UCITS fund investors and segregated mandates.
• Overseeing and driving the strategic direction of certain Global Investment Operations practices, Setting the vision and strategy, driving the direction for the systems environment, talent management, and technology project oversight, in close coordination with the Global Head of Investment Operations.
• Drive the local implementation of strategic initiatives for investment operations  and support the development of long term growth plans and profitability goals for the EMEA business. 
• Proactively participates in strategic expansion activities such as the support and build of target operation models for new products Eg ETFs, Private Equity, Multi Asset, UCITS etc or the expansion of newly acquired first line activities and partners.
• Continued process improvement making the necessary enhancements to improve efficiencies an scaling for growth across our Global operations.
• Define and implement the strategic direction of the team by building strong internal relationships with all teams/stakeholders in the region.
• Ensure that the team are engaged, motivated and developed in order to produce high quality outcomes that exceed client expectations.
• 1st line vendor management for critical investment operations vendors and third party suppliers
• Provides technical support as needed to investment, product and distribution teams to understand their non-investment needs and deliver effective support and anticipate future needs.
• Provide oversight of day to day client queries liaising as needed with pooled fund appointed administrators and custodians and offshored locations within the Business unit.
• Focus on aligning the needs of the client with the firms capabilities including the production  of client reporting; ad hoc client and prospects requests; and the development of reporting to meet evolving client and product obligations.

Skills / Experience Required:

Leadership & Organisation Skills

• Solid track record in Investment Operations with broad Client Operations experience gained from within ideally a Global Asset Manager.
• Demonstrable experience to effectively work as a player coach with high personal accountability and ownership for team goals in additional to own objectives.
• Change Ambassador to drive and lead the local implementation of transformational change with a fast growing business unit in a global operating environment.
• Highly flexible operations professional, willing to take to adapt and take on potentially new and growing responsible to support the growth and development of the business.
• Strong multi-tasking skills required to operate effectively within a fast paced, hybrid and highly pressurised global environment often working short deadlines.
• Proven ability as a proactive hands on leader and people manager required in order to ensure effective drive and execute to high standards across a diverse and increasingly complex book of business. 
• Build authentic and strong team  relationships. Holding oneself and team accountable.
• Strong track record on the ability to roll up the sleeves to assess risk, identify, communicate solutions, and drive change.
• Highly organised, detail oriented and results focused individual with a strong track record in managing teams and self to deliver on multiple initiatives both locally and globally. 

Technical & Communication Skills

• In-depth technical knowledge of multiple asset classes, including but not limited to, equities, fixed income, real estate and private equity as well as the investment strategies that employ these asset classes.
• Analytical thinker enabling team to embrace new ideas and develop a growth mindset.
• Continuous learner proactively ensures skills are kept current with local market and industry trends in line with business growth. 
• Strong operational knowledge of European Client needs in both SMAs and Pooled Funds .
• Extensive knowledge of Client reporting and accounting systems (ideally SimCorp Coric,  BONY Eagle systems).
• Solid understanding of regulatory, compliance and legal environment with the Asset Management industry
• Demonstrates excellent team working skills having worked in highly matrixed Global organisations with the proven ability to develop, grow and maintain relationships with a diverse range of internal stakeholders
• Outstanding communication and influencing skills, both written and verbal, with demonstrated ability to develop materials and effectively present to key Senior stakeholders.
• Good listening skills to ensure instructions are understood in a fast paced busy global team environment.
• Active engagement in industry forums/user groups to ensure teams continue to have the appropriate skill, awareness and expertise to appropriately performed their activities and keep at pace with Client’s needs.

Business Development

• Proactively participates in strategic expansion activities enabling the support for newly created products or the expansion of newly acquired first line activities and partners.     
• Proven ability to advise beyond expectations, consistently forward planning and strategically thinking of functions ability to support anticipated growth.

Working with Us:

As a Northern Trust partner, greater achievements await. You will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture in an organization where financial strength and stability is an asset that emboldens us to explore new ideas.

Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to assisting the communities we serve! Join a workplace with a greater purpose.

We’d love to learn more about how your interests and experience could be a fit with one of the world’s most admired and sustainable companies! Build your career with us and apply today. #MadeForGreater

Reasonable accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at MyHRHelp@ntrs.com.

We hope you’re excited about the role and the opportunity to work with us. We value an inclusive workplace and understand flexibility means different things to different people.

Apply today and talk to us about your flexible working requirements and together we can achieve greater.