Manager – Data Operations Service Oversight

About Waystone  

Waystone is a leading asset-servicing solutions provider of institutional governance, administration, risk and compliance services to financial institutions. With over 25 years’ experience and a comprehensive range of specialist services to its name, Waystone helps our clients structure, operate and grow through our expertise, innovation and digitisation, backed by the operational scale to support global expansion.

Summary: 
The Manager, Data Operations Service Oversight is responsible for supporting the Associate Director in the governance, oversight and continuous improvement of Data Operations services delivered across the UK, Ireland, Luxembourg and India operating model.

The role provides independent oversight of operational performance, service quality, data controls and service delivery arrangements, ensuring activities are performed in accordance with regulatory requirements, internal governance standards and client expectations. The Manager acts as a key liaison between operational teams, stakeholders and service providers, monitoring service outcomes, identifying emerging risks and supporting the effective execution of the Data Operations operating model.
Working closely with the Associate Director, the role contributes to governance forums, service reviews, strategic initiatives, operating model enhancements and regulatory oversight activities. The position focuses on service assurance, performance monitoring and stakeholder engagement rather than direct operational processing responsibility.

The Data Operations function supports the following core activities:
•    Data Entry
Entering raw or source information into systems, databases and operational platforms accurately and consistently.
•    Data Collation
Collecting, validating and consolidating data from multiple internal and external sources.
•    Data Manipulation
Transforming, cleansing and enriching data to support operational processes, regulatory requirements and reporting obligations.
•    Data Reporting
Producing and delivering accurate, timely and controlled operational and regulatory reporting.

REQUIREMENTS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Service Oversight & Governance
•    Support the Associate Director in maintaining effective oversight of Data Operations service delivery across all locations and service providers.
•    Monitor service performance against agreed KPIs, SLAs and quality standards.
•    Review management information, trend analysis and performance reporting to identify service risks and improvement opportunities.
•    Challenge and validate operational performance, ensuring appropriate action plans are implemented where required.
•    Participate in governance committees, operational review meetings and service oversight forums.
•    Support periodic reviews of service providers, operating model effectiveness and control environments.

Stakeholder Management
•    Act as a key point of coordination between the Associate Director, operational teams and business stakeholders.
•    Prepare governance packs, oversight reporting and management information for senior management review.
•    Support stakeholder engagement activities and service review meetings.
•    Assist with the management of escalations, service concerns and remediation activities.
•    Contribute to strategic initiatives, business planning and operational change programmes led by the Associate Director.
•    Provide analysis and recommendations to support decision-making and prioritisation.

Service Performance & Control Oversight
•    Review control effectiveness across Data Operations activities and support the enhancement of oversight frameworks.
•    Monitor data quality indicators, operational incidents and service exceptions.
•    Ensure issues, breaches and control weaknesses are tracked, escalated and remediated appropriately.
•    Support root cause analysis and follow-up of corrective actions.
•    Maintain oversight documentation, procedures and service review records.
•    Assess emerging operational risks and recommend mitigating actions.

Continuous Improvement & Change
•    Identify opportunities to improve oversight processes, reporting and governance arrangements.
•    Support implementation of strategic initiatives, automation opportunities and operational enhancements.
•    Contribute to the development of performance dashboards and service monitoring capabilities.
•    Drive best practice adoption across the service oversight framework.

Risk, Compliance & Regulatory Oversight
•    Support ongoing compliance with internal policies, regulatory obligations and client requirements.
•    Assist with audit engagements, regulatory reviews and assurance activities.
•    Monitor completion of actions arising from audits, risk reviews and governance assessments.
•    Support operational resilience, business continuity and third-party oversight activities.
•    Ensure governance reporting accurately reflects service performance, risks and control effectiveness.

Essential
•    5-8 years' experience within fund services, asset servicing, fund governance, data operations or regulated financial services.
•    Experience leading operational teams within a controlled environment.
•    Strong understanding of data quality, operational controls and service delivery disciplines.
•    Knowledge of UK and European fund structures and operational data flows.
•    Experience managing stakeholder relationships across multiple business functions.
•    Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
•    Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
•    Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and deliver results under pressure.

Desirable
•    Experience working with offshore service delivery models.
•    A recognised industry qualification e.g. IMC, IOC, 
•    Knowledge of fund administration, transfer agency, custody and investment management operations.
•    Experience supporting operational change, automation or transformation initiatives.
•    Familiarity with operational risk frameworks and regulatory reporting environments.