Fund CFO Specialist - Private Equity

Employer: DWS Group
Title: Fund CFO Specialist – Assistant Vice President
Location: London

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. That’s why we are ‘Investors for a new now’.

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 successful candidate will support the finance and operational oversight of strategic multi-asset alternative investment solutions, including new fund launches and ongoing fund controllership for complex products with cross-border stakeholders. The role will have a particular focus on ensuring robust governance, service-provider oversight, financial reporting, investor reporting, liquidity management and control execution across the DWS Alternatives platform.

Fund Accounting & Reporting is responsible for all aspects of day-to-day accounting for a group of assigned funds including, calculating/reporting the periodic NAV (Net Asset Value), and compiling standard weekly/monthly financial statements, and income and expense accruals and performing the required reconciliations.

Work includes:

• Ensuring compliance with financial transaction recording standards

• Controlling/reconciling accounts and records (balance sheet, P&L, bank accounts, etc.)

• Accounting reports/schedules for internal audiences (management reporting) and/or for external audiences (compliance reporting) including consolidation of financial statements, cash flow reporting, budget reporting, etc.)

• Liaising with internal and external service providers in respect to matters of fund administration (e.g. subscriptions, redemptions, distributions, payments, and fund expenses)

• Providing accounting specific support and analysis, and where appropriate tax advice

• ay also include cost accounting/budgeting (allocation of direct/indirect costs, variance analysis, budget preparation, etc.)

Role Details

As a Fund CFO Specialist – Assistant Vice President you will (be):

• Support the financial and operational oversight of alternative investment funds across multiple asset classes and jurisdictions.

• Act as a key liaison between investment teams, fund administrators, auditors, tax advisers, depositaries and other external service providers.

• Own the delivery and oversight of fund accounting, financial reporting, investor reporting and regulatory reporting obligations for assigned products.

• Review and challenge key fund deliverables, including NAV calculations, management and performance fee calculations, investor allocations, valuations and other deliverables prepared by external service providers.

• Coordinate annual audits, tax reporting and regulatory submissions, ensuring timely completion and resolution of matters arising.

• Monitor and oversee fund liquidity, investor capital activity and treasury operations to support effective fund operations.

• Ensure compliance with fund documentation, investor requirements, internal policies and applicable regulatory obligations.

• Support fund launches, restructurings, investment onboarding, in-specie asset transfers and other strategic product initiatives.

• Drive process enhancements, control improvements and operating model initiatives across finance and operations activities.
  Provide guidance and oversight to team members and delegated service providers to ensure delivery of accurate and timely outputs.

We are looking for

• Strong understanding of alternative investment fund structures across Private Equity, Private

• Credit, Infrastructure, Real Estate and other private market asset classes.

• Knowledge of fund accounting, financial reporting, valuation concepts and investor servicing requirements.

• Experience operating or overseeing complex alternative fund structures, including Luxembourg funds, SPVs, holding structures, fund-of-funds, direct/co-investment exposures or hybrid liquid and private market investment products.

• Practical experience reviewing NAVs, capital accounts, investor allocations, fee waterfalls, management/performance fee calculations and fund expense budgets.

• Experience overseeing fund administrators, transfer agents, depositaries, auditors, tax advisers and legal counsel, including deliverable tracking, issue resolution and KPI/SLA oversight.

• Strong understanding of fund launch readiness, transition from project phase to BAU operating model.

• Understanding of relevant regulatory frameworks including AIFMD, FATCA, CRS and other applicable reporting obligations.

• Strong control mindset, including experience with payment controls, governance documentation, audit evidence, issue escalation and process improvement.

• Strong stakeholder management, communication and organisational skills, with the ability to operate effectively across multiple teams and jurisdictions.

• Ability to operate independently, translate complex fund structures into clear action plans, and coordinate across investment, risk, compliance, operations and external service providers.

• Qualified Accountant (ACA/ACCA/CPA) with at least 5 years PQE.

• Strong fund controllership experience within alternatives, multi-asset, private markets, fund-of-funds or complex regulated fund structures.

• Experience within the Alternative Investment Fund industry.

• Understanding of Alternative products, tax, legal and regulatory environment.

• Strong Excel, financial modelling and analytical review skills, with the ability to challenge outputs.

• Experience with fund launches, administrator onboarding, operating model design or strategic product initiatives would be advantageous.

• 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.

Some of our core benefits

• 30 days’ holiday + bank holidays, with the option to purchase additional days

• A non-contributory pension scheme, up to 10%

• Physical and Mental Health Well-Being benefits including (but not limited to) Private Medical

• Cover, a complimentary GP service and the support of Mental Health First Aiders

• Family friendly benefits including generous parental leave packages (supporting all variations of family set-ups), to healthcare plans and travel insurance

• The opportunity to support our CSR strategy which is focused on combatting climate change and achieving greater social justice. You can make donations to our partner organisations or take part in corporate volunteering opportunities in your local communities by providing on hand support.

DWS’ Hybrid Working model in the UK 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. Employees who wish to sign-up to our Hybrid Working model are required to work in the office two days a week, and given the flexibility to work from home for the remaining three.

Some business groups may need you to spend more time in the office, 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.

If you require any adjustments or changes to be made to the interview process for any reason including, or related to a disability or long-term health condition, then please contact your recruiter and let them know what assistance you may need. Examples of adjustments include providing a change to the format of the interview, or providing assistance when at the DWS office. This will not affect your application and your recruitment team will discuss options with you.

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.