Portfolio Services Manager, Assistant Vice President at State Street

This is an exciting opportunity for a qualified Investment Operations individual to contribute and lead a fast-developing, operationally focused team for key strategic clients of State Street’s Middle Office Alpha Strategy business. If you are a team player, organized, maintain a client centric view, and have great problem solving skills, we would welcome your application to join our friendly department. Please note this role is focused in Investment Operations.

Why this role is important to us

The team you will be joining is a part of State Street Global Services (SSGS). SSGS gives asset owners and managers access to the essential financial tools they need to deliver effective investment solutions. From core custody, accounting, fund administration and shareholder recordkeeping, to complete operations solutions and servicing for alternative assets like OTC derivatives, private equity and real estate, SSGS’ tools help our clients make better investment choices and act on growth opportunities.

Join us if making your mark in the financial services industry from day one is a challenge you are up for.

What you will be responsible for

• Under the limited direction of senior management, lead a team who monitor the portfolio health for assigned accounts for issues associated with cash, settlements, valuation, recons, ad-hoc processing and reporting, and perform pre/post cycle reviews.

• The role straddles elements of investment operations (without direct processing/input responsibility), and elements of client services, as well as being responsible for leadership and development of staff within our team, strategic planning and oversight of diverse operational functions resulting from the control framework.

• The successful candidate will be interacting with a multitude of middle office, custody and leadership colleagues within State Street, as well as custodians, the asset manager client, prime brokers and accounting agents.

• Liaising with internal and external customers, acting as a customer to internal teams and advocating for the end customer (ability to negotiate, good team work, ability to understand and translate customer requirements, address urgent items with others).  Guiding others on our team and other teams procedurally, cutting through challenges by presenting solutions, and generally acting as escalation point for solving a myriad of issues impacting the quality of reconciliation outputs, file deliveries and operational control framework checks.

• Problem solving for escalated issues, as well as proactively reviewing operational controls, especially focused on but not limited to the reconciliation function of middle office services, is a significant component of the role. There are also expectations to develop and present logs/power points and speak to systematic and one-off issues in our control environment for the customer.

• Manage and develop people in multiple global locations.

• Reviewing operational controls, escalated item resolution for portfolio health, operational quality and risk management control.

• Monitor metrics, SLA adherence, participate in manager meetings on such topics, implementing and designing process improvements to enhance statistics, and adherence to risk or SLA controls.

• Provide guidance, support, act as resource and assist team members from multiple operational areas.

• Utilize data for trend analysis and leverage in the development of enhanced processes, procedures and controls.

What we value

These skills will help you succeed in this role:

• Excellent organizational, problem solving and prioritization skills are essential.

• Strong customer service acumen.

• Significant experience at managing staff is expected.

• Working on projects and items across workstreams will be required, so evidence of taking initiative while managing cross-functional items is a plus.

• Strong written and verbal communication.

• Knowledge of securities language.

Value for you

• Join a fast growing team with many opportunities to learn

• Be a part of the industry setting standard providing Investment Services from Front to Back

• Flexible hybrid working schedules

• Exposure to new and exciting technology

Education & Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

• 5-7 years of financial services experience, with strong management skills

• MBA / CFA a Plus

• Keen understanding of the Investment process in Capital Markets – Equity, Fixed Income, Alternatives, Money Markets and other Multi Asset strategies

Additional requirements

• Familiarity/direct experience with middle office services directly, is a plus.

• Must be deadline oriented with the ability to provide technical expertise to resolve daily problems.

• The ability to work occasional nights and weekends