Middle Office (Alpha Portfolio Services Leader), Managing Director at State Street

This is an exciting client facing, senior level management opportunity for a qualified Investment Operations professional to contribute and lead a fast-paced, growing team within Alpha Portfolio Services, Global Delivery organization. The Alpha Portfolio Services team is a dedicated, operationally focused, global business team working with clients, operations and technology teams to ensure accurate end-to-end maintenance, control and delivery of Investment Book of Record Data and Information Delivery. This leader will build a strong team and partnership with our Alpha Middle Office Clients and play a key liaison role between internal cross-functional Alpha, Global Delivery and technology teams. This person has a deep understanding of our Alpha products, services and complex business models whilst enhancing our clients’ experience, enabling standards, efficiencies and maintaining SLAs.  This role is ultimately responsible for overseeing the successful delivery of all our Alpha clients’ services, providing a single point of control, governance and ownership. This role is based in our Irvine, CA office.

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

As Middle Office- Alpha Portfolio Services Leader, Managing Director you will

• Ensure seamless client service delivery experience for your Alpha/Middle Office clients; provide highly valued, comprehensive, consistent end to end service, operating and governance model.

• Develop strategic, trusting partnerships with your Alpha Middle Office clients, internal Client Executive and COO, Alpha product, operations and technology colleagues.

• Serve as the senior “Voice of the Client” on behalf of Alpha Middle Office Services; provide leadership in complex matrixed environment effectively collaborating across functional and geographical boundaries to influence and gain buy-in to deliver on client satisfaction and cohesive and standardized service model.

• Manage Alpha Portfolio Services team that is responsible for the end-to-end client relationship for our Alpha/Middle office clients and State Street business teams. This includes client service and elements of investment operations to ensure the portfolio health of your clients’ accounts, investment data and data delivery services.  Remediate all  issues associated with cash, settlements, valuation, recons, ad-hoc processing reporting etc. as well as perform pre/post cycle reviews.

• Ensure operating policies, procedures and controls are documented, adhered to. and are compliant with relevant controls and regulatory requirements.

• Ensure key metrics, performance and risk indicators are in place to track volumes, manage growth, service delivery quality, cost, productivity, efficiency, and risk

• Acts as escalation point for Clients and operating centers. Identify themes in client sentiment and performance and use insight to drive improvements and efficiencies across Global Middle Office.

• Responsible for reducing operational risks by ensuring robust control environment, escalation protocols and responsiveness culture to internal and external issues raised

• Support thorough review of new business change management requests including operating model design, resource and technology requirements and risk assessment.

• Engagement with product, technology, vendors, brokers, custodians (etc.) on functional specification, testing and successful on-time delivery of new applications, product, services and/or software upgrades for your clients.

• Drive, motivate, and manage high performing team.  Lead by example and set clear objectives, key results (OKRs) and performance management expectations;  Foster an inclusive and diverse team and culture that encourages innovation, supported by an appropriate risk framework.

• The ability to travel, work occasional nights and weekends is a non-negotiable requirement. 

Education & Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business/ finance or the equivalent combination of education and experience is required: MBA/CFA a Plus

• 15 years of financial services experience in front, middle and back office

• Strong knowledge of existing State Street organizational constructs and teams required, in addition to deep business acumen across middle and back-office systems, functions and services supported at State Street.

• Staff Management – ability to manage teams on a direct and/or a dotted-line basis.  Managing by influence will be a key ingredient to success

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

• Expertise in MS Office including Visio, Excel and PowerPoint

• Strong understanding of Aladdin

Additional requirements

• Exceptional leadership and client service experience, with the ability to develop, communicate and achieve strategic business objectives while inspiring and motivating a diverse cross-functional team to align to the business strategy, financial targets and successful client outcomes.

• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills including ability to understand, communicate, and resolve complex business problems and concepts in a simplified manner.

• Strong critical thinker and decision maker able to jump in and navigate the organization constructs to solve your client’s complex business problems.

• Demonstrated administrative, organizational, project management and analysis skills sets.

• Ability to work in a fast paced, globally structured team, while multitasking and navigating multiple competing priorities; whilst efficiently meeting all client deliverables and SLAs

• Comprehensive knowledge of IBOR, investment accounting and information delivery requirements, with a focus on data consolidation concepts and controls.

• Operational Risk Management and Awareness skills, with strong understanding of STTs ethic, risk and compliance controls as well as risk/error reporting and remediation processes.

What we do. State Street is one of the largest custodian banks, asset managers and asset intelligence companies in the world. From technology to product innovation, we’re making our mark on the financial services industry. For more than two centuries, we’ve been helping our clients safeguard and steward the investments of millions of people. We provide investment servicing, data & analytics, investment research & trading and investment management to institutional clients.

Work, Live and Grow. We make all efforts to create a great work environment. Our benefits packages are competitive and comprehensive. Details vary by location, but you may expect generous medical care, insurance and savings plans, among other perks. You’ll have access to flexible Work Programs to help you match your needs. And our wealth of development programs and educational support will help you reach your full potential.

Inclusion, Diversity and Social Responsibility. We truly believe our employees’ diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives are a powerful contributor to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive and reach their maximum potential while adding value to both our organization and our clients. We warmly welcome candidates of diverse origin, background, ability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and personality. Another fundamental value at State Street is active engagement with our communities around the world, both as a partner and a leader. You will have tools to help balance your professional and personal life, paid volunteer days, matching gift programs and access to employee networks that help you stay connected to what matters to you.