Job Description:

Role Summary

The EMEA Fund Operations Team provides operational and administrative support to Russell Investments’ fund complexes and client accounts. A principal focus is on the oversight of accounting, custody, and administration activities, which are outsourced to third-party service providers. Responsibilities include daily monitoring of fund valuations and the production of fund prices, acting as the escalation point for any issues. There is also liaison with the multiple investment managers trading for the fund and client portfolios. The team provide operational support to all areas within Russell Investments business lines, including portfolio managers, client relationship managers, together with compliance, risk, legal and other support functions. There is a close working relationship with the Product Solutions Team to implement new business initiatives such as the launching of new funds.

The Fund Operations Analyst role performs a variety of specific activities with a particular focus on fund accounting, financial reporting and regulatory reporting oversight. In addition, the role provides the opportunity to support new business, regulatory and other initiatives. The analyst is expected to become involved in additional tasks and projects as required.

The responsibilities of the individual in this position include:

Regulatory & Business conduct

• Displaying exemplary conduct and living by our organisation’s Code of Conduct.

• Taking personal responsibility for embedding the highest standards of ethics, including regulatory and business conduct across the business.

• Effectively and collaboratively identifying, escalating, mitigating and resolving risk, conduct and compliance.

Controls and Oversight

• Assisting with the oversight of the Team’s processes and control functions, this will include evaluating current procedures and various checklists and the preparation of risk assessment for various functions within the team.

• Assisting in the preparation of board materials for the various Boards and Committees.

• Fielding and coordinating responses to audit queries, ensuring accurate and timely information is provided to external auditors during their review of financial statements.

Fund Accounting

• Oversight of fund accounting activities including NAV oversight and expense management. This will include reviewing NAV deliverables, working closely with third party administrators and internal Risk team to investigate the root cause of any NAV errors that may occur, to assess their impact and ensure robust corrective actions are implemented to prevent recurrence.

• Assisting with the fund’s tax oversight activities including recoverable withholding tax.

• Assisting with various activities in relation to fund expenses and fund budgets, including analysis and reporting of fund Ongoing Charge figures and transaction costs.

• Preparing materials for the Securities Valuation Committee.

• Oversight of fund distribution calculations and payments

• Reviewing performance fee calculations.

Support New Business and Fund Launches

• Assisting with new business initiatives such as the launch, closure, or merger of funds.

• Assessing the operational impact and requirements.

• Working with third-party providers to ensure smooth implementation.

• Oversight of Market Openings

Third Party Providers

• Oversight of third-party service providers including fund administrators and custodians.

• Analysing monthly data to identify trends or issues as they arise.

• Taking a pro-active role in the reporting and resolution of issues.

• Identifying service improvements where possible.

The successful candidate will have extensive demonstrable skills and experiences including the following

• Relevant BSC/BA (Mathematics / Economics / Accounting or similar) or equivalent experience / qualifications.

• Fund accounting / custody experience gained within an asset manager or third-party administrator required.

• Excellent PC skills in both Microsoft Excel and Word (Macros skills desirable).

• Strong client service and communication skills (oral and written)

• Uncovers and meets the needs of both the internal and external clients.

• Maintains regular contact and builds strong working partnerships with clients and suppliers.

• Acts with urgency and works hard to address client demands

• Ability to work under pressure.