Job Description

The Investment Operations Specialist is a critical role within the Investment Operations Department of our company. This position is responsible for ensuring the seamless execution, settlement, and reconciliation of investment activities, while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies. The role involves trade support, portfolio accounting, client onboarding, data management, and coordination with custodians, brokers, and third-party administrators. The Investment Operations Specialist will contribute to operational efficiency, accurate reporting, and client satisfaction by leveraging strong analytical skills and attention to detail. 

Job Requirements

 Bond Trade Settlement and Money Market Support:

1. Verify and confirm trade details with counterparties and brokers to ensure accuracy.
2. Facilitate timely trade settlements (e.g., T+1, T+2) and resolve failed trades promptly.
3. Perform reconciliations between internal systems and external records (custodians, prime brokers).
4. Ensure accurate and timely submission of trade and money market settlement instructions to custodians or trustees.

Cash and Position Reconciliation:

1. Reconcile cash balances and portfolio positions between internal systems, custodians, and bank accounts.
2. Verify foreign exchange transactions and ensure alignment with custodian or broker statements.
3. Monitor and confirm receipt of bond coupon payment, bond maturity proceeds and bond trade holdings.

Corporate Actions Processing:

1. Monitor corporate action events (e.g., coupon payment, EMG meeting, formal and informal meeting or site visit from ADI Trustees) and manage election decisions.
2. Process corporate actions accurately and communicate impacts on portfolio holdings.

Portfolio Accounting & NAV Calculation:

1. Calculate daily Net Asset Value (NAV) for funds, ensuring accurate valuation of securities.
2. Record and distribute income (e.g., dividends, interest) to unit holders or shareholders.
3. Ensure compliance with fair market valuation standards using market prices or external pricing sources.

Performance Measurement:

1. Calculate portfolio performance (daily, weekly, monthly, and annually) and compare against relevant benchmarks.
2. Support attribution analysis to identify sources of performance for stakeholder reporting.

Risk Management & Compliance:

1. Set up and monitor compliance rules for new funds, performing daily post-trade compliance checks.
2. Ensure adherence to internal investment restrictions, regulatory guidelines, and risk limits.
3. Prepare compliance and risk reports, including Value at Risk (VaR) and exposure metrics.

Client Onboarding & Maintenance:

1. Manage client onboarding processes, ensuring completeness of documentation and compliance with KYC/AML regulations.
2. Accurately capture client details, portfolio restrictions, and performance benchmarks in internal systems.
3. Maintain and update client records, including preferences and transaction history.

Investor Transactions:

1. Process daily investor transactions (e.g., subscriptions, redemptions, switches, transfers) in accordance with fund prospectuses or information memoranda.
2. Ensure timely and accurate execution of investor requests.

Reporting & Regulatory Compliance:

1. Prepare and submit accurate monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports to regulatory bodies (e.g., Securities Commission).
2. Generate client reports, including performance, transaction, and position summaries.
3. Review system-generated fund fact sheets and quarterly reports for accuracy.

Custodian & Fund Administration Liaison:

1. Coordinate with custodians to resolve issues related to settlements, reconciliations, and corporate actions.
2. Collaborate with third-party fund administrators to ensure accurate record-keeping and reporting.

Data Management & Technology:

1. Maintain data integrity across portfolio, trade, and financial systems.
2. Support system maintenance and integration to ensure seamless data flow and operational efficiency.
3. Identify opportunities for process automation to enhance productivity.

Audit & Internal Controls:

1. Conduct periodic internal audits to verify adherence to processes and risk frameworks.
2. Test internal controls governing trading, settlements, NAV calculations, and reconciliations.

Support for the Client Services Team:

1. Provide solutions and support to enhance efficiency in their work, including handling clients’ queries, suggestions, complaints, product development, data extraction, and report design.
2. Improve the standard, efficiency, and accuracy of reporting for clients, fund managers, management, marketing, compliance, and other stakeholders.

Flexible Task Assignment:

1. Undertake additional responsibilities as directed by management to contribute to the department’s success and adaptability.  

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

1. Knowledge: Expertise in regulatory knowledge, encompassing KYC/AML procedures, securities regulations like Securities Commission guidelines, and familiarity with fund prospectuses and investment guidelines.
2. Skills: Demonstrates strong attention to detail, analytical problem-solving, and effective communication skills, combined with the ability to thrive under pressure, meet tight deadlines, and manage multiple priorities. Skilled in unit trust registration systems, Excel, data analysis tools, and regulatory reporting, with expertise in generating clear reports, strong organizational and problem-solving capabilities, and a commitment to integrity and confidentiality in managing sensitive financial data.
3. Experiences: Fresh graduates or individuals with a minimum of 1-2 years of experience in investment operations, fund administration, or related roles in asset management or financial services, with expertise in trade settlement, reconciliations, NAV calculations, compliance monitoring, corporate actions, portfolio accounting, and investor transaction processing.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field. Professional certifications such as CPA, ACCA, CIMA or CFA are highly desirable.

Skills