Associate Director recruitment

The Associate Director position represents a senior management role within the business, focussed on meeting the accounting needs of our alternative investment fund clients. Responsibilities are wide ranging and include:
• Oversight of the fund accounting services delivered by the accounting teams;
• Line management and professional development of team managers;
• Development and maintenance of effective policy and procedures used to deliver fund accounting services;
• Working with deal team, product heads and client relationship managers on business development;
• Ensuring that there are effective and open lines of communication between the shared services teams and the client relationship managers.
The role is an important transitional stage between being a manager of client business and leading a State Street business.
 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Working with other jurisdictions to ensure that a common operating model is adopted and that best practice is developed and shared across locations to enable support between teams and the same high level of client service delivery in all offices.

Recruitment, training, development and retention of managers and setting their targets/priorities.

Monitoring high quality and efficient output of the teams through quality performance reviews and maintaining an open rapport with managers

Ensuring that teams achieve excellent client service delivery and retain adequate succession planning, whilst working with the Director/Head of Fund Accounting to monitor the overall cost base.

Works with senior management team to run the Fund Accounting Business - e.g. Audit Firm Liaison; Operations and Systems; Technical and Regulatory Issues

Direct and indirect line management of accounting team. Direct line management of managers, conducting appraisals and reviewing/agreeing employee compensation. Responsible for the accuracy and efficiency of output of multiple accounting teams.

Authorisation of payments, transactions and cash flows in line with authorised signatory levels (NB in some jurisdictions, payments may continue to be processed by an administration team)

Maintaining pro-active communication to ensure that the Director is kept appraised of current status and to allow them to accommodate periods of absence and/or peak demand.

Oversight of the effective prioritisation of tasks and management of the team’s resources and capacity to ensure the efficient delivery of client’s accounting needs and the appropriate allocation of workloads to team.

Escalation point for senior client and audit contacts: Works with CRM to ensure that emerging issues are resolved in a pro-active manner and to enhance client service delivery.

Ensures seamless and co-ordinated client service delivery. Ensures that Fund Accounting team maintains open communication with other business functions and that processes adopted fit efficiently with those used across functions.

A good understanding of the complexities of the alternative investment funds business and the ability to develop appropriate business solutions based around client needs.

A strong knowledge of the tools used by the Fund Accounting teams to meet reporting needs and thereby be able to develop and enhance our approaches.

Support the bid process for new business; calculating and reviewing fees proposed to ensure that such are appropriate and that resource requirements are understood and catered for.

Support the sales team through proactive communications with clients (ancillary sales and organic growth) and working with the sales team in reviewing constitutional and/or sales pitch documentation, attending meetings with prospective clients where necessary.

Represent State Street at client meetings and events.

Proactively look to develop own skills within the wider business.

Taking an active role in the Performance Planning Review process.

In addition to the duties listed above, the Associate Director may be requested to perform any other ad hoc duties or projects as requested by the Director.

Technical Knowledge / Skills Required

• Good knowledge of: GAAP; financial reporting requirements; and audit approaches in order to ensure that our internal operations and processes are fit for purpose.

• A strong organisational awareness and the ability to contribute to and foster a dynamic culture by providing positive leadership.

• A good understanding of the complexities of the alternative investment funds business and the ability to develop appropriate business solutions based around client needs.

• The credibility and gravitas necessary to interact and develop business relationships within the State Street business as well as with client and intermediary institutions in the offshore market place.

• Ability to plan and organise yourself and others to meet challenging deadlines.

Minimum Education / Qualifications

• Holds a relevant professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA or equivalent) and significant post qualification experience.

Previous Experience

• Experience in the field of alternative investment fund accounting and/or other financial services industry experience would be essential.

• A strong track record of people management.

• Evidence of strong client/intermediary relationship management skills.

• Proven leadership skills.

• Experience in audit would be beneficial.

Management / Supervisory Responsibilities

The Associate Director would have line management responsibility for approx. 3 – 6 Managers (team sizes may vary).