Economic Funding/Projects Product Control AVP recruitment
Department Overview
The Finance department covers Product and Financial control. Both Product Control (PCG) and Financial Control (FC) are jointly responsible for the integrity of the financial records of my client.
Product Control has a significant presence and role within the organization. There is a close working relationship with the trading desks and other areas focusing on control, service and reporting. We are a central point of contact for many issues that affect the bank including new product approval, model validation and independent verification of derivative valuations. By placing a heavy emphasis on information technology and focusing on project work we are able to address control and operational risks and meet our internal and external obligations
Main Function
The main function of the role will be to support the Commodities business from a financial reporting perspective and to ensure that the key elements of the control infrastructure are in place with a focus on Economic Funding.
We are looking for a motivated, intelligent team player to join the group. This person will be a key member of the team, liaising regularly with members of the wider Finance team and other areas within the bank (eg IT, Operations, Risk and the Front Office).
The role requires someone to be heavily involved in driving improvements to processes - both within the team and working closely with the IT department.
Main Duties
Key interactions
Key interactions are with the Front Office Business Line Treasury team within the Commodities business, the wider Product Control Group including the Treasury PC team, Commodities Central Product Control team, Product Control Middle Office Team as well as Operations and Technology.
These interactions will cover the range of daily, weekly and monthly reporting communications as well as project work and ad hoc queries.
Specific Tasks:
- Economic Funding Infrastructure- working with the Front Office, Product Control and IT teams in order to deliver reporting requirements for Economic Funding; working through the project lifecycle in delivery.
- Allocations - calculations, analysis and reporting of allocations of cross business funding and other charges.
- Dealing with ad hoc queries with the business relating to Funding PL explains, variances, trade booking and valuation issues
- Data Integrity and balance sheet verification. Carry out validation tasks to ensure the integrity revenue related balance sheet accounts, focusing on
o System reconciliations - ensuring trading positions and prices in front office system are reconciled to the accounting and settlement sub-ledgers
o Awareness and consideration of controls that would impact these accounts
- Process Improvements. Commodities Product Control is constantly seeking to innovate and rationalise existing processes. All team members are expected to contribute to this process.
Person Requirements
Required:
*Degree
*Qualified accountant - ACA / CIMA or similar
*Solid experience of working in a Product Control and / or Middle Office environment
*Strong mathematical and analytical ability
*The individual needs to be assertive and able to work with the traders closely
*Good knowledge and understanding of financial markets - with experience of Treasury / Liquidity Management products
*Experience of working against tight short-term deadlines in a dynamic, pressurized environment
*A strong practical understanding of the importance of a rigorous controls environment.
Preferred:
*Numerate Degree/Masters Degree
*Middle Office or Product Control Derivatives Experience
*Involved in a change programme
*Excellent Excel skills
*Use of Excel macros and Access to build reporting and analysis tools
*Use of SQL / DB queries and ability to code in VBA would be advantageous
Business Skills:
*High attention to detail
*Analytical problem solver
*Ability to analyse and present financial information
*Ability to meet regular, tight daily deadlines
*Strong numeric ability
*Ability to review problems from different view points, devising and implementing practical solutions
*An understanding of the control environment
Interpersonal Skills:
*Excellent communicator at all levels
*Robust, and able to deal with demanding clients
*Excellent interpersonal skills
*Strong influencing skills
*Diligent and enthusiastic
*Strong team player 