Fund Operations Specialist

**OVERALL SUMMARY**
- To co-ordinate the production of the Reports & Accounts for the Close range of Funds, covering Fund Accountant production timetable, reviewing drafts, liaising with auditors, liaising with internal stakeholders and an appointed review panel, and with the Company Secretary to secure board approvals. Managing production, publishing, and filing with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- To undertake work related to MIFIDII costs & Charges and liaise with internal and external stakeholders.
- To co-ordinate all internal fund operation activities in support of our fund range and manage the service delivered from our outsourced administration providers (BNY Mellon),
- The fund range currently covers the Close Discretionary Funds and the Specialist Funds (e.g. Winchester & techMARK).
- The Fund Operations Specialist will be expected to carry out the responsibilities below and also to oversee the performance of these tasks by other Fund Operations Specialists in the team for the purposes of second-checking, verification and authorisation.

**RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Assisting with the co-ordination of the fund Report & Accounts production, covering administrator production schedule, reviewing drafts, liaising with auditors, securing board approvals and managing production and distribution.
- Assisting with the yields and Ongoing Charges Figures calculated by the fund administrator, covering oversight and monitoring, distribution to internal stakeholders and responding to ad-hoc queries.
- Provide fund related operational support to other departments and senior management as required.
- Oversee the day-to-day service provided by the fund administrator - transfer agent, fund accountant, financial reporting, and custodian and liaise with the Trustee on all operational matters. This may include Due Diligence visits (which may also involve travel overseas), ad-hoc daily issues/queries, validation of billing, MI and data requests. To participate in meetings with the Administrator and/or Trustee as required.
- Assisting with the fund accrual planning.
- Review of Service Level Agreements with third party platforms investing into the fund range, and outbound communications to them regarding document updates (e.g. Key Investor Information Documents), corporate action notifications etc.
- To ensure that Service Level Agreements with third party platforms are met and to liaise with the Product Marketing Manager regarding any relationship issues or impact.
- Co-ordinate the distribution of fund related data to third parties such as platforms and data vendors.
- Undertake project work as required and to be able to provide firm and qualified direction to the Fund Administrator. This may require research, analysis and investigation.
- Provide fund related operational support to other departments and senior management as required.
- Interpret regulations, statements of recommended practice and guidelines, and to assess resulting operational obligations and implications and to make recommendations accordingly
- To create and document new procedures
- To provide MI and data for Committees and the Board.
- To analyse data, identify and investigate trends and spikes
- To provide efficient solutions for complex data analysis primarily through Excel.
- Rotational responsibilities may also include:

- Monitor fund overdrafts and aged cash and stock reconciliations. Reconciliation of internal cash and stock records with those of the Administrator.
- Oversee the client money calculations performed by the transfer agent, reviewing large or stale balances and following up accordingly.
- Oversight of breaches and complaints in relation to the funds, ensuring these are communicated to Compliance and are being addressed in line with regulatory deadlines.
- In this role, you will be assigned responsibilities and provide services to Close Brothers Asset Management.
- Respond to requests to implement on a timely basis all internal and external audit points together with any issues raised by external regulators, local Compliance/Risk or Group Compliance/Risk.
- Be aware of the Operational Risks associated with your role and act in a manner that takes account of these risks and the relevant controls.
- Follow the FCA’s Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) principle by adhering to all relevant internal TCF policies, considering how TCF affects your role and act in a manner which helps to ensure fair outcomes for clients.
- To fully comply with the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended from time to time) and the rules of The Financial Conduct Authority and any other applicable laws and regulations.
- To communicate and escalate potential issues in a prompt and effective manner.
- To participate in relevant training courses when requested to do so, in particular anti
- money laundering and market abuse training.
- To adhere to the relevant Asset Management division policies, including those on conflicts of interest, gift