Fund Contracts Negotiation Manager

People are living longer than ever before, and we’re excited by the opportunities this brings. As a purpose-led business, we’re focused on supporting our customers as they navigate through new stages of their lives and all the moments that matter. We’rehere for everyone who wants to make the most of their time on the planet and leave it a little better than they found it - however grand or humble their ambitions. Working at Aegon, you’ll play an important part in helping achieve this. We have three behaviorsthat are central to how we operate as a team and a business: we step up, we tune in and we’re a force for good.

**The Team**

We have two exciting opportunities for a Fund Contracts Negotiation Manager to join our Investment Operations team, one on a Permanent basis and the other on a 12-month Fixed Term Contract/Internal Secondment. The role reports directly to the Head of FundContracts.

**The Role**

As the Fund Contracts Negotiation Manager, you will be responsible for:

- Driving, managing and delivering the negotiation and timely execution of legal agreements and associated legal documentation required, spanning all Fund Managers and relevant Propositions including Aegon’s Retail platforms and Traditional product estate
- Supporting the development of, and continued successful retention of assets under administration for Aegon’s Retail platforms and Traditional Products/Target Plan with critical emphasis on risk mitigation and reputational protection
- Maintaining integrated best practice (robust, repeatable, and measurable processes with appropriate risk management) and support efficiencies across the function
- Building and managing strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders and suppliers
- Developing and maintaining required legal and regulatory knowledge to allow for effective negotiation, continuously considering the funds offered, in the context of Aegon’s regulatory risk and operational framework

**Key responsibilities**
- Manage the negotiation and execution of new legal agreements and associated legal documentation required for the function, in support of the listing of new funds/ranges on Aegon’s Retail platforms and Traditional Products/Target Plan, ensuring timely completionto realise tangible new business benefit
- Manage the negotiation of contract amendments or any contract work required in support of existing funds/ranges available via Aegon’s Retail Platforms and Traditional Products ensuring timely completion to retain funds and mitigate areas of risk. This includesnew contracts for existing managers where necessary, and other various contract amendments
- Maintain robust end to end documented evidence of negotiations, drafting changes and approvals, and complete the Agreement Matrix to ensure comprehensive records are in place across the fund universe
- Ensure continuous development of required legal and regulatory knowledge to allow for effective negotiation, considering the funds offered, in the context of Aegon’s regulatory risk and operational framework
- Devise and implement plans for resolving contracting issues to close out negotiations while continuously mitigating areas of risk
- Support the implementation and maintenance of any new, plans, processes, and controls to ensure the team continues to deliver timely execution of agreements, amendments, letters, notations and terminations

**Skills**

Data Management:

- Ability to interpret legal documentation and understand potential impacts of content to the business of the Aegon Platform and wider Aegon Group
- Strong in use of excel or other programmes that assist in organisational efficiency
- Legal background is desirable but not essential
- Ability to absorb regulatory information and understand it in the context of Aegon’s regulatory and operational landscape (problem solving)

Process control:

- Ability to project manage (each negotiation)
- Able to maintain processes that drive efficiency and commercial best practice
- Energy and tenacity to see tasks through from end to end and drive completion
- Strong understanding and background in UK Fund Management and Platform industry essential

Communication:

- Able to communicate at multiple levels
- Proven ability to communicate and work in a collaborative environment
- Negotiation skills, the ability to challenge while effectively influencing favourable outcomes

**Knowledge**
- Investment markets, funds, managers, platforms, Traditional Products / TargetPlan, Aegon’s investment proposition, the Adviser and DFM market and the Pension market.
- Awareness of the technical principals of Investment products and the Investment landscape, e.g., asset allocation, investment process, fund managers, funds, solutions
- Regulatory framework in UK financial services and understanding in respect of investments
- Strong awareness of legal issues and legislation impacting UK Retail platforms and Traditional Products

**Closing Date**

**How we look after you**

Outside of a competitive salary, working with us comes with a range of benefits that you can access from day one, including:

- Non-contributary pension between 8-12% dependant on age
- Life assurance cover
- Private medical cover and health assessments
- Access to Peppy - a digital health app for employees of all genders with a range of support covering areas such as general health, menopause, fertility, baby etc
- Critical Illness cover
- A suite of enhanced parental leave policies to support you in the moments that matter
- Holiday trading
- Private GP appointments with Doctor at Hand
- Cycle2Work scheme
- 2 paid days per year for charitable volunteering
- Employee wellbeing is key to our culture. We offer a range of online classes to support this, including yoga and meditation