Fund Controller

Job Description

At abrdn, our purpose is to enable our clients to be better investors.

Clients worldwide trust us to find future-fit investment opportunities to deliver the outcomes they want. Our technology and insight help empower them to make better decisions, while the powerful partnerships we build help to enhance the expertise that we offer. And by enabling clients to invest responsibly, it helps us to build a better world.

About the team

Direct real estate operations sits within Global Private Markets Operations and encompasses funds and mandates with mainly non-UK investments. The assets are typically held within a private markets style fund wrapper such as a limited partnership, REIT, RAIF or investment trust but may also include segregated mandates and other fund wrappers. There will normally be multiple special purpose vehicles in the structure and there may be external bank debt, derivatives, indirect investments and a high degree of tax and structuring and / or operational complexity.

About the role

The role is permanent role and the role holder will work closely with other Private Markets Operations teams worldwide, the Investment teams and other relevant teams to achieve our goals of excellent service, scalability, efficiency and global consistency.

Core Roles and Responsibilities- Fund control for a UK domiciled Real Estate Investment Trust holding assets in Europe;- Ensure excellent service delivery for existing and new real estate products and effective relationships with Investments and other core teams;- Ensure the Fund is supported effectively;- Work with third party service providers and other teams, including the Investment Trust and Investment teams, to ensure that any performance issues are addressed effectively;- Assist with strategic and other project initiatives.- Support the team Senior Manager in preparing board packs and presenting financial information to the Fund Board.- Support capital raises from a financial and operational perspective, including overseeing financial modelling and forecasting.

Fund Control- Oversee, control and review all financial reporting produced by internal / external accountants and consolidation service providers including the Funds' Net Asset Values (NAVs) and stock exchange announcements, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and relevance;- Oversee the year-end and half year financial documents (IFRS etc.) and coordination and control of the Fund’s annual audit;- Identify and implement improvements to the Fund control environment, including evaluating and managing key third party service providers;- Budgeting up to fund level and monitoring of performance versus budget;- Maintain oversight and be responsible for ensuring fund-level and asset / SPV level transactions are controlled, approved, and recorded accurately;- Provide bespoke business partnering, decision and operational structuring support for Real Estate Funds working closely with and in support of the Investment and private markets structuring teams;- Oversee and review financial information to be included in presentations to investors, including the data supporting performance calculations;- Oversee and review the preparation and submission of various regulatory reports in a timely and accurate manner (Solvency II, AIFMD, MIFID, VAG reporting etc.);- Oversee the movement of cash around corporate structures (via intercompany loans and equity transactions);- Provide oversight of the recording and management of investor transactions and reporting including the review of investor communications during the drawdown, distribution and NAV processes;- Presentation of financial information to committees and boards where relevant;Risk management and compliance- Operate in accordance with an acceptable level of business risk, ensuring failures and shortcomings in policies and procedures are reported;- Continually assess risks facing your real estate Fund(s), anticipate potential difficulties, promptly raise awareness and contribute to problem resolution ;- Adherence to standard methodology and quality;- Improve processes continually promoting effectiveness and efficiency and ensuring standards are adhered to;- Fully engage with and support new regulatory changes impacting Real Estate.- Significant experience in Private Markets Operations but in particular with expert technical skills across Real Estate;- Experience of working with different types of private markets fund wrappers e.g. Limited Partnerships, investment trusts etc.;- University degree desirable;- Working knowledge of IFRS and forward looking financial forecasting;- Qualified accountant (CA or ACCA preferred) with extensive post qualification experience;- Excellent Excel skills; and- Self-motivated with excellent interpersonal and communication skills and an ability to influence.

Our benefits

There's more to working life than coming home with a good salary. We have an environment where you can learn, get involved and be supported