Job Description
This job is with St. James's Place, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community. Please do not contact the recruiter directly.
The Investment Operations Division keeps clients' assets safe by mitigating risk and overseeing fund administrator, custodian and manager activity. They are committed to safely delivering SJP's Investment Approach, meeting regulatory obligations and upholding our clients trust in the Partnership. By enabling investment teams, they support SJP's growth and excellent client outcomes.
Fund Accounting Oversight within Investment Operations is a centre of investment fund accounting expertise and oversees the outsourced fund administration services, including but not limited to unit trust financial and regulatory reporting along with the provision of key unit trust financial-related inputs into SJP Group financial and regulatory reporting and disclosures. The function coordinates the governance of unit trust financial statements with relevant stakeholders and the SJP UTG Board. Investment Operations forms part of the Client & Partner Operations area reporting to the Chief Operations Officer of SJP.
The purpose of this role is to be responsible for valuation oversight processes, with a focus on the valuation of private and illiquid assets within SJP funds and portfolios, and the associated financial and regulatory reporting and disclosures.
What you'll be doing:
* Taking responsibility for key valuation oversight activities within the Fund Accounting Oversight team and supporting the unit trust financial statement preparation, review and oversight, as required.
* Developing and maintaining a process to oversee the valuation of private equity, private debt, infrastructure and real estate assets, including the review and challenge of the valuations produced by external managers and third-party valuers, and resolution of any issues arising.
* Engaging with key stakeholders as a key point of contact in respect of valuation queries, including external fund managers, Group finance and external audit teams.
* Working across the Fund Accounting Oversight team the finance teams of the Investment advisors to ensure timely resolution of audit-related valuation and private asset accounting queries.
* Responsible for the preparation of reports and presentations to relevant SJP legal entity boards and committees on topics concerning valuation oversight.
* Acting as secretary to the Fund Valuations Oversight Group to ensure the effective and efficient governance of valuation matters and to support the Investment Operations Director.
* Developing and maintaining the Fair Value Pricing (FVP) model for private market assets and overseeing the daily FVP process in conjunction with the Fund Accounting Oversight team.
* Supporting and driving process re-engineering initiatives within the Investment Operations team, with a focus on valuation oversight, recommending and supporting the implementation of any developments aiming to create a strong control environment and team efficiency.
* Supporting the operationalisation of SJP's investment proposition with respect to private assets, with a focus on valuation oversight activities, and providing input to other operational areas, including fund structure.
* Acting as liaison with relevant Industry Bodies in respect of valuation oversight activities, ensuring that SJP is abreast of relevant industry and regulatory developments.
Who we're looking for:
A confident individual, the role holder will be expected to engage with key stakeholders including external managers, group finance and external auditors. In addition, the role will input from an operational and valuation perspective in respect of process improvements and automation.
Essential Criteria:
* Detailed technical knowledge of fund valuation practices, and an understanding of the FCA's and industry's expectations.
* An understanding of key oversight control activities of outsourced providers, including knowledge of relevant valuation guidelines.
* Knowledge and understanding of a strong control environment will be required, looking for ways in which controls can be enhanced.
* The ability to communicate with a variety of third-party suppliers on a regular basis and adapt their communication style to varied audiences.
* Professionally qualified in Accounting
Desirable Criteria:
* Detailed technical knowledge of private asset valuation practices.
Special Requirements:
* Required to travel to other offices and service provider offices
* Will require out of hours work when projects are nearing completion