Fund Accounting Lead
Posted 4 days ago by Square One Resources on JobServe
£750 Per day
Undetermined
Onsite
City of London, UK
p>Job Title: Fund Accounting Lead - Building out Operating Model/Building Teams/Center of Excellence (CoE)
Location: London (Hybrid - 3x week)
Salary/Rate: 750
Start Date: 03/02/2025
Job Type: Contract
Job Overview:
We are looking for a highly skilled Fund Accounting Lead to play a pivotal role in building and optimising the fund accounting operating model, developing and leading teams, and establishing a Center of Excellence (CoE) within our organisation. This role will be responsible for designing efficient and scalable fund accounting processes, implementing best practices, and ensuring the quality and accuracy of fund valuations, reporting, and compliance. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills, a deep understanding of fund accounting, and the ability to build high-performing teams in a fast-paced environment.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Develop & Implement Operating Model:
Design, develop, and implement a best-in-class fund accounting operating model that supports both current and future business needs.
Define and document workflows and processes that ensure the accurate and efficient execution of fund accounting functions.
Ensure seamless integration of fund accounting operations with other functions such as portfolio management, trading, risk, and operations.
2. Build & Lead Fund Accounting Teams:
Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing fund accounting team capable of executing complex accounting functions and meeting deadlines in a high-pressure environment.
Establish clear roles and responsibilities within the team, providing training and development opportunities to enhance their technical knowledge and professional growth.
Foster a collaborative team culture, encouraging continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.
3. Center of Excellence (CoE):
Build and manage a Center of Excellence (CoE) for fund accounting, developing standardised practices, policies, and procedures to ensure consistency and efficiency across the firm.
Establish performance metrics and KPIs to assess the effectiveness of the fund accounting processes, and drive continuous improvements.
Ensure the CoE functions as a knowledge hub for best practices, leveraging industry standards and emerging trends to enhance operational effectiveness.
4. Fund Accounting Operations & Oversight:
Oversee the preparation, reconciliation, and reporting of fund valuations and NAV calculations, ensuring compliance with accounting standards, regulatory requirements, and internal policies.
Manage daily accounting operations, including cash and position reconciliations, trade settlements, income accruals, and expense allocations.
Ensure the timely and accurate production of financial statements, investor reporting, and regulatory filings.
5. Process Optimization & Automation:
Identify opportunities to optimise and automate fund accounting processes, using technology and innovation to reduce manual intervention, mitigate risks, and improve accuracy.
Collaborate with technology and operations teams to implement system upgrades, integrations, and automation tools that streamline fund accounting tasks and improve operational efficiency.
6. Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management:
Ensure that fund accounting practices comply with relevant financial regulations, including IFRS, GAAP, and any other jurisdiction-specific accounting standards.
Stay up to date with regulatory changes and industry trends impacting fund accounting and ensure the team is fully compliant.
Implement risk management protocols to monitor and mitigate financial, operational, and compliance risks within fund accounting processes.
7. Stakeholder Communication & Reporting:
Serve as a key point of contact for senior management, clients, auditors, and other internal teams regarding fund accounting matters.
Provide timely and accurate reports on fund performance, valuations, and key financial metrics to senior leadership and stakeholders.
Build and maintain relationships with external auditors and regulatory bodies, ensuring smooth audits and inspections.
8. Change Management & Strategy Implementation:
Lead change management initiatives related to process improvements, team restructuring, or technology implementations within fund accounting.
Contribute to the broader strategic objectives of the firm by identifying ways to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and improve service delivery.
Qualifications & Skills:
Education:
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field.
CPA, CFA, or equivalent professional qualification is preferred.
Postgraduate qualifications (eg, MBA or MSc) are a plus.
Experience:
Vast experience in fund accounting, with a deep understanding of accounting principles, financial reporting, and the operational processes of investment funds (equity, Fixed Income, hedge funds, private equity, etc.).
Proven experience in designing and implementing operating models and building high-performing teams within a financial services organisation.
Previous experience working in a leadership role, managing large teams and overseeing complex fund accounting operations.
Experience in building and managing a Center of Excellence (CoE) or similar initiatives in an accounting or operations context.
Skills:
Strong technical knowledge of fund accounting, NAV calculations, portfolio management systems, and financial reporting.
Deep understanding of relevant accounting standards (eg, IFRS, GAAP) and regulatory requirements impacting fund accounting.
Ability to design and implement efficient, scalable fund accounting workflows and processes.
Strong leadership and people management skills, with a proven track record of building, developing, and motivating teams.
Excellent project management and organisational skills, with the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives.
Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with senior management, external auditors, regulators, and clients.
Technical Skills:
Proficiency in financial systems and software, such as Advent, SimCorp, or other fund accounting platforms.
Familiarity with automation tools, process optimisation software, and data analytics platforms (eg, Excel, SQL, Tableau, Power BI).
Experience with cloud-based solutions and integration of technology in fund accounting operations is a plus.
Disclaimer
Notwithstanding any guidelines given to level of experience sought, we will consider candidates from outside this range if they can demonstrate the necessary competencies.
Square One is acting as both an employment agency and an employment business, and is an equal opportunities recruitment business. Square One embraces diversity and will treat everyone equally. Please see our website for our full diversity statement.
Location: London (Hybrid - 3x week)
Salary/Rate: 750
Start Date: 03/02/2025
Job Type: Contract
Job Overview:
We are looking for a highly skilled Fund Accounting Lead to play a pivotal role in building and optimising the fund accounting operating model, developing and leading teams, and establishing a Center of Excellence (CoE) within our organisation. This role will be responsible for designing efficient and scalable fund accounting processes, implementing best practices, and ensuring the quality and accuracy of fund valuations, reporting, and compliance. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills, a deep understanding of fund accounting, and the ability to build high-performing teams in a fast-paced environment.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Develop & Implement Operating Model:
Design, develop, and implement a best-in-class fund accounting operating model that supports both current and future business needs.
Define and document workflows and processes that ensure the accurate and efficient execution of fund accounting functions.
Ensure seamless integration of fund accounting operations with other functions such as portfolio management, trading, risk, and operations.
2. Build & Lead Fund Accounting Teams:
Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing fund accounting team capable of executing complex accounting functions and meeting deadlines in a high-pressure environment.
Establish clear roles and responsibilities within the team, providing training and development opportunities to enhance their technical knowledge and professional growth.
Foster a collaborative team culture, encouraging continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.
3. Center of Excellence (CoE):
Build and manage a Center of Excellence (CoE) for fund accounting, developing standardised practices, policies, and procedures to ensure consistency and efficiency across the firm.
Establish performance metrics and KPIs to assess the effectiveness of the fund accounting processes, and drive continuous improvements.
Ensure the CoE functions as a knowledge hub for best practices, leveraging industry standards and emerging trends to enhance operational effectiveness.
4. Fund Accounting Operations & Oversight:
Oversee the preparation, reconciliation, and reporting of fund valuations and NAV calculations, ensuring compliance with accounting standards, regulatory requirements, and internal policies.
Manage daily accounting operations, including cash and position reconciliations, trade settlements, income accruals, and expense allocations.
Ensure the timely and accurate production of financial statements, investor reporting, and regulatory filings.
5. Process Optimization & Automation:
Identify opportunities to optimise and automate fund accounting processes, using technology and innovation to reduce manual intervention, mitigate risks, and improve accuracy.
Collaborate with technology and operations teams to implement system upgrades, integrations, and automation tools that streamline fund accounting tasks and improve operational efficiency.
6. Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management:
Ensure that fund accounting practices comply with relevant financial regulations, including IFRS, GAAP, and any other jurisdiction-specific accounting standards.
Stay up to date with regulatory changes and industry trends impacting fund accounting and ensure the team is fully compliant.
Implement risk management protocols to monitor and mitigate financial, operational, and compliance risks within fund accounting processes.
7. Stakeholder Communication & Reporting:
Serve as a key point of contact for senior management, clients, auditors, and other internal teams regarding fund accounting matters.
Provide timely and accurate reports on fund performance, valuations, and key financial metrics to senior leadership and stakeholders.
Build and maintain relationships with external auditors and regulatory bodies, ensuring smooth audits and inspections.
8. Change Management & Strategy Implementation:
Lead change management initiatives related to process improvements, team restructuring, or technology implementations within fund accounting.
Contribute to the broader strategic objectives of the firm by identifying ways to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and improve service delivery.
Qualifications & Skills:
Education:
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field.
CPA, CFA, or equivalent professional qualification is preferred.
Postgraduate qualifications (eg, MBA or MSc) are a plus.
Experience:
Vast experience in fund accounting, with a deep understanding of accounting principles, financial reporting, and the operational processes of investment funds (equity, Fixed Income, hedge funds, private equity, etc.).
Proven experience in designing and implementing operating models and building high-performing teams within a financial services organisation.
Previous experience working in a leadership role, managing large teams and overseeing complex fund accounting operations.
Experience in building and managing a Center of Excellence (CoE) or similar initiatives in an accounting or operations context.
Skills:
Strong technical knowledge of fund accounting, NAV calculations, portfolio management systems, and financial reporting.
Deep understanding of relevant accounting standards (eg, IFRS, GAAP) and regulatory requirements impacting fund accounting.
Ability to design and implement efficient, scalable fund accounting workflows and processes.
Strong leadership and people management skills, with a proven track record of building, developing, and motivating teams.
Excellent project management and organisational skills, with the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives.
Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with senior management, external auditors, regulators, and clients.
Technical Skills:
Proficiency in financial systems and software, such as Advent, SimCorp, or other fund accounting platforms.
Familiarity with automation tools, process optimisation software, and data analytics platforms (eg, Excel, SQL, Tableau, Power BI).
Experience with cloud-based solutions and integration of technology in fund accounting operations is a plus.
Disclaimer
Notwithstanding any guidelines given to level of experience sought, we will consider candidates from outside this range if they can demonstrate the necessary competencies.
Square One is acting as both an employment agency and an employment business, and is an equal opportunities recruitment business. Square One embraces diversity and will treat everyone equally. Please see our website for our full diversity statement.