Investment Operations Analyst - Corporate Actions

Job Description

About Vanguard

Vanguard Australia has been helping investors achieve their long-term financial goals for over 20 years. With more than AUD $9 trillion in assets under management Vanguard is one of the world’s largest global investment management companies. In Australia we partner with institutional clients, financial advisers and individual investors to offer low-cost investment solutions. Our comprehensive range of managed funds, exchange traded funds (ETFs) and tailored investment solutions are built to support long-term investment success for our clients.

At Vanguard Investments Australia (VIA) we have a focus on increasing our efforts to serve Australian investors directly. As part of that journey we are working on an expansion of our offering to include superannuation. Australia has one of the best retirement systems in the world and we want to help make it better for all Australians. With significant global and local expertise in the retirement space, coupled with our disciplined, low-cost approach to investing we are committed to helping more Australians reach their retirement goals.

Our team and opportunity

The Derivatives Operations team manages derivative and collateral function, providing ‘gold copy’ derivative data to the Front Office to facilitate their portfolio investment decision making. Our function oversees daily derivative reconciliations, valuation and collateral instructions, with a focus on operational efficiency and output quality.

The team operates within a dynamic environment where learning and improving culture is prioritised. We also work with a number stakeholders and offer opportunity to develop skills on an industry standard derivative platform – Calypso.

We are now on the lookout for our next team-member to join our Derivatives Operations team. In this role, you will take ownership of the global daily operation to provide an accurate start of day and end of day derivative and collateral data to the portfolio managers. The role also plays a key role in the identification and escalation of potential control gaps and process improvements.

What you will do

• Provide ‘gold copy’ data for derivatives and collaterals including valuation, collateral instructions, settlement monitoring, cash projection to support investment decision by portfolio managers.
• Monitor and exception handle reporting tasks to meet derivatives regulatory reporting requirements
• Build and develop effective working relationships with both internal and external clients and business partners including wider investment operation team, custodians, brokers, Front Office
• Develops a strong knowledge of derivatives and collateral processes, understanding the core information and data sets that drives the operational processes and the portfolio impacts.
• Assists with quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports to Fund Reporting team and our external auditors for data regarding futures, options, forwards, swaps and other derivatives.
• Recognizes opportunities to recommend process improvements and/or implement solutions to gain efficiencies and ensure quality.

What we are looking for

• Experience developed in a similar investment operation, or similar role in a related financial services organisation.
• Strong analytical capabilities, research, problem solving and time management skills required.
• Proficiency with Microsoft applications and investment management platforms preferred
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, including the ability to develop relationships across the various stakeholders including senior business executives
• Ability to be flexible in a dynamic environment, be a self-starter with ability to learn quickly organize and prioritize work and meet the clients expectations.
• Excellent judgment and proven ability to analyse issues quickly and independently to take appropriate action under tight time constraints.

Specialisations that will make an impact

• Undergraduate degree in a related discipline (Economics, Commerce, Technology),
• Experience of Investment Operations (Trades, Cash and/or Derivatives), reconciliations and transaction lifecycle management.
• Understanding of Exchange Traded Funds / Fixed Income Securities / Equity products and other financial instruments.
• Understanding of, experience in or willingness to learn coding languages (VBA, Java, Python etc.).

Inclusion Statement

Vanguard’s continued commitment to diversity and inclusion is firmly rooted in our culture. Every decision we make to best serve our clients, crew (internally employees are referred to as crew), and communities is guided by one simple statement: “Do the right thing.”

We believe that a critical aspect of doing the right thing requires building diverse, inclusive, and highly effective teams of individuals who are as unique as the clients they serve. We empower our crew to contribute their distinct strengths to achieving Vanguard’s core purpose through our values.

When all crew members feel valued and included, our ability to collaborate and innovate is amplified, and we are united in delivering on Vanguard’s core purpose.

Our core purpose: To take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success.

Where to from here?

If you would like to discuss further please contact Richard Maher from our Talent Acquisition team on [email protected].