FINANCIAL OPERATIONS SPECIALIST

SUMMARY:
The Financial Operations Specialist provides dedicated operational capacity within Operations

POSITION INFO:

A well established and prominent financial institution is seeking to hire a Financial Operations Specialist.

The Financial Operations Specialist provides dedicated operational capacity within the Operations function, with primary responsibility for the execution of transactions, reconciliations, and investment administration processes on the platform. This role has been established to ensure operational integrity, segregation of duties, and the resilience required to support the platform's day-to-day and strategic obligations.

Duties

The role will assist the Head of Operations to ensure:

•Continuity, institutional knowledge retention, and operational resilience, reducing dependence on senior management.
•Segregation of duties from an audit, governance, and risk management perspective.
•Management focus is redirected toward oversight, monitoring, operational stability, and growth initiatives.
•A solid operational foundation to support future platform growth without compromising service delivery, controls, or turnaround times.

Responsibilities

Transaction Processing & Settlement
•Initiate, execute, and settle trade instructions accurately and within required turnaround times.
•Execute fund ballots and mergers as required.
•Execute daily bulk operations.
•Process model portfolio instructions in accordance with agreed mandates and timelines.
•Capture and process income distributions across applicable funds and client portfolios.
-Reconciliations
•Perform daily and monthly bank account reconciliations to ensure accuracy and completeness of cash positions.
•Conduct AvL Reconciliations and resolve exceptions timeously.
•Escalate reconciliation discrepancies for resolution.
•Maintain reconciliation records in accordance with internal controls and audit requirements.

-Payment Processing
•Process adviser, administration and tax payments in line with agreed schedules
•Prepare and process client withdrawals and premiums ensuring accuracy and proper authorisation.
•Maintenance of these records in accordance with internal controls and audit requirements.
•Assist with cashflow planning and management as it relates to operational payment obligations.

Regulatory & Tax Reporting Applications Support

•Support the preparation and submission of regulatory and tax reports as required.
•Assist with the preparation and testing of annual and interim tax certificates (IT3a, IT3b, IT3c, IT3s, IT3f, IRP5).
•Implement and support monthly processes to confirm accuracy and completeness of tax transactions across applicable systems.
•Ensure client investment income and related data is available in the required format for SARS submissions and client tax certificates.
•CRS / FATCA preparation and submission.
•Assist with tax related queries.

System Enhancements & Operational Risk
•Participate in the testing of system enhancements, platform upgrades, and new product implementations.
•Identify and escalate operational risks and processing errors in a timely manner.
•Contribute to continuous process improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and reduce operational risk.
•Maintain the documented standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all recurring processes.

Operational & Stakeholder Management
•Manage and resolve operational queries from internal teams, advisers, and clients within agreed service levels.
•Liaise with third-party service providers, custodians, and vendors to support smooth operational execution.
•Collaborate with client-facing teams to enhance service quality and address investment-related queries.

Job Evaluation Criteria

Education:
•Bachelor's Degree in Business or Investment Management or related field
Experience Required:
•Minimum of 5 years experience in investment administrations strictly within a LISP environment.

Strong understanding of financial markets, investment instruments, and investment strategies.
•In-depth knowledge of LISP operations, fund administration, and investment lifecycle processes.
•Familiarity with relevant regulatory requirements (e.g. FSCA, SARS reporting obligations, FICA).
•Proficiency in TAU as used in the investment administration industry.
•Basic knowledge of tax certificate processes and reporting requirements (IT3 series, IRP5)
•Proficiency in operational technology and software used in the investment management industry.
•High proficiency in Microsoft Excel, EBTax, TAU and relevant operational systems.

Competencies and Skills

Strong understanding of financial markets, investment instruments, and investment strategies.
•In-depth knowledge of LISP operations, fund administration, and investment lifecycle processes.
•Familiarity with relevant regulatory requirements (e.g. FSCA, SARS reporting obligations, FICA).
•Proficiency in TAU as used in the investment administration industry.
•Basic knowledge of tax certificate processes and reporting requirements (IT3 series, IRP5)
•Proficiency in operational technology and software used in the investment management industry.
•High proficiency in Microsoft Excel, EBTax, TAU and relevant operational systems.

Attributes

-Client centric mindset
•Mature and positi