Product Finance Team Leader – Unit Trust

SUMMARY:
Product Finance Team Leader – Unit Trust | For a company in the asset management and investment field

POSITION INFO:

Product Finance Team Leader – Unit Trust

A company in the asset management and investment field is looking for a motivated Product Finance Team Leader to join their finance team. The business offers a niche of Transfer Agency administration services for Unit Trust, Retirement, Life and LISP products.

Purpose of the job

The primary responsibility will be to lead and manage the team’s total operational, projects and people capabilities. You will be required to manage a team of product accountants who are responsible for executing investment administration, risk management, tax, financial reporting, fund accounting, execution of projects, audit readiness and client servicing.

The candidate will be required to manage staff, including performance management, assisting with issues coming out of the daily operations, review of staff work, projects, audit readiness and ensuring processes are followed and standards are adhered to.

The successful candidate will have a strong sense of ownership, responsibility and leadership.

Main duties & responsibilities:

• Ensure that the team performs according to contracted performance areas to deliver the highest level of service to stakeholders.
• Plan, assign & monitor work of the team members.
• Execution of Projects.
• Tax submissions.
• Audit Readiness.
• Continuously evaluate and improve processes to ensure effectiveness and efficiency.
• Pro-actively identify and manage operational risks.
• Investigate and resolve client and internal queries efficiently and on a timely basis.
• Regularly engage, interact with and report to management and the clients.
• Liaise with internal and external auditors.
• Ensure tax, legislative and statutory requirements are met.
• Identify ways of promoting accuracy and maximizing productivity within the team.
• Assist with the implementation of changes to existing products and processes as well as new products.
• Maintain high levels of teamwork within the team, different departments and external parties in order to resolve client queries.
• Respond in a professional, timely and empathetic manner to both written and telephonic enquiries from internal and external clients.
• Balance own priorities while directing and motivating others.
• Management of team deliverables, training and day to day team management.
• Ongoing development of team members including training, upskilling and performance management.
• Adhoc project management, reporting and other duties as needed by the Head of Product Finance.

Ideal Experience:

• A minimum of 2 years’ people management experience leading a team.
• A minimum of 3 years financial services experience with strong fund accounting knowledge in the Unit Trust or Retirement Life industry will be advantageous.
• Strong leadership experience: both people management and operationally.
• Strong accounting, reconciliation, and analytical skills essential.
• Knowledge of tax laws in general for Unit Trust, Retirement, Life and LISP products.
• Project Implementation.
• Knowledge of the applicable LISP and CIS legislative environment (specifically the FAIS Act, Pension Funds Act, Collective Investment Schemes Control Act, Long-Term Insurance Act).

Competencies and ideal personality attributes:

• Proven leadership and coaching skills with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Keen attention to detail, passionate about exceptional client services, professional, with excellent stakeholder management skills.
• Proactive with a sense of urgency and the ability to make quick decisions and establish priorities.
• Ability to simplify complex problems and processes and be outcomes driven.
• Self-motivated, learns quickly and willing to be stretched in a challenging, dynamic and exciting environment.
• Able to deal with and manage difficult, demanding clients.
• Facilitation and presentation skills.
• Critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines, ensuring delivery of high-quality output (Flexibility required).
• Unquestionable integrity and accountability.

Software and systems knowledge:

• Flexcube experience (highly advantageous)
• CaseWare or similar
• Pastel or similar
• SARS applications
• Finswitch
• Digiata, modules (highly advantageous)
• Proficient in the MS Office suite with advanced Excel skills essential