Assistant Manager - Client & Transaction Services

This is a supervisory role within Singapore’s Transfer Agency Operations, reporting to the Singapore Head of TA Operations. This is an individual contributor role with an oversight governance and client engagement responsibility. It is a fantastic opportunity for the individual who has experience in the funds industry and is looking for an opportunity to advance in a fast-growing dynamic organization.

The candidate is expected to be responsible for handling daily BAU activities including client and vendor management and servicing, day-to-day BAU administration with oversight governance responsibilities. The candidate is expected to maintain a close working relationship with its Product & Technology partners and Operational team(s) in-country and in other Citi locations, while ensuring proper oversight of its in-country operational servicing activities and other outsourced/offshored activities.

Key Responsibilities:
The candidate should have strong knowledge of the full trade cycle including other functions performed within the Transfer Agency operations, as well as the responsibilities of the Administrator and the Custodian. The candidate is required to have strong knowledge and understanding of the Singapore CPF and SRS service offering and extensive practical experience of the following core TA processes:

• Client/Distributor/Investor on-boarding, AML/KYC documentation & administration, and data management and administration
• Transaction processing, client & investor servicing
• Cash & trade settlement processing
• Corporate action processing
• Reporting of fund and investor trade activity to the client, fund accountant and fund custodian
• Bank account reconciliation
• Foreign exchange dealing & execution
• Periodic client & investor reporting

The candidate should also have experience in the following responsibilities of the Transfer Agent:

• Review of trust deeds, fund prospectuses, operating memorandums and key fund documentation
• Fund launches, implementation and fund closures
• Client conversions
• Client change request management
• Client & vendor management and administration
• Oversight governance and risk control management for domestic and outsourced functions
• Managing client due diligence visits and periodic service reviews
• Awareness of regulatory and industry changes and how it impacts the business (i.e. CPF and SRS policies and rules, FATCA & CRS reporting policy changes)

Other Responsibilities:

• Oversee day-to-day operations of one or multiple teams and ensure teams meet performance, service quality and service delivery expectations.
• Resolve complex and highly variable issues with significant departmental impact.
• Oversee the volume, quality, integrity, timeliness and delivery of complex deliverables.
• Analyze issues with transaction capture and related functions where direction is needed, and actions must be recommended/taken.
• Develop and implement operational policies and procedures to support a range of internal and external clients and ensure that essential procedures are followed and contribute to defining workflow standards.
• Oversee performance of operational activities and define, develop, implement and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to meet Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, client service, risk and control, and cost reduction and implement process improvements.
• Conduct discovery and due diligence activities with clients to solve complex client queries.
• Contribute to the objectives and goals of the Transfer Agency operations in the region and globally.
• Appropriately assess risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating particular consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding Citigroup, its clients and assets, by driving compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, adhering to Policy, applying sound ethical judgment regarding personal behavior, conduct and business practices, and escalating, managing
  and reporting control issues with transparency, as well as effectively supervise the activity of others and create accountability with those who fail to maintain these standards.

The following aspects of the role are also important:

• Control Environment:
  The candidate will be expected to identify issues or inefficiencies within the team or operational processes and to build a strong, controlled working environment, concentrating on error prevention and mitigation.

• Relationship and Network Building:
  The candidate will also be expected to focus on building relationships with outsourced TA vendors and other outsourced Citi locations that perform tasks on behalf of SG TA, clients and other business partners both internally and externally. The candidate will act as the Transfer Agency Single Point of Contact for outsourced vendors and processing sites performing TA responsibilities on behalf of SG TA and its clients and will require strong skill sets and experience in respect of:
  1. Acting as key relationship and escalation point for outsourced vendors/other Citi locations across all TA functions, taking end-to-end responsibility for the TA relationship.
  2. Manage client change with internal/external business partners to ensure strong governance and a controlled change environment
  3. Engage in proactive added-value communication with the vendors/other Citi locations, and conduct briefings within TA to build awareness across teams.
  4. Understand the requirements of oversight governance and risk control of 3rd party outsourced functions and the importance of adhering to regulatory obligations.

Development value:
This is an ideal position for a candidate with strong TA experience who wishes to excel in their career in the fund services and fund administration space, particularly in relation to client servicing and relationship management, back office support and oversight governance of outsourced/offshored functions & activities.
The role will also present opportunities for involvement in departmental and inter-departmental initiatives which are outside day-to-day BAU tasks.
The role will provide opportunity for the candidate to participate in cross-functional initiatives, and being part of the regional/global management team within TA operations and across Funds Administration.

Knowledge / Experience:
The candidate should have at least over 5 years of working experience and preferably within Transfer Agency operations or in a Transfer Agency support role e.g. Transfer Agency change and project management role. Having an industry knowledge of Transfer Agency services and its operations in Singapore/APAC region as well as having an extensive industry experience in fund administration space is a benefit.

Skills & Competencies:
In addition to a strong knowledge of TA operations and the Funds Industry as outlined above, the candidate also needs to display strong interpersonal skills, communication skills, and time management skills. The candidate also needs to be able to work independently on projects or sub-sets of projects and effectively represent the TA function operationally. Due to the nature of the function where governance and oversight of outsourced/offshored activities are necessary, the candidate should have strong regulatory and compliance background and a good understanding of local regulatory obligations and requirements.

Key Competencies:

• Delivery of high-quality service to internal and external customers;
• Manage the delivery of the team’s tasks in a timely, accurate and in a controlled environment, ensuring priority items are identified and dealt with in a prompt manner.
• Display effective organization skills in order to manage competing priorities.
• Liaise effectively with other parties, both internally and externally and communicate in a professional manner at all times.
• Represent the TA business in a competent and professional manner with external vendors and clients.
• Represent the TA business in periodic / regular service calls with external vendors and outsource business partners
• Provide an excellent standard of service to our clients both internally and externally.
• Identify and assume ownership of issues;
• Take responsibility for assigned tasks and prioritize to ensure expectations are met.
• Co-ordinate and maintain a calendar of tasks for the team, ensuring the team meets the agreed deadlines.
• Co-ordinate or act as TA representative on larger projects, as requested.
• Become actively involved in the development of the business by involvement in initiatives such as new business take-on.
• Implement effective risk awareness within the team, ensuring each member of the team adheres to all documented controls.

Self-management skills:

• Ability to build a strong and trusted working relationship with your team and colleagues
• Completion of all assigned trainings and management of your own training path by identifying personal training needs and opportunities.

Qualifications:

• Candidates should be educated to 3rd level. Professional qualifications are preferred but not mandatory
• 5 - 8 years of experience, preferably in a related role
• Subject Matter Expert in multiple or specific skill sets, business areas or products preferred
• Demonstrated project management skills
• Ability to work under pressure and manage deadlines
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Consistently demonstrates clear and concise written and verbal communication
• Attention to detail and intermediate problem solving skills

------------------------------------------------------

Job Family Group:

Operations - Transaction Services

------------------------------------------------------

Job Family:

Cash Management

------------------------------------------------------

Time Type:

Full time

------------------------------------------------------

Most Relevant Skills

Please see the requirements listed above.

------------------------------------------------------

Other Relevant Skills

For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.

------------------------------------------------------

Citi is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

 

If you are a person with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to use our search tools and/or apply for a career opportunity review Accessibility at Citi.

View Citi’s EEO Policy Statement and the Know Your Rights poster.