Head of Fund Administration, Europe

Role Purpose

• The Senior Product Manager, Fund Accounting role is a key member of the Global Fund Services product team. The role will primarily focus on driving the development of the fund accounting and administration product with specific responsibilities for the development of the product roadmap, the definition of the product proposition and supporting the associated business operating models for various client segments in Europe. While the job holder will focus more on Europe, the Fund Services locations servicing these product groups are located in the two main regions of Asia and Europe, so the job holder must work closely with colleagues across these locations to ensure that the strategic change initiatives and tactical enhancements to the Fund Administration product are delivered to meet the evolving needs of the business, to time and on budget.
• The role will include client engagement, analyzing client requirements, designing solutions/operating model and working with the project team on implementation.
• As with all product roles, the ability of the job-holder to work effectively and in partnership with the regional entities in the business is a key success factor.

Principal Accountabilities:  Key activities and decision-making areas

Market and Product Strategy

• Drive the development and maintenance of a strategy and associated roadmap for Fund Administration and develop this cohesively with relevant stakeholders.

• Assist in shaping broader segment strategy for various client segments and work on initiatives linked to the strategy.
• Identify new and enhanced global product opportunities, providing input to market/product strategy initiatives.

Product Management

• Build and strengthen product management function for Fund Administration, especially in Europe.
• Assist in segment management initiatives, working with colleagues in Europe and Asia.
• Prepare product pricing strategies and maintain product rate cards.
• In conjunction with IT, align the FA product architecture and design to the IT architectural blueprint.
• Design and maintain global service definition documentation and relevant elements of sales collateral
• Establish and maintain relationships with key senior individuals in the media, together with relevant industry bodies, regulators, consultants, competitor organisations, software vendors and appropriate other third parties. Use input to contribute to product development and product management processes.
• Provide thought leadership both internally and externally through promotion of best practices, interaction with trade publications, speaking on public trade forums, client user groups etc.
• Maintain an awareness of market and competitor developments and position and differentiate the FA offering relative to the competition.

Sales and Business Development Support

• Work closely with the Sales and Business Development team on various client pitches, RFPs, due diligence meetings and other discussions/negotiations
• Produce and update marketing and sales collateral on an ongoing basis
• Active involvement in industry award submissions, surveys, pitches and other market-related initiatives
• Engage with top clients on product proposition / requirements and take feedback as input into product development
• Provide support for client onboarding, where required, from a product perspective (e.g. operating model design, solutions to bespoke requirements etc.)

Business P&L Management

• Manage the input to the annual budgeting process for FA, including identification of business priorities for investment in systems.
• Ensure product profitability targets are met and that unit cost reductions are achieved as per plan.

Leadership & Teamwork

Work with various team members within FA Product, broader Product team and also other key stakeholders including Senior Business Management, Service Delivery, SBD and CMD/IT to build solutions as per requirements.

Operational Effectiveness & Control

Operating Model

• Design, maintain and enhance the operating models for Fund Administration, maximising the benefits available from global SSOs and regional Hub and Spoke structures.
• Build a scalable and global processing and IT infrastructure thereby maximising cost efficiencies.

Project Management

• Participate as key stakeholder and sponsor to tactical and strategic change programmes, ensuring requirements are accurately captured and solutions are effective in improving product profitability.
• Manage the product change control process for the platforms supporting Fund Administration, including preparation of business cases and feasibility studies and prioritization of change requests.

Business Applications

• In conjunction with IT, CMD (and Group Purchasing, when appropriate), manage relationships with software vendors, including commercial negotiations.
• Demonstrating an in-depth knowledge of the FA systems and strengths, relative to the competition.

Management of Risk (Operational Risk / FIM requirements)

The jobholder will ensure the fair treatment of our customers is at the heart of everything we do, both personally and as an organisation. This will be achieved by consistently displaying the behaviours required to support the Best Place to Bank principles of Make Better Products, Sell Them Properly and Keep Them Sold.

The jobholder will also continually reassess the operational risks associated with the role and inherent in the business, taking account of changing economic or market conditions, legal and regulatory requirements, operating procedures and practices, management restructurings, and the impact of new technology.

This will be achieved by ensuring all actions take account of the likelihood of operational risk occurring.

Also by addressing any areas of concern in conjunction with line management and/or the appropriate department.

Observation of Internal Controls (Compliance Policy / FIM requirements)

The jobholder will also adhere to and be able to demonstrate adherence to internal controls. This will be achieved by adherence to all relevant procedures, keeping appropriate records and, where appropriate, by the timely implementation of internal and external audit points, including issues raised by external regulators.

The jobholder will implement the Group compliance policy by containing compliance risk in liaison with Global Head of Compliance, Global Compliance Officer, Area Compliance Officer or Local Compliance Officer. The term ‘compliance’ embraces all relevant financial services laws, rules and codes with which the business has to comply.

 This will be achieved by adhering to all relevant processes/procedures and by liaising with Compliance department about new business initiatives at the earliest opportunity. Also and when applicable, by ensuring adequate resources are in place and training is provided, fostering a compliance culture and optimising relations with regulators.

Knowledge & Experience / Qualifications

• Very strong operational experience in the financial services industry working directly on fund administration services (at least 8-10 years).
• Demonstrates an in-depth knowledge of the securities market and the associated market infrastructure.
• Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the funds industry and in particular FA product.
• Demonstrates a solid grasp of the technology and systems supporting the product with direct knowledge of core Fund Administration platforms.
• Strategic mind-set, with strong conceptual, creative and analytical content.
• Energetic, results focused, change agent, with a strong work ethic.
• Strong organisation, multi-tasking and time management skills
• Personal qualities of stability, maturity and leadership. Team player and people motivator.
• First class interpersonal, collaborative, relationship building and influencing skills.
• Excellent communicator, both verbally and in writing, with strong presentation skills.
• Bachelor’s Degree Accounting & Finance or professional accounting qualification ACCA, CIMA etc

Being open to different points of view is important for our business and the communities we serve. At HSBC, we’re dedicated to creating diverse and inclusive workplaces - no matter their gender, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or age. We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring careers at HSBC are inclusive and accessible for everyone to be at their best. We take pride in being a Disability Confident Leader and will offer an interview to people with disabilities, long term conditions or neurodivergent candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the role.

If you have a need that requires accommodations or changes during the recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Helpdesk:

Telephone: +44 207 832 8500