Specialist, Product Control & Middle Office

JOB SUMMARY

The Specialist Product Control is responsible for the adoption of adequate risk management controls, compliance & sustainability, oversighting of key activities and implementation of projects. The Specialist will ensure to work in close association with coverage and various cross functional teams to mitigate various investment risks and rebalance in accordance with the banks policies. Additionally, they are held accountable to ensure the bank’s practices are precisely executed in accordance with the legislation and industry standards.

Under this role, analyzing the assets held under management (AUM) for Elite & Private Banking is channelized through the creation of the MIS report. In continuance, various ad hoc reports is created to suit the demanding requirements of senior management enabling key decisions and business strategies to be based from this report. This function correspondingly works long with financial control team to ensure appropriate accounting with Central Finance Team for AUM and revenue recognition.

Establishment of various business processes and ensuring that the process execution is aligned with audit and compliance requirements. Identifying of existing business laps and providing corrective measures to mitigate any incidence or risk.

The Product Control team acts as an independent control function warranting compliance to Target Operating Model in terms the integrity of investment related products set up alongside valuation of existing products. Specialist maintains the oversight on E2E life cycle of the product and recommends enhancement depending on any dynamic requirements rising due to change in banking policy/market/regulatory body.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Contribution

• Solely responsible for creating the monthly Asset under Management MIS report covering multiple source systems with multiple levels of sanity checks and amendment to ensure data accuracy.
• Analysis with respect to the movement in AUM demonstrated in the report and providing sufficient evidence on the current positions for Elite & Private banking.
• Responsible to manage product database (as single source of all investment products) as golden source of product categorization including various parameters.
• Coordinate to ensure availability of Wealth dash board for management to envisage portfolio 360 view across various business parameters.
• Supports in various transformational IT projects – in a role of Business representative for UAT, data migration and cut over projects and other related transformation projects.
• Actively participate in decision making processes during implementation of various bank wide projects within EPB business.
• Responsible for coordination in training for EPB process implementation.
• Monitoring and ensuring the complete settlement of all end to end trade lifecycle.
• Actively responding back on all investment and trade related queries internally & externally (Counter parties)
  

People Management

• Engage/collaborate bank wide stakeholders to contribute in establishing E2E product/process as applicable to EPB business.
• Point of escalation for teams coordinating with TED with respect to booking of trades.
• Engage and coordinate with various ops teams for execution/settlement/client reporting related issues
• Point of contact and communication channel with various platform/product providers (Allfunds, Indian banks, Global Market & counterparties etc.).
• Engage coverage team in investment product knowledge, set up, valuation and reporting and to help the business to address client complaints/queries.
  

Budgeting and Financial Planning

• Coordination with Central Finance team/Business Management with tracking of product profitability and vis-à-vis to RM revenue which provides required input in making appropriate budgetary activities.
  

Policies, Systems, Processes & Procedures

• Go through with local regulatory requirements and anticipating what is needed.
• Make policies and processes in line with local and applicable regulations along with bank wide stakeholders.
• Monitor established due diligence and E2E product process and recommend improvements to appropriate stakeholders.
• Day to day management of intra-bank stakeholders and third-party entities that deal with FAB
• Lead in new product set up and maintenance, review product approval, product risk ratings and manage valuation policy.
• Provide guidance and support to the team to enhance/build governance and operational framework around sourcing, select, structuring/development of investment products and solutions.
• Lead and engage in completion of various critical projects to improve efficiency of the business workflow resulting in superior customer satisfaction.
  

Lead Generation and Sales Management

• This function is not directly related to customer facing activities and therefore, it is de-scoped.
  

Sales Velocity and Process Control

• Engage/collaborate bank wide stakeholders to contribute in establishing E2E product/process as applicable to PB & Elite
• Process creation and amendments as and when required in order to bring efficiency based on coverage feedback.
• Provide guidance for client servicing of omnibus investment deals and address any investment related issues with coverage.
  

Customer Relationship Management

• Managing coverage queries and complaints which stems from client complaints and provide them with appropriate direction
• Be the point of escalation for dissemination of daily product valuations through appropriate modes
• Ensure availability of product documents through intranet including various investment tools (yield calculator etc.)
• Guidance in analysing operational loss incidents to suggest remedial actions to Business Heads for suitable closure
• Analysis and maintenance of investment product portfolio (AUM and revenue)
• Coordinate for coverage in products and process training
• Point of escalation for coverage with interim client reporting/client P&L/ occasional retrieval of call back and due diligence document
• Provide guidance and coordinate through escalation on investment deals that are processed through multiple back offices (Wealth Ops, AMO, TBO, Custody Ops, Fund Admin Ops, CAD)
  

Internal Collaboration

• Coordinate with PBG MIS team in preparing various KPI related reports
• Provide solutions to wide varieties of issues involving operation, accounts, reconciliation and IT system issues by engaging appropriate stakeholders through active decision making.
• Manage set up of Custody on boarding and to act as communication channel for Elite & Private Banking, ensuring customer details are aligned with core banking data with timely update.
• Collaborating with various cross functional teams and overseas bank ensuring smooth repatriation of funds so as to secure the optimal rate to minimise loss on client’s investment.
  

Continuous Improvement

• The position requires to work towards continuous upgrade with respect to new investment ideas, product and process change, law and regulation changes, delivery of new IT solution impacting the areas of business.
• Participation in various bank driven online learning programs and initiatives to improve EPB products, process and efficiency in delivery of services and transformation activities.
• Invest personal time in gaining higher qualifications in the fields of “Investment”.
  

Specific Accountability

• To substantiate the incidence & operational losses and validate with respective cross functional team prior to initiate settlement.
• Monitoring the collection of fees from clients holding investment under custody and coordinate with custody to provide alternative solutions in recovering fees that remain outstanding.
• Validation and sanity check of daily prices prior to price upload in the wealth suite reflecting the client’s investment market values.
• To participate in implementation and conduct of UAT test for various wealth management products as and when required.
  

REQUIREMENTS / QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualification

• Educated to a minimum of bachelor's in business administration / commerce/ economics/Banking or Finance.
• Ability to operate independently and positively motivate a team.
  

Minimum Experience

• Minimum of 5+ years of experience in combined fields of investment product, finance, accounts, IT and project management roles.
  

Advanced Knowledge of

• The investment management business, product structures and investment processes, trade and settlement processes
• Good Knowledge of retail banking and brokerage model.
  

Specific Skill in

• High order reasoning and decision-making, involving the interpretation of product program, audit and compliance policies for investment.
• Working knowledge of system development life cycle (SLDC) and software implementation including hands on experience of systems like Bloomberg, Advent, core banking system, wealth management systems
• Proven track record of successfully leading projects till the end with strong Project management skills.
  

Ability to

• Organize, prioritize, manage, and track multiple detailed tasks and assignments, including those delegated, to complete work efficiently.
• Ability to work with multiple teams and if requires to lead a team
• Demonstrate positive attitude, excellent relationship skills and networking with counterparties
• Accountable for deadlines, attention to detail and delivery driven
• Operate independently with least amount of supervision
• Coach and train team colleagues to enable them to grow within the organization