Operations Manager at Prescient

Purpose of role:

• The Operations Manager is responsible for running, governing and future-fitting the Investment Operations function within Prescient Investment Management. This role sets and enforces the operational standards, policies, controls and service rhythms that enable seamless delivery across the investment lifecycle, including trade oversight, NAV and reconciliation oversight, operational query management, vendor governance, transition management support and operational data handoffs.
• The role works closely with the COO to implement a scalable, well-governed operating model across Investment Operations and its interfaces with Finance, Compliance, Technology, Client Solutions, the Investment Team and Prescient Fund Services. The Operations Manager is expected to lead the system, not sit inside every day-to-day issue: daily technical escalations and trade-cycle complexity are managed by the Investment Operations Team Lead, while the Operations Manager ensures that the right structures, people, controls, SLAs, policies and reporting disciplines are in place.
• This is a key leadership role in the evolution from a traditional “Middle Office” construct to a defined Investment Operations function, with clear accountability for operational excellence, risk reduction, process discipline, vendor performance and automation-led improvement.

Duties and responsibilities:
Investment Operations oversight and governance

• Accountable for setting and continuously improving the operational standards, policies and controls that govern the Investment Operations function, including reconciliation performance, NAV accuracy, audit readiness and operational risk management.

Leadership of the Investment Operations function

• Lead, develop and performance-manage the Investment Operations team, building a culture of ownership, accountability and continuous improvement. Ensure operational knowledge is distributed and key-person dependencies are actively managed.

PFS and vendor governance

• Govern the structural relationship with Prescient Fund Services, including SLA performance, service quality and escalation management. Ensure day-to-day PFS interactions are managed through the Team Lead, with the Operations Manager focused on governance and standards.

Query management and workflow discipline

• Own the query management framework for Investment Operations, ensuring all queries are routed, allocated, tracked and resolved through formal channels within agreed service levels.

Finance partnership: AUM, flows and MIS

• Own the data-handoff interface with Finance for AUM, net flows, fee inputs and MIS reporting, maintaining a formal protocol that ensures accuracy, timeliness and reconciliation.

Operational risk, controls and compliance interface

• Drive continuous improvement of controls and oversight mechanisms, and ensure Investment Operations provides the operational evidence, data and support required by Compliance, Legal and governance structures.

Technology, automation and operating model improvement

• Identify and sponsor automation and efficiency opportunities across the function, and partner with Technology and Data to build the dashboards, tooling and workflow infrastructure needed for a scalable operating model.

Stakeholder management and business interface

• Maintain effective working relationships across the COO, Investment Team, Client Solutions, Finance, Compliance, Technology and PFS. Maintain clear boundaries around Investment Operations' mandate and act as the escalation point for structural operational issues.

Required experience:

• 7–10 years’ experience in investment operations or an equivalent operational leadership role within asset management.
• Strong understanding of outsourced fund administration models and the relationship between asset managers and fund administrators.
• Fixed income and OTC instrument knowledge is essential.
• Proven experience in people management, team leadership, performance management and capability development.
• Strong experience in policy drafting, process design, operational controls and governance frameworks.
• Experience managing operational risk, service delivery, SLAs, audits, reporting processes and cross-functional stakeholder relationships.
• Experience with query management, workflow tooling, reporting governance or operational transformation would be advantageous.

Required Qualifications:

• A relevant tertiary qualification is required, preferably in Commerce, Finance, Accounting, Business Science, Investments or a related field (e.g. BCom, BBusSci, Accounting, or Finance).
• Additional qualifications or certifications in investment operations, asset management, risk, compliance, project management, data, process improvement or operational excellence would be advantageous.

Key competencies:

• System builder: Designs, governs and improves operational systems rather than only executing tasks.
• Policy discipline: Drafts clear, practical and implementable policies and ensures consistent adherence.
• Finance partnership: Understands AUM, flows and fee calculation inputs well enough to own the Operations/Finance data interface.
• Client orientation: Understands reporting quality, query turnaround and operational accuracy as important parts of the client experience.
• Structured problem solving: Applies root-cause analysis and sustainable fixes rather than short-term workarounds.
• People leadership: Builds capability, gives honest feedback, manages performance and develops talent.
• Technology engagement: Actively identifies automation opportunities and engages credibly with workflow tooling, dashboards and data-enabled operating models.
• Governance mindset: Proactively builds controls, accountability, escalation paths and audit-ready evidence.
• Stakeholder management: Works effectively across Investment Operations, Finance, Compliance, Technology, Client Solutions, Investment Team and external service providers.
• Calm execution under pressure: Maintains structure, accountability and clear communication during operational incidents or high-pressure delivery cycles.