Operations Director

**Director, Total Plan Data Operations RSA**
Data Operations - Cape Winelands, Western Cape

**About The Company”**
Our client is a global, market-leading provider of data and analytics solutions for investors. With over 30 years of expertise in alternative investments, they offer unrivaled data, analytics, and transparency that enable asset owners, asset managers, and financial intermediaries to evaluate and manage complex portfolios.

**About the role**:
The Director of Total Plan (‘TP’) Data Operations, South Africa is a newly created role that will be responsible for the overall management of TP data operation functions performed in the South African office(s) which includes Document Management, Hedge Fund Data and Accounting Data teams, currently consisting of approximately 50 team members. This role will ensure in-country goals and deliverables are achieved and team members meet and exceed required operational standards. This role will focus on implementing and promoting strategies that improve data quality and expand data coverage, as well as planning and implementing the globally data strategy.

**Key Responsibilities**:
The Director of TP Data Operations, South Africa will be responsible for:
Production Throughput
- Managing local workflow and reduce bottlenecks by ensuring resources are effectively deployed across teams and obstacles are eliminated/reduced.
- Enhancing management reporting (KPIs & KRIs) primarily focused on operational metrics (e.g., accuracy, timeliness, workloads, error reporting) as well as staffing metrics.
- Error reporting by incorporating (i) root cause analysis, (ii) review of applicable controls and (iii) remedial action (immediate corrective action + action required to avoid re-occurrence).
- Driving ownership and accountability among team members by ensuring roles are clearly defined, responsibilities are suitability delegated and frequent performance feedback is being provided.
- Eliminating potential barriers between teams by ensuring that the key deliverables and pressure points within each of the different functional areas are fully understood by all team members, processes are optimally aligned across teams and that there is a uniform and consistent approach to team management.
- Promoting a culture of risk management within the wider team via team meetings, performance goals, staff incentives, etc.
- Implementing a risk management framework to monitor control execution, including the regular review of procedures and job descriptions, training register, meeting minutes, error logs, etc.

Processes
- Ensuring work processes are properly defined, documented, and understood by team members.
- Meet/exceed internal SLA requirements.
- Ensuring policies are properly implemented and monitored for compliance.
- Working with team leaders, SMEs, and managers to explore opportunities streamlining workflow processes and driving efficiency gains across the operation.
- Ensuring projects are adequately staffed to support timely execution.
- Promoting a culture of “working smarter” via team meetings, performance goals, incentives, etc.

Country Objectives
- Collaborate with management and in-country team leads and team members to ensure all country objectives are met and exceeded.
- Ensure an appropriate organizational structure is in place and modified with requirement changes.
- Ensure compliance with company policies, standard operating procedures, relevant legislation, and regulatory requirements.
- Work with local HR to define and promote office values and, by extension, culture.

**Required Qualifications and Experience**:

- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting, or related field preferable _(Honours/Masters is advantageous)_
- Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in financial services _(Investment Book of Record or Marketable Securities transparency is essential)_
- Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in managing teams with an emphasis in people management and team development
- Deep understanding of public equities and global financial markets
- CFA or CAIA advantageous

**Required Skills & Attributes**:

- Proven data-driven analytical skills and comfort working in data-rich business environments.
- Strong ability to communicate and collaborate with business and technical audiences.
- Outstanding verbal and written communication skills with excellent time management, project management and people management skills.
- Self-motivated and able to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- Detail oriented, with the ability to think and act strategically.

**Life at the company**:
Working at our client, you can expect:

- Hybrid working
- Competitive salary
- Medical aid cover
- Pension enrolment
- Group risk benefits
- Employee Assistance Program
- Tuition reimbursement
- Fun social and engagement calendar
- Corporate socially responsible employer