Head of UCITS Fund Structuring

Job Description

Purpose of the role

To develop and manage the success of specific financial products and services, providing in-depth expertise on a particular product line, bridging the gap between product development, marketing, sales, and customer service. 

Accountabilities

• Provision of SME expertise on specific products and services to customers and colleagues, including features, functionalities, benefits, limitations, risks and compliance.
• Identification of market trends, new features, regulatory requirements and potential risks, and analysis of data obtained from sales figures and, customer feedback, to support the product development process, and communicate key findings to relevant stakeholders to improve product offerings.
• Response to customer inquiries, resolution of issues, and provision of guidance on product usage.  .
• Presentation of the advantages and features of the product to potential customers, building trust and encouraging adoption.
• Assistance with the development and execution of marketing materials for the product, such as brochures, presentations, and online content.
• Participation in training sessions and workshops to share product knowledge and expertise with colleagues and other stakeholders.
• Participation in events, conferences, and other networking opportunities to showcase the product and generate interest.

Vice President Expectations

• To contribute or set strategy, drive requirements and make recommendations for change. Plan resources, budgets, and policies; manage and maintain policies/ processes; deliver continuous improvements and escalate breaches of policies/procedures..
• If managing a team, they define jobs and responsibilities, planning for the department’s future needs and operations, counselling employees on performance and contributing to employee pay decisions/changes. They may also lead a number of specialists to influence the operations of a department, in alignment with strategic as well as tactical priorities, while balancing short and long term goals and ensuring that budgets and schedules meet corporate requirements..
• If the position has leadership responsibilities, People Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others..
• OR for an individual contributor, they will be a subject matter expert within own discipline and will guide technical direction. They will lead collaborative, multi-year assignments and guide team members through structured assignments, identify the need for the inclusion of other areas of specialisation to complete assignments. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions..
• Advise key stakeholders, including functional leadership teams and senior management on functional and cross functional areas of impact and alignment.
• Manage and mitigate risks through assessment, in support of the control and governance agenda.
• Demonstrate leadership and accountability for managing risk and strengthening controls in relation to the work your team does.
• Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the organisation functions to contribute to achieving the goals of the business.
• Collaborate with other areas of work, for business aligned support areas to keep up to speed with business activity and the business strategies.
• Create solutions based on sophisticated analytical thought comparing and selecting complex alternatives. In-depth analysis with interpretative thinking will be required to define problems and develop innovative solutions.
• Adopt and include the outcomes of extensive research in problem solving processes.
• Seek out, build and maintain trusting relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders in order to accomplish key business objectives, using influencing and negotiating skills to achieve outcomes.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.

As Head of UCITS Fund Structuring, you’ll will be responsible for the successful delivery of a dynamic portfolio of fund launches, changes and closures. Providing access of our investment IP through unitised solutions is a key part of our investment toolkit and the In-House Funds business is responsible for the front-to-back delivery of this capability. The funds business has approximately £7b in AUM issued from fund platforms based in United Kingdom, Ireland, Luxembourg.  The product set that encompasses both multi-asset and single asset class solutions implemented either passively, via allocations to 3rd party active managers or through our own security selection processes.

The Funds team is responsible for all aspects of the funds’ delivery including product structuring and management, distribution via engagement with various Barclays propositions, commercial outcomes and pricing and platform maintenance and governance.

To be successful in this role, you’ll have:

• Significant experience in financial services, with experience in structuring/product development within the fund’s domain
• Technical background (to understand, explain and prepare documentation on funds and strategies.
• Expert knowledge of UCITS funds – investment and structural considerations
• Experience in asset management or investment management industry in similar role
• Experience of managing regulatory change
• A pro-active and dynamic personality; an ability to work collaboratively with a diverse range of people is essential.
• Assimilates new material quickly, is able to learn about different parts of the business and adapt thinking to new situations.
• Inquisitive, thorough, with an attention to detail is also essential.  Persistent in moving towards a conclusion.
• Details oriented and able to dive deep into strategy/regulation details.

Desirable skills include:

• Understanding of retail investment value chain including how execution-only, advice and discretionary propositions can co-exist.

You may be assessed on the key critical skills relevant for success in role, such as risk and controls, change and transformation, business acumen strategic thinking and digital and technology, as well as job-specific technical skills.

Location: Canary Wharf, London