Chief Investment Officer

Job Title: Chief Investment Officer
Location: Whiteley (3x days on-site per week)
Salary/Rate: £900-1000 per day inside IR35
Start Date: Immediate start
Job Type: Initial 6 month contract

Company Introduction

We have an exciting opportunity now available with one of our sector-leading consultancy clients! They are currently looking for a skilled Chief Investment Officer to join their team in Whiteley.

Job Responsibilities/Objectives

• You will be responsible for leading the investment accounting and administration team, overseeing fund financial reporting, managing third-party outsourcers, and ensuring compliance with regulatory and statutory requirements. You will also support governance activities and provide expert advice on investment accounting for new products, systems, and fund transitions.
• The jobholder is responsible for developing and implementing accounting and/or financial management processes, procedures and systems within the scope of allocated responsibilities. They will also be required to review proposals and initiatives, suggest and make changes in procedures/systems
• Manage the provision of accurate and timely financial information to internal and external customers.
• Manage a range of advanced financial routines across a number of processes and procedures
• Have a good understanding of relevant group/statutory/regulatory/tax requirements and establish and maintain processes and controls to ensure compliance with these.
• Responsible for providing expert advice to business colleagues on issues relating to the area of expertise demonstrating judgement and an understanding of the relevant issues.
• Contribute to the education of staff within the team/department to improve understanding of financial reporting requirements
• To 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.
• Contribute to the provision of financial management and accounting service by investigating and resolving issues and anomalies occurring and report to line manager when appropriate
• Regularly review processes to improve efficiency and quality.
• Apply specialist accounting or finance skills, knowledge and expertise to ensure compliance with Group, statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Comply with Group Standards including, for example, maintenance of up to date procedures and adherence to clear desk policy, Awareness of the operational risk associated with the role
• To continually consider the FSA's principle of Consumer Duty.
• In conjunction with Compliance department, to implement the Group Compliance Policy by containing compliance risk in conjunction with the relevant compliance department. The term compliance embraces all relevant financial services laws, rules and codes with which the business has to comply.
• To adhere to and be able to demonstrate adherence to internal controls.
• To attend and contribute to governance meetings relating to the operation of the unit-linked funds. Secretary to the Investment Forum and Fund Pricing Committee.
• As the head of a finance team, lead the team to provide high quality service to the life insurance businesses.
• Responsible for all aspects of the development of direct reports. Ensure that resources are allocated to maximise efficiency and effectiveness within the functional team.
• Responsible for developing and managing key relationships with internal and external customers and suppliers. Provide specialist investment accounting support and advice. Evaluate complex proposals and influence the development of broader policy across the business.

Required Skills/Experience
The ideal candidate will have the following:

• In depth knowledge of investment accounting principles
• In depth knowledge of Investment Operations including Unit Pricing, Box Management and Valuation processes
• In depth knowledge of the financial services statutory and regulatory reporting requirements.
• In depth knowledge of financial control principles
• Evidence of successfully leading and managing an investment accounting team.
• Detailed knowledge of accounting within the life and pensions fund environment
• High level of technical investment accounting
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with ability to communicate well with all levels of staff, including senior and/or executive management. This should include evidence of influencing skills, required to ensure effective decision-making.
• Self-confidence and credibility to represent the department.
• Self-motivated and capable of working effectively as part of a team as well as leading and monitoring a team.
• IT literate.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply now with your updated CV in Microsoft Word/PDF format.

Disclaimer
Notwithstanding any guidelines given to level of experience sought, we will consider candidates from outside this range if they can demonstrate the necessary competencies.

Square One is acting as both an employment agency and an employment business, and is an equal opportunities recruitment business. Square One embraces diversity and will treat everyone equally. Please see our website for our full diversity statement.