Associate Director - Private Markets Operations / Debt Funds

Associate Director - Private Markets Operations / Debt Funds - 14mth FTC - OUR CLIENT are a renowned, established real estate investment management business with a growing £multi-billion AUM Real Estate portfolio under management. They operate worldwide within public and private investments and have instructed us to help them hire an experienced qualified Accountant at Associate Director level for their Private Markets Operations on a contract basis to cover all aspects of financial, management and performance reporting for a growing portfolio of private debt investments including segregated mandates, pooled vehicles and related sub-entities domiciled in the UK and Luxembourg. As an Associate Director - Private Markets Operations you will be required to manage and supervise two financial accountants as well as the external fund administrator, also ensuring that all accounting and reporting is completed accurately and within deadlines and provide operational support to the Private Debt investment teams.

THE ROLE: as the Associate Director - Private Markets Operations you will adhere to the FCA's Conduct Rules, understanding that they set basic standards of good personal conduct and you will be expected to undertake below listed, but not limited duties:

• Developing appropriate finance and operational procedures in relation to a multi-currency and rapidly growing portfolio of private debt strategies currently incorporating real estate debt and direct lending, representing the team at internal working groups and co-ordinating with multiple internal stakeholders to include contacts in Legal, Tax, Client Relations, Performance and Product teams, including working with operations colleagues to ensure associated procedure documents are regularly reviewed and updated.
• Communicating regularly with the Private Debt front office investment teams on finance and operational matters in relation to the funds under management, including providing support and guidance in relation to a broad range of issues such as fund closings, investor reporting, leverage and foreign exchange hedging.
• Managing the relationship between the company and the external administrators, including chairing daily meetings to review progress on key deliverables, bi - weekly meetings with the relationship manager and quarterly service review meetings to monitor KPIs.
• Managing the production of all financial and management reporting for the private debt strategies to include monthly and quarterly NAVs, management accounts, performance analysis and investor reports, including overseeing the coordination of the annual audit process for all entities in the Fund structures including liaising with auditors and supervising the production and timely filing of financial statements by the administrator.
• Taking responsibility for internal audits and external annual controls audits.
• Managing the relationship with HFMIL from a Direct Lending Ops perspective, including presenting to the Irish Board on a quarterly basis on the performance of the third- party administrators and the Depositary.
• Liaising with the Irish ManCO Funds Designated Person, ensuring all issues are notified/escalated in a timely fashion.
• Providing appropriate transactional support to the private debt investment teams including project management and liaison with internal and external stakeholders, including assisting with the successful on-boarding of new private debt products and funds by the team and the introduction of new investors into the existing fund vehicles, including oversight of equalisation calculations.
• Coordinating with the tax department to ensure all aspects of regular tax compliance on the existing portfolio are performed on a timely and accurate basis and that tax structuring considerations on new investments are appropriate.
• Managing two direct reports, delegating work appropriately and ensuring this is produced accurately to high standards and in accordance with any deadlines.
• Assisting with investor queries, RFPs, due diligence and ad-hoc requests.
• Taking the lead on the direct lending projects from an operational perspective e. new fund launches, third party providers, systems.

THE PERSON: as an Associate Director - Private Markets Operations you will use your judgement and experience in handling a broad range of issues. To be successful with your application, you also will be expected:

• To hold a relevant accounting qualification e. ACA, ACCA and a strong accounting acumen with knowledge of IFRS and Lux GAAP.
• Have 5+ years post-qualification experience.
• Have Direct Lending and/or Private Markets experience.
• Have managed a portfolio within an investment management or administrator environment.
• Have experience managing a team (direct reports and/or outsourced function).

THE BENEFITS:

• Hybrid working
• Excellent collegiate and supportive environment
• Strong benefits suite.
• Employer of choice.

This is an exciting job opportunity for a confident and professional individual, with keen attention to detail and a demonstrable commitment to high achievement to join this well-known company and be part of a successful team.