Investment Services Platform Analyst

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Job description

Who we're looking for
You will work in partnership with the Technology teams to define and deliver functionality outside Aladdin where specific requirements / services levels cannot be met by Aladdin. Whilst driving scalability and efficiency improvements, reducing cost and complexity in the operating model. Understand business requirements and propose options that allow the Accounting & Performance teams to extract the greatest value from Aladdin Accounting. Ensuring you focus on data quality - ensure processes are aligned to maintain appropriate standard, reducing operational risk.

About Schroders
We're a global investment manager. We help institutions, intermediaries and individuals around the world invest money to meet their goals, fulfil their ambitions, and prepare for the future.

We have around 5,000 people on six continents. And we've been around for over 200 years, but keep adapting as society and technology changes. What doesn't change is our commitment to helping our clients, and society, prosper.

The base
We moved into our new HQ in the City of London in 2018. We're close to our clients, in the heart of the UK's financial centre. And we have everything we need to work flexibly.

The team
The Investment Services Platform Team reports to the Investment COO with a global remit. The team provides support to the Investment teams and other groups operating on the investment platform. Investment Services Platform Team works with teams across Schroders to support both business-as-usual operations and change. Aladdin by BlackRock Solutions (BRS) is a critical part of the investment platform. Ensuring effective communication with and governance of the relationship with BRS is a central responsibility of the Investment Services Platform team.

What you'll do
• Partner with Accounting and Performance teams operating on the investment platform, with primary focus on Aladdin Accounting. This involves establishing a deep knowledge of Aladdin Accounting functionality used by all teams and working closely with Global Technology, Operations and BRS to provide comprehensive solutions.
• Define operating requirements for BAU, new business, new products, and new instruments.
• Support resolution of any relevant operational issues with other process owners (both 'upstream' and 'downstream') as they arise
• Manage the escalation of support issues with BRS and internal teams.
• Oversee and report performance against agreed service levels.
• Provide input into strategic platform enhancements and target operating model definition.
• Challenge thinking and innovate - identify potential efficiency gains deriving from process re-engineering/process automation & org structure/best use of resources
• Promote consistency and reduce complexity across mandates and processes with a view to streamlining and reducing exceptions
• Assist in the definition of new business requirements and the design of new processes
• Work in partnership with Technology Teams and Investment business teams on the development of any in-house built technology/decommissioning of legacy systems
• Maximise the benefits available in Aladdin Accounting and clearly communicate enhancements/roadmap development items where there are gaps in Aladdin capabilities which are being fulfilled through user defined tools and operational processes.
• Provide support to other areas across the team where demand dictates

The knowledge, experience and qualifications you need
• Experience working in an asset manager or similar organisation, ideally with strong knowledge of accounting, performance and operations.
• Familiarity with broad range of investment products and instruments.
• Experience with Aladdin (Accounting).
• Confidence to engage in discussions with colleagues across the investment, operations, change and technology functions. It is important to be able to challenge and direct discussions as part of this.
• Strong understanding of business processes, technology and data management as part of the investment lifecycle.
• Problem solving ability within a complex environment.
• Ability to negotiate pragmatic solutions that meet conflicting business requirements.
• Good technical knowledge and ability to translate between IT and the business.
• Ability to define and document business requirements to a high standard. Experience with the appropriate methods and tools (i.e., BPML/UML hosting workshops, process flows, Visio).
• Experience of full project life cycle including defining user requirements, defining test scenarios and user acceptance testing.
• Strong inter-personal and organisational skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to operate under pressure and deliver to demanding deadlines

We're looking for the best, whoever they are

Schroders is an equal opportunities employer. You're welcome here whatever your socio-economic background, race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious belief, age or disability.