121675-1 - New Business Consultant - Custody Transitions

New Business Consultant - Custody Transitions

• Contract: 12 Months 
• Start Date: Jan 2025 
• Hybrid Working: City of London
• Rate (inside IR35): £540 

Role

Responsible for managing Custody new business implementations. Acts as the focal point of contact for external and internal contacts prior to and throughout the transition. Works with the sales group and client servicing team to define the timetable for transition and associated tasks.

Principle Responsibilities

• Manages new business implementations for global custody clients by working with client, consultant, prior custodian and investment manager to establish guidelines for transition
• Serves as primary client contact on transition issues, communicating with client and others (i.e. consultants and investment managers) directly to provide information on requirements for transition
• Works with client and client servicing team to determine unique processing needs, and to translate those needs into procedures and documentation for various internal areas
• Participates in pre-implementation meetings, coordinating the needs of sales, operations and relationship staff to identify new or existing client needs
• Co-ordinates the client servicing and transition teams and establishes meetings to discuss ongoing servicing requirements
• Collects pertinent client information (i.e. asset lists, key contacts etc.) to ensure accurate account set up, distributing information to the appropriate internal areas
• Creates and maintains transition project plan
• Maintains and updates the new business timetable, including sales prospects, for senior transition and client servicing staff
• Participates in the sales process as a subject matter expert identifying prospect and client needs and producing / presenting transition delivery plans
• Ensures the overall success of the project, including milestones, deliverable dates and project scope.
• Responsible for the day-to-day execution of workstreams relevant to the overall project including Custody, plus for example, Risk & Performance. 
• Coordinates workstream activities across regions for global Custody projects.
• Provides leadership and direction to relevant workstream SMEs and BAs.
• Reports up to Project Manager(s) and Program Manager(s) when applicable, or the Steering Group.
• Works with regional resources to develop, plan and scope the project for respective workstreams.
• Accountable for the delivery of the custody workstream scope & plan to internal partners and the client.
• Identifies and reports on progress, issues, risks, resource constraints and needs of the workstream (s) to the Project Manager / Program Manager when applicable, or the Steering Group. Escalates where appropriate to the Steering Group.
• Key contact on the Custody project for the client, interested third parties and the steering group.
• Prepares, maintains and tracks the overall ‘onboarding schedule’.
• Manages changes to scope or plan, assessing any project risk, project planning and resourcing, and notifying the steering group to any impact on the project.
• Ensures all workstreams meet milestones through constant monitoring of the onboarding schedule and adherence to the governance documentation.
• Provides status reports on a regular and timely basis to all workstreams, the Project Manager / Program Manager when applicable, or the Steering Group and the Client. Includes commentary on items in the ‘onboarding schedule’. Updates to be provided on a weekly basis with the frequency of updates increasing as the migration approaches.

Skills Required

• Excellent organizational skills
• Good analytical and negotiation skills
• Project management skills are essential to direct implementation activities
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Good formal presentation skills
• Ability to put forward solutions as well as identify issues
• Pro-active approach with accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to work well under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Able to tackle additional responsibilities outside of immediate duties
• Proficient user of Microsoft Project, Visio, Powerpoint, Excel and Word

Qualifications

• Investment management qualifications would be advantageous

Experience

• Prior work experience is essential
• A good knowledge of Custody products and services, usually acquired through work related experience, is necessary to manage client requirements and expectations
• Knowledge of custody systems capabilities, usually, acquired through experience or formal training, is required to co-ordinate implementation of new business
• Organizational, analytical, negotiation and project management skills are essential to direct implementation activities, prioritize tasks and lead and / or work with transition and client servicing teams
• Knowledge of investment management operations gained within an asset management, fund accounting or similar environment
• Business analysis / project management experience gained within an asset management or similar environment, including experience of the entire project lifecycle through implementation