Senior Specialist, Investment Operation

The Global Middle Office team provides operational oversight and support across the investment trade lifecycle, including trade matching, settlements, post-settlement activities, cash management, and term loan processing. The team serves as a key liaison between Front Office, custodians, brokers, fund managers, and other internal and external stakeholders to ensure accurate, timely, and controlled execution of investment transactions.

The Global Middle Office Senior Specialist serves as the subject matter expert for one or more operational functions and is responsible for providing advanced operational support, driving issue resolution, mitigating operational risk, and promoting best practices. This position is accountable for ensuring accurate and timely processing, maintaining a strong control environment, supporting strategic initiatives, and enhancing operational efficiency through process improvements and knowledge sharing.

The role also acts as a key escalation point for complex operational issues, supports change initiatives and system implementations, and contributes to the development of team capability through training, documentation, and continuous improvement efforts.

Position Responsibilities:

•        Serve as the primary SME for assigned Investment Operations functions, including Trade Matching, Settlements, Post-Settlement activities, Cash Management, and Term Loans.

•         Perform and oversee daily operational activities, ensuring transactions are processed accurately, timely, and in accordance with established controls and procedures.

•         Investigate, resolve, and manage complex trade, cash, and settlement-related exceptions while minimizing operational and settlement risk.

•         Partner with Portfolio Managers, Traders, Custodians, Brokers, Fund Managers, Auditors, and internal stakeholders to resolve issues and maintain high service standards.

•         Act as an escalation point for operational incidents, critical business issues, and system-related challenges.

•         Lead root cause analysis activities and implement sustainable solutions to address recurring production issues.

•         Develop, maintain, and enhance operational procedures, controls, and process documentation.

•         Drive process improvement initiatives, automation opportunities, and data quality enhancements in collaboration with technology and business partners.

•         Support strategic projects, system implementations, migrations, testing activities, and operational readiness initiatives.

•         Provide coaching, training, and knowledge transfer to team members while promoting operational excellence and best practices.

•         Monitor operational risk indicators and proactively identify and address control gaps or workflow inefficiencies.

•         Provide timely communication and reporting of significant production updates, risks, and operational challenges to leadership.

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Role requirements:

1.Core Domain Experience

Must Have

• Minimum 5 years of experience in Trade Support, Middle Office, or Investment Operations.
• Advanced understanding of trade lifecycle management across multiple asset classes.
• Strong experience in settlements, cash management, term loans, reconciliations, and post-settlement activities.
• Experience working in a controlled and risk-sensitive operational environment.

2.Systems & Platform Expertise

Must Have

• High proficiency in Microsoft Office (word, excel, power point).  Power Platform tools and VBA knowledge is preferred. Business systems (Bloomberg, OMGEO CTM, Simcorp,

3.Technical & Functional Skills

Must Have

• Strong understanding of investment operations processes and controls.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to perform root cause analysis and implement sustainable solutions.

4.Regulatory, Risk & Control Knowledge

Must Have

Strong understanding of operational risk management and investment operations controls.

• Experience in audit-ready environments and control-focused operations.
  

5.Stakeholder Management & Communication

Must Have

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to effectively influence and engage stakeholders across multiple levels.

6.Team & Leadership Attributes

Must Have

• Demonstrated experience acting as a Subject Matter Expert.
• Experience delivering training, coaching, and knowledge transfer.

7.Behavioral Competencies

Must Have

• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Understands the concepts surrounding Trade Support functions and the Trade Life Cycle.

• Prior roles in Finance operating in similar domain
• Custodian portals) experience required.
• Knowledge in BBG, SCD, Custodian Portals is highly preferred.
• Experience with Aladdin, Power BI, Power Automate, VBA, Data visualization and reporting tools
• Experience supporting operational projects and process transformation initiatives.
• Strong data analysis and reporting capabilities.
• Working knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements impacting investment operations.
• Experience managing escalations and coordinating cross-functional issue resolution.
• Ability to lead initiatives and influence outcomes without direct management authority.
• Strong ownership, accountability, and decision-making skills.
• Proactive, adaptable, and continuous improvement mindset.
• Strong collaboration and relationship management skills.

Problems / Challenges

• Managing time-sensitive trade and settlement issues that may impact client portfolios and investment activities.
• Resolving complex operational breaks involving multiple external and internal stakeholders across different time zones.
• Balancing operational delivery while supporting projects, system enhancements, and process improvement initiatives.
• Identifying and mitigating settlement risks in changing market conditions.
• Supporting system migrations and technology transformation initiatives while maintaining BAU performance.
• Ensuring operational controls remain effective amidst evolving business requirements and regulatory expectations.

Position Dimensions (Organizational Impact):

• Supports investment operations activities across multiple asset classes and global markets.
• Acts as SME and escalation point for critical trade and cash management processes.
• Influences operational outcomes impacting trade settlement, cash movement, and investment servicing activities.
• Supports operational risk mitigation and contributes to reducing failed settlement exposure.
• Partners with internal and external stakeholders globally, including Front Office, Custodians, Brokers, Fund Managers, Auditors, and Technology teams.

Contributes to strategic initiatives, operational transformation programs, and process optimization efforts that improve efficiency, control effectiveness, and service quality.

When you join our team:

• We’ll empower you to learn and grow the career you want.

• We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words.

• As part of our global team, we’ll support you in shaping the future you want to see.

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact hr@manulife.com.

Hybrid