Assistant Manager, Fund Accounting

Company Description

ABOUT IQ-EQ
We’re a leading Investor Services group offering end-to-end services in administration, accounting, reporting, regulatory and compliance needs of the investment sector worldwide. 
We employ a global workforce of 5,800+ people across 25 jurisdictions and have assets under administration (AUA) exceeding US$750 billion. We work with 13 of the world’s top 15 private equity firms.
Our services are underpinned by a Group-wide commitment to ESG and best-in-class technology including a global data platform and innovative proprietary tools supported by in-house experts.
Above all, what makes us different is our people. Operating as trusted partners to our clients, we deliver intelligent solutions through a combination of technical expertise and strong relationships based on deep client understanding. 
We’re driven by our Group purpose, to power people and possibilities.

Job Description

JOB DESCRIPTION: Assistant Manager

Office: India

Department: Client Services

Job Summary

• To provide and ensure the timely and high-quality service and deliverables to the cluster clients for funds clients allocated to you and your team.
• Main person who is accountable, has ownership of deliverables.
• Concentrates in engaging and developing teams and individuals. Expected to perform review of core processes, complex ad hoc work and all other client requirements. Provides consistent feedback on accuracy and timeliness of outputs made by their team
• Responsible in assisting in the review and/or preparation and completion of NAV and Financials of the private equity funds that include recording journal entries, monthly/quarterly/annual financials, processing payments, investor notices and various client reporting.
• Responsible in assisting in the review and/or preparation and completion of capital call and distribution workings along with notices and release to respective investors.
• To facilitate and assist with conversion of Private Equity Funds from other accounting applications to Investran.
• To facilitate and assist with onboarding new Private Equity Funds in the accounting platform (Investran/Paxus).
• This entails assisting in the review and/or preparation of all/and complex reporting requirements, such as but not limited to financial statements, working papers/ management accounts, partner statements and ad-hoc client deliverables.
• Spends most of the time in driving results based on the KPIs (ex. Quality and Timeliness, Error Report, Increased Productivity and Lowers Overtime, among others) and optimizing the work performance of the team.
• To facilitate and assist various accounting and administration processes of complex clients and conduct all work in accordance with IQ-EQ India Global Client Delivery's policies and procedures.
• As a supervisor, the Assistant Manager leads, organizes, coordinates, develops, monitors the performance, delegates tasks and responsibilities to team members.

Core Responsibilities

• Responsible for review of Financial Statements with Disclosures, NAV reporting and other ad-hoc service requests for complex funds and/or corporate clients.
• Responsible for the preparation of complex reporting requirements, when necessary.
• Manages and ensures the timely and accurate deliverables of the team.
• Acquire knowledge to become specialists of their designated clients' requirements and deliverables.
• Ensures and champions compliance by following procedures and checklists following SSAE and other similar statutory requirements of the clients they handle.
• Provides guidance and coaching to the team in both technical and non-technical aspects of their role.
• Seeks knowledge and expertise for their own professional development.
• Initiates the development of the technical competencies of their teams by providing feedback on their deliverables and endorsing them to the appropriate learning & development activities.
• Directly liaises with the cluster counterparts of upcoming deliverables and the progress thereof, queries and other dependencies to carry out the work.
• To be able to effectively communicate and relate with the various stakeholders of the team.
• Submits cluster client requirements after thoroughly being reviewed.
• To act as an alternate for Managers based on business needs which may include cluster client responsibilities, administrative tasks, and team management.

Tasks & Duties

Cluster Client Delivery

• Acquires and shares specialized knowledge and understanding of the clients’ agreements, Scope of Work (SOW), SLA’s and other necessary information needed to review and/or prepare deliverables.
• Confirms that the complete information, data and supporting documents are received for the review/preparation of the needed requirements, then escalates and requests from the cluster counterparts any missing information.
• Ensures the delivery of consistent and quality information within the agreed timeframes of the team.
• Coordinates with the cluster the deadlines (and any changes) of deliverables then plans and assigns the workload within the team.  Facilitate the request for support from peers, as needed.
• Prepare (if needed), completely review, and ensure the quality of the assigned clients’ deliverables within the agreed timelines.
• To be knowledgeable with the components of the reports generated by the appropriate platform/s, when necessary.
• Reviews the reports generated by the team.
• To be able to review outputs and all other deliverables prepared.
• Monitors all review comments for all clients have been addressed.
• Monitors that their team takes full ownership and replies to cluster/Client/Investor’s queries within 24 hours. 
• Addresses any job-related issues and concerns in a timely manner and escalates to the appropriate authorities, as needed.
• Communicates review comments to the team and then follows up to address pending comments for preparers.
• Monitors and oversees the interpretation of the requirements of the client and in some instances, does the research and validates in the absence of an Accountant.
• Drafts error reports/compliance cases by collecting information on the root cause then proposes the corrective actions and preventive measures in a timely manner.
• Gathers and organizes the information needed for the quarterly debrief meeting with the cluster to review the team's performance. This includes consolidating review comments and action points to watch out for the following quarter.
• Decides the proper treatment for transactions when differences in points of view arise, and escalate recommendations to appropriate authorities, as needed.
• Decides on escalated recommendations and if necessary, escalate to SMEs/Manager or technical team.
• Standardizes and optimizes the efficiency of the process of their funds.

Workflow Management

• Ensures timesheets are completed daily and accurately filed for all hours worked.
• Reviews and approves timesheets of their team and ensures they are completed daily and accurately filed for all hours worked in a timely manner (of their SA's).
• Reviews and pre-approves filed overtime of their team (SA's).
• Sets up, monitors and updates all deliverables via the workflow planner in a timely manner. 
• Oversees the accuracy and completeness of the workflow planner for the team.

Systems

• Understands and uses best practice on accounting platform/s.
• Understands and becomes knowledgeable on how to generate reports using reporting platform/s.

Risks

• Champions compliance by ensuring relevant procedures, checklists and SSAE requirements are adhered to and completed to mitigate errors.
• Report any breaches, complaints, or errors to appropriate authorities in a timely manner.
• Acquires knowledge of risk factors and potential breach.
• Monitors and oversees drafts reports and compliance cases with root cause information.  In the absence of a Senior Accountant, will draft the error reports/compliance cases, corrective actions and preventive measures based on collected root cause information in a timely manner.

Other

• May undertake any additional tasks and/or responsibilities as part of their professional development which may or may not be related to their specific function.
• Escalate any other work-related issues and concerns to the appropriate authorities in a timely manner.
• Participate in interviews, as needed.

Key behaviours we expect to see

In addition to demonstrating our Group Values (Authentic, Bold, and Collaborative), the role holder will be expected to demonstrate the following:

• Drives Results - Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
• Optimises Work Processes - Knowing the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Directs Work - Providing direction, delegating, and removing obstacles to get work done.
• Builds Effective Teams - Building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
• Resourcefulness - Securing and deploying resources effectively and efficiently.
• Collaborates - Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Courage - Stepping up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said.
• Develops Talent - Developing people to meet both their career goals and the organisation's goals.
• Persuades - Using compelling arguments to gain the support and commitment of others.
• Business Insight - Applying knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organisation's goals.
• Builds Networks - Effectively building formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organisation.
• Balances Stakeholders - Anticipating and balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders.
• Decision Quality - Making good and timely decisions that keep the organisation moving forward.

Qualifications

Qualifications and Experience Required for this Role

Essential

Education/professional qualifications

Graduate of accounting or any business-related course with 6+ years relevant accounting experience.

At least two (2) years supervisory experience.

Background experience

Experience with managing service operations and client deliverables.

Experience in managing staff and/or conducting appraisals.

Sound knowledge of IndAS, IFRS and GAAPs of different jurisdictions (US, UK, and Lux). Preparing and reviewing of Financial Statements using applicable laws and regulations.

Fluency in English and an additional foreign language.

Technical

Actual work experience in the preparation and/or review of working paper files, financial statements with disclosures and other financial information. Operational experience in fund accounting services is required, preferably in handling private equity.

Computer / program knowledge

Intermediate Excel skills such as pivot tables, lookup, “if” and other similar functions.

Experience in e-mail, word processing, presentation, and video conferencing applications such as Microsoft Office.

Effective written and advance verbal communication skills.

Experience in using accounting software (Investran/Paxus software).

Desired

• Completed Certified Public Accountant/ACCA qualification.
• Experience working in Financial Services or Shared Services office environment. 
• Experience working in a multinational office environment.
• Open to travel and other secondment opportunities abroad.
• University Degree in Accountancy and other accounting-related courses.

Additional Information

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU AND THE ENVIRONMENT

As a forward-looking business, sustainability is integral to our strategy and operations. Our sustainability depends on us building and maintaining meaningful, long-term relationships with all our stakeholders – including our employees, clients, and local communities – while also reducing our impact on our natural environment.

There is always more we can, and should do, to improve – whether in relation to our people, our clients, our planet, or our governance. Our ongoing success as a business depends on our sustainability and agility in a changing and challenging global landscape. We’re committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable and diverse culture for our people, led by our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion steering committee.

Our learning and development programmes and systems (including PowerU and MyCampus) enable us to invest in growing our employees’ careers, while our hybrid working approach supports our employees in achieving balance and flexibility while remaining connected to their colleagues. We want to empower our 5,500+ employees - from 94 nationalities, speaking 41 languages across 25 countries - to each achieve their potential. Through IQ-EQ Launchpad we support female managers launching their first fund, in an environment where only 15% of all private equity and venture capital firms are gender balanced.

We’re committed to growing long-term relationships with our clients and supporting them in achieving their objectives. We understand that our clients' sustainability and success leads to our sustainability and success. We’re emotionally invested in our clients right from the beginning.