Head of Fund Services, Europe

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Job Description

AustralianSuper, the largest pension fund in Australia and listed as a top 20 largest pension fund globally, is recruiting a pivotal strategic role in our UK business that will play a key role in delivering our ambitious growth agenda for our substantial London operations.

Reporting to the Deputy Chief Investment Officer in London, and our Chief Operating Officer in Australia, this role has responsibility for the provision of Finance, Operations, Legal, Tax, Compliance and Operational Risk, Technology Services and Change services for AustralianSuper's London Office. Delivering to our 2030 Strategy, you will lead and enhance existing BAU across support areas, and steer our UK business through the next phase of growth in all of our functional Fund Services teams that provides the corporate infrastructure that enables our investment capability across Public, Private and Capital Markets.

Purpose:

The Fund:
AustralianSuper, Australia's largest superannuation and a profit-for-member fund, we help members achieve their best financial position in retirement.

The Role:

The role provides leadership across all Fund Services teams in our London office and is the key interface locally on the development and delivery of the multifunctional strategy and plans for the office. The Head of Fund Services, Europe will manage the team and represent the London office on the International Offices and Fund Services Leadership Teams and other key forums.

Strategic Leadership
As a member of the Fund Services global leadership team, contribute to the strategic thinking regarding the Fund's global operating model for the Fund Services functions. As a member of the International Offices Leadership Team, contribute to the development and implementation of the strategic plans for London and the International Offices.
Ensure appropriate relationships are established and maintained with key government, industry regulatory authorities and service providers.

People Leadership

• Translate the Fund's global business strategy into a clear and consistent vision that motivates and inspires our people by demonstrating commitment to the brand values.
• Develop a team of highly capable people who will drive a culture of continuous improvement, and deliver outcomes, that successfully realise the Fund's strategic ambitions for the London Office.
• Drive the Fund Services service-oriented culture so that it works and engages collaboratively with all local and offshore teams in a trusted partnership to deliver desired outcomes.

Finance Services

• Ensure all regulatory and statutory reporting relating to/from local operating entities is delivered consistent with our policies and regulator expectations.
• Ensure London Office input to the global budgeting and forecasting processes to support the Fund's planning process.
• Oversee global procurement processes standards, tools and practices in the London Office including ensuring that all providers are managed effectively, and appropriate value is extracted from key relationships.
• Ensure the process for the management of all tax obligations for the Fund's UK domiciled SLEs and AustralianSuper (UK) Ltd are managed effectively.

Investment Operations

• Ensure the continued independence of the investment control functions over the investment process and promote an environment of respectful challenge to any proposed services and/or solutions which are deemed not fit for purpose; contrary to the Fund's regulator /legislative obligations, or not in Members Best Financial Interests,
• Ensure appropriate post trade activities are completed in a timely manner to support global trading activities consistent with our global policies and practices.
• Continue the build out of our in-house specialist independent valuations team.
• Ensure an effective operations function is in place to support the current and future needs of our Public and Private Markets investment program as well as the growth in our Capital Markets capability in London.

Compliance and Operational Risk

• Champion a risk management culture within the London Fund Services Team (and the London Office more broadly) that fosters regular dialogue on risk practices, the identification and management of operational risk, and adherence to the Fund's See; Say; Do approach to risk management.
• Support the local investment teams to achieve their objectives within their approved mandates through coordination with the teams in Australia and the US.
• Ensure all first-line risk responsibilities are appropriately managed in conjunction with Australian and US colleagues.

Transaction (Legal and Tax) Services

• Ensure the Fund and its intellectual property is appropriately protected in all international contractual arrangements.
• Oversee the provision of legal and tax due diligence support for all local investment transactions that are undertaken, that risks and issues are identified and that appropriate mitigation plans put in place consistent with the Fund's policies and practices.
• Ensure advice and guidance is provided to protect the Fund's rights and reputation through the identification, escalation and mitigation of legal and tax risks associated with the Fund's existing or new activities in conjunction with Australian and US colleagues.

Technology Services

• Oversee the Technology Services team London to ensure an effective level of service is provided in the London Office.
• Ownership of legal and regulatory technology obligations.
• General oversight of the London Office technology platform and services.

Delivery and Improvement

• Oversee projects that are being managed from London in line with Group policies and standards.
• Ensure change activities within the London Office are delivered effectively and coordinated with other offices as required.

Life at AustralianSuper

At AustralianSuper, we truly care about our colleagues. We know work and life are intertwined. That's why we support the diverse needs of everyone and have policies that enable us all to thrive and be truly flexible. We ensure diversity is celebrated for the opportunity it provides us all to learn and grow, and ultimately to deliver better outcomes for members.

Our London and New York offices are made up of ~200 talented colleagues and is expected to grow four-fold over the next three years meaning when you join you become a key part of building our culture.

As we collaborate with colleagues across multiple time zones flexibility in work hours are both a requirement and opportunity for this role. We are committed to supporting our diverse workforce in a way that is inclusive and embraces diversity in all its forms. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process or the role, please let our recruitment team know.

What's next: Apply now, if you share our values of Energy, Integrity, Generosity of Spirit, and Excellent Outcomes and would like the opportunity to work in a challenging, growing and rapidly evolving team to deliver outstanding results.

This role is now open for interested candidates and internal applicants are welcome to apply. The Head of Fund Services. EMEA role is a permanent role based in the UK office. For internal candidates currently based overseas interested in this opportunity please refer to our Permanent International Transfer Standard which can be located on Share Point.