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Investment operations specialist

Investment operations specialist

Level 4 - Higher Technical Occupation

Carrying out investment transactions on behalf of individuals or organisations.

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Summary

Investment Operations Specialists work within the operational and administrative areas of businesses in the Financial Services sector that engage in investment management, investment consulting, trading and reporting activities. Millions of investment transactions are conducted within the UK Financial Services sector every day on behalf of institutional and retail clients, ranging from private individuals and small businesses to unit trusts, pension funds, charities, corporations and governments within the UK and overseas. The financial instruments and products are varied and increasingly complex, requiring specialist skill to ensure that they are efficiently processed, registered, reported and valued within the employing organisation, between counterparties and to end clients.

Carrying out investment transactions on behalf of individuals or organisations.

Green themes

Financial and Professional Business Services

Typical job titles include:

Finance worker

Keywords:

Banking
Client Reporting
Compliance
Corporate Actions
Financial Services
Funds
Money
Securities

Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)

K1: Sound understanding of the structure of the Financial Services industry and in particular the role and purpose of markets and the process of investing; the role of the function in which they work; how this role relates to other functions within their department and to the wider business. Deeper knowledge of specific markets and supporting operational protocols as required by the employing organisation.
K2: Sound understanding of the Financial Services regulatory framework and ethics, and the ability to apply relevant rules and principles to their own role and within their team. Able to identify and communicate risks to the relevant management or compliance personnel within the organisation.
K3: Sound understanding of the technical, investment and settlement characteristics of the main investment products, instruments, currencies and markets, including derivative instruments and complex products. Understands how an investment instrument or product is typically used within the industry and how it may meet specified client objectives.
K4: Proficient in the IT skills, systems and processes required to deliver consistent outcomes. Aware of how these support and fit within the wider business and the sector. Understands the types of risks that may arise through operational activities and how these risks can be mitigated. Can utilise complex processes and multiple systems as required.
K5: Communicates effectively and professionally with clients, external counterparties and internal staff. Adheres to internal standards, market protocol and regulatory rules and principles for reporting purposes. Understands the relationships and service requirements between markets, clients and their intermediaries.

S1: Maintains a consistently high standard of service internally, towards clients and with intermediaries. Adheres to well defined timeframes, systems and processes. Consistently attentive to accuracy, detail and timeliness; meets required risk, regulatory and governance requirements. Performs tasks which may be complex, specialised, or non-routine, such as bespoke (OTC) derivative settlement and margin calculations, monitoring and processing these complex transactions through to completion; Preparing management, investment performance or review reports for internal and external clients.
S2: Adopts high quality written and verbal communication skills as appropriate for communicating with internal and external clients. . Builds positive relationships with clients and colleagues using sound interpersonal and influencing skills. Able to coach/train less experienced colleagues. Able to communicate and negotiate complex situations and issues that may arise.
S3: Consistently supports colleagues and the wider business, collaborating to achieve results. Aware of their role within team, how their team fits within the business and how the team’s decisions impacts on others. Takes a leadership role in the team when appropriate. Operates well under time pressure.
S4: Takes ownership for delivery in their area of responsibility, both for the core role and for developing and implementing changes. Able to exercise autonomy and judgement within fairly broad parameters. Finds effective ways to resolve issues. Escalates decisions and issues when necessary. Capable of resolving complex issues that may involve other business areas.
S5: Proactively plans and records their own development; seeks constructive feedback and incorporates within development plan; keeps up to date with changes in all areas of the role; shows commitment to the job and the industry.

B1: Truthful, sincere in their actions and does the right thing (even when not the easiest). Handles client information confidentially.
B2: Willing to accept changing priorities and work patterns when new jobs need to be done, or when requirements change.
B3: Shows drive and energy in their work, when things are going well and when challenges arise

Duties

Duty D1

Processing and settlement of derivatives or complex investments.

Duty D2

Calculation and management of initial and ongoing margin for derivatives positions.

Duty D3

Valuation of complex investment portfolios.

Duty D4

Preparation of investment performance reports for clients and investment managers.

Duty D5

Preparation of management reports for internal review.

Duty D6

Selection of investment funds for platforms accessed by retail customers, based on pre-defined criteria.

Duty D7

Resolving complex issues within and across departments.

Occupational Progression

This occupational progression map shows technical occupations that have transferable knowledge and skills.

In this map, the focused occupation is highlighted in yellow. The arrows indicate where transferable knowledge and skills exist between two occupations. This map shows some of the strongest progression links between the focused occupation and other occupations.

It is anticipated that individuals would be required to undertake further learning or training to progress to and from occupations. To find out more about an occupation featured in the progression map, including the learning options available, click the occupation.

Progression decisions have been reached by comparing the knowledge and skills statements between occupational standards, combined with individualised learner movement data.

Technical Occupations

Levels 2-3

Higher Technical Occupations

Levels 4-5

Professional Occupations

Levels 6-7

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