Fund Change Project Manager

What can you expect:

This is an exciting opportunity for a senior candidate to join one of Mercer's largest and most rapidly-growing business areas – investment solutions. Mercer's Investment Solutions (IS) business provides sophisticated implementation and investment services to clients. The business has grown rapidly over recent years with $400bn of client assets now under management globally, c.$160bn of which is invested on behalf of International investors. Our Investor base is institutional and typically clients are DB/DC Pension Schemes but the business is expanding into new segments including Insurance & Wealth Management.

Services are provided across a range of areas through traditional and alternative asset classes reflecting Mercer's best investment ideas. Mercer's Portfolio Management Team in turn selects third party managers, from Mercers list of "A" rated managers in each asset class thus combining Mercer's in-house portfolio management expertise with the depth and breadth of Mercer Investment's global investment manager research.

Mercer's fund range was launched in Europe in September 2006 and currently consists of c.140 Irish domiciled funds across 5 legal structures. In addition to the ability to provide bespoke solutions to large sophisticated clients these funds provide building blocks to support Mercer's wider range of investment and risk management solutions targeting the institutional marketplace. Mercer IS business has seen significant growth over the last few years and believes that demand for its investment solutions will continue to grow over the coming years.

The Fund Management & Operations Unit is responsible for the on-boarding of new clients into the funds, launching of new funds, client and fund rebalancing, management of underlying investment manager changes, NAV and Valuation oversight, regulatory & tax oversight, management of third party service providers, operational infrastructure changes, development and maintenance of relationships with both internal and external clients and adherence to strict risk controls.

The Fund Change team sits within the greater Fund Operations unit and is responsible for the project management of new fund launches, manger changes, and other fund restructure events. This involves the coordination of multiple stakeholders, both internal and external, including portfolio management, legal & compliance, operations, sales, finance, technology, administrator and depositary, and investment managers. The team is also responsible for undertaking and implementing business-wide initiatives and efficiency projects.

The Fund Change Manager position is a multifaceted role, which involves the day to day management of the Fund Change projects, representing the team and wider Fund Management at internal and external forums and committees as well as taking a leadership role in the more complex Fund Change projects.

Candidates should have experience in project management and have a strong knowledge of Irish Funds (UCITS and AIFs), and a solid understanding of the Irish and European regulatory regime. The role will be dynamic and diverse, requiring an individual that has a background across Funds/Asset Management with exceptionally strong people and project management, organisational, collaboration and communication skills. The successful candidate will be able to manage the team and ensure successful delivery of complex solutions and drive solutions development for the business.

What you will be rewarded with:

We provide a competitive package if you are successful and join the firm. Below is a list of benefits that colleagues can avail of:

• Competitive salary with annual review
• Discretionary Company Bonus
• Up to 12% company pension contribution
• Full healthcare cover
• Study Support
• Flexistart
• Flexible working arrangements- minimum 3 days per week in the office
• Wellness Programme/Sports & Social clubs
• Paid annual leave and ability to purchase additional leave days
• Travel ticket/bike to work/dental are optional
• Subsidised canteen
• 35 hour working week

We will rely on you to:

• Management of Fund Change projects including fund launches, manager changes and fund restructures
• Prepare and present materials for internal governance committees and Board Meetings
• Manage key internal stakeholders including portfolio management, legal & compliance, operations, finance and technology
• Maintain and grow good relationships with all stakeholders
• Manage relationship with key external stakeholders including the depositary and administrator to the funds that MGIE is appointed as investment manager
• Provide input into the review of key fund documents including fund supplements, IMAs, fee agreements and internal policy documents
• Provide analysis based on KPIs and MIS.
• Identify and address inefficiencies, risks, or areas for improvement across the Operations Unit and wider Investment Solutions Business.
• Lead the team in identifying solutions to complex projects and provide guidance through to implementation.
• Undertake and oversee the due diligence requirements with respect to the hiring of investment managers.
• Monitor regulatory and market developments that affect our funds, lead the assessment of the operational impact of such new regulations, drive the design and implementation of appropriate solutions.
• Provide guidance on operational change, risk management and overall operational planning.
• Work regularly across team boundaries to deliver results on key department and business initiatives.
• Drive the onboarding of new tasks and new processes within the various projects
• Ensure supporting procedures are accurate and kept up to date.
• Develop and drive process improvement initiatives to improve quality and efficiency.

What you will need to have:

• Extensive Funds or Asset Management experience within a leading Asset or Investment Manager (minimum 5 years' experience).
• Strong organisational and project management skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, the ability to communicate with senior stakeholders effectively is important.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Highly motivated, driven and focused.
• Ability to work under own initiative.
• Detailed technical knowledge of fund structures, parties to the fund and the different fund types.
• A solid understanding of regulatory and legal structures in relation to the Irish funds industry.
• Understanding of operational and reputational risks in a fund and the operational control environment required to manage these risks.
• Regulatory/Compliance experience an advantage.
• Proven in-depth knowledge of European Investment Products, UCITS, AIFs and Fund regulatory requirements.
• An ability to multi-task and work under pressure to deadlines.
• Confident in decision making, manages uncertainty effectively, anticipates and resolves barriers to implementing changes and instils Mercer philosophy and culture into all practices.
• Champions collaboration within an organisation to achieve shared vision, effective in building support for ideas and gaining buy-in from key stakeholders. Seeks out cross business collaboration opportunities.
• Uses networks, relationships and influence to align parties with different or opposing viewpoints
• Strong analytical skills to review and analyse information/ situations to identify, articulate the issues on hand and propose solutions.
• Positive can-do attitude essential.
• Ability to work in a dynamic high performing team, guiding your team colleagues while leading, driving and managing your own tasks and projects.

About Mercer:

Mercer's Investments business is a leading provider of investment consulting and investment solutions globally. We offer customised advice and support at every stage of the investment decision, risk management and investment monitoring process. The Investment Solutions business, catering for clients who wish to delegate the implementation of their investment strategy, has grown very rapidly over recent years and governs over $150 billion in client assets across Europe and Asia.

Mercer is a global leader in the provision of investment related services to a wide range of institutional clients including pension funds, insurance companies, wealth managers and endowments. The firm also has a significant global presence in human resource consulting and related services. Globally, across all business segments, Mercer has more than 20,000 employees based in more than 40 countries.

Mercer is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE: MMC), a global team of professional services companies offering clients advice and solutions in the areas of risk, strategy and human capital. With over 25,000 employees worldwide and annual revenue exceeding $12 billion, Marsh & McLennan Companies is also the parent company of Marsh, a global leader in insurance broking and risk management; Guy Carpenter, a global leader in providing risk and reinsurance intermediary services; and Oliver Wyman, a global leader in management consulting. For more information, visit

We embrace a culture that celebrates and promotes the many backgrounds, heritages and perspectives of our colleagues and clients regardless of their gender expression or identity, marital or civil partnership status, ethnic origin, nationality, age, background, disability, sexual orientation or beliefs. We are proud of our inclusive culture where everyone feels empowered to bring their whole selves to work and thrive.

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