Investment Operations Manager

About us:

Skybound Wealth Management is a global financial advisory company with employees across the UK, USA, Switzerland, Cyprus, Spain and UAE. We provide tailored financial advice to international clients, supported by expert teams across wealth planning, tax, compliance and operations.

Our advisers work with internationally mobile clients whose investment requirements can often span multiple currencies, jurisdictions, platforms and investment structures. Our investment proposition has been developed to provide advisers with a robust framework of approved asset managers, model portfolios, investment solutions and portfolio-construction methodology that can be applied consistently across the Group.

About the role:

We are now looking for an experienced investment professional to take ownership of the day-to-day delivery, governance and development of this proposition across the business. This is a highly visible, adviser-facing role sitting at the centre of Skybound’s investment proposition.

We are looking for someone with strong investment knowledge who can take the proposition and framework already established at Skybound and ensure it is understood, appropriately used and effectively delivered across the business.

You will act as a key point of investment expertise for advisers, managers and senior leadership, explaining clearly and confidently how portfolios are constructed, why particular investment approaches are used and how different elements of the proposition can be applied to individual client circumstances.

A significant part of the role will involve supporting advisers with client-specific investment requirements. This may include portfolio analysis, responding to technical investment queries, supporting client meetings and constructing bespoke portfolios using approved asset managers, existing investment solutions and Skybound's portfolio-construction methodology.

Alongside the investment-facing responsibilities, you will lead the Group's investment operations function, including management of the Global Dealing Team, delivery of central investment projects, investment governance, management information and reporting.

The role reports directly to the Group Head of Proposition and will chair Skybound's Investment Committee.

Location

Our preference is for this role to be based in Poole or London.

The role supports advisers and stakeholders across a global business spanning the USA, UK, Europe and Middle East, making the UK time zone particularly effective for communication across the Group.

Dubai may also be considered for an exceptional candidate with the right investment knowledge, communication skills and operational experience.

Some international travel may be required.

Key Responsibilities

Adviser and Client Investment Support

• Be the central investment contact for advisers and sales managers, providing clear guidance on strategy, asset allocation, portfolio construction, risk and performance

• Support adviser-led client meetings and explain Skybound’s investment proposition in a clear, commercially relevant way

• Respond to technical queries and requests for portfolio analysis, performance information and investment commentary

• Review client portfolios and construct bespoke solutions where standard models are unsuitable, using approved managers and Skybound’s methodology within the client’s risk profile, objectives and governance requirements

Investment Proposition

• Own the day-to-day implementation and consistent use of Skybound’s investment proposition across the Group

• Maintain a detailed understanding of approved managers, solutions and model portfolios, and guide advisers on their appropriate use

• Monitor external managers and model portfolios for changes in allocation, funds, risk and approach, and communicate relevant changes across the business

• Keep the portfolio-construction methodology practical, documented and current, working with the Group Head of Proposition to address gaps and develop the proposition

Investment Governance

• Chair the Investment Committee, coordinating papers, recording decisions and tracking agreed actions through to completion

• Conduct formal due diligence on discretionary fund managers, asset managers and other investment partners at least twice annually

• Coordinate reviews of model and bespoke portfolios, maintain governance records and prepare oversight packs for Skybound Capital

• Work with Compliance and other control functions to meet internal and regulatory requirements

Adviser Education and Communication

• Lead quarterly investment workshops and deliver proposition training for new advisers

• Provide ongoing, practical education on markets, portfolio construction, approved solutions and proposition changes, drawing on external managers where useful

• Support clear investment communications for advisers and clients

Global Dealing and Investment Operations

• Lead and develop the Global Dealing Team and maintain oversight of its service to advisers across the Group

• Ensure trades transmitted or executed through the business are checked in line with internal procedures, with effective controls, escalation and management information

• Identify dealing risks, recurring issues and opportunities to improve investment processes

Central Investment Projects

• Identify clients outside the approved investment proposition and work with advisers and managers to coordinate appropriate transitions

• Identify significant or persistent positive or negative client cash balances and work with advisers to address them

• Lead portfolio migrations and other central investment projects, tracking completion and escalating outstanding actions

• Develop processes and management information showing adoption and effectiveness of the proposition

Investment Reporting and Management Information

• Produce weekly investment operations MI for the Group Head of Proposition and monthly investment reporting for Executive Committee

• Prepare monthly investment performance packs covering approved asset managers and solutions, including performance, risk and positioning

• Maintain reliable reporting processes and highlight matters requiring management attention or action

Desired Skills & Experience:

We are looking for someone who combines strong investment knowledge with excellent communication, organisation and operational discipline.

The successful candidate will have previous experience within wealth management, investment management, discretionary fund management, investment research, portfolio analysis or a related investment function.

You should have:

• Strong knowledge of investment funds, asset allocation, portfolio construction and risk profiling

• A good understanding of model portfolio services and discretionary investment management

• Experience working with investment managers, discretionary fund managers or investment platforms

• The ability to analyse portfolios and investment information confidently

• Experience constructing or supporting bespoke investment portfolios

• The ability to work within an established investment framework rather than approaching every client requirement as a standalone portfolio-management exercise

• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• The confidence to hold technical investment conversations with experienced financial advisers

• The ability to explain complex investment concepts clearly and rationally to both advisers and clients

• Strong presentation and training skills

• A structured and operationally minded approach to work

• The ability to manage multiple projects and recurring operational responsibilities simultaneously

• Strong stakeholder-management skills and the ability to work effectively across an international business

• The confidence to chair formal meetings and challenge constructively where appropriate

• Previous experience managing or developing colleagues would be beneficial

• A genuine interest in financial markets, investment management and the wealth-management industry

Key Benefits:

• A competitive basic salary relevant to experience and qualifications

• 25 days’ annual leave plus applicable public holidays

• Support towards relevant industry qualifications and ongoing CPD

• Company pension contribution and life assurance where applicable

• Significant exposure to a growing international wealth-management business

• Direct interaction with senior management, advisers and external investment partners

• Opportunities to travel across the international Group

• Regular company events, including Skybound's annual SOAR conference

• Strong opportunities for continued professional development and career progression

Qualifications

An appropriate professional investment qualification is highly desirable. Relevant qualifications include:

• Investment Management Certificate (IMC)

• CFA qualification or progress through the CFA programme

• CISI investment qualifications

• Other equivalent recognised investment or wealth-management qualifications

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role will be measured by whether Skybound's investment proposition operates effectively across the business.

The successful candidate will ensure that:

• Advisers understand and confidently use the investment proposition

• Client investment questions are dealt with accurately and efficiently

• Bespoke investment requirements are solved within Skybound's investment framework

• Investment governance remains robust and well documented

• Investment Committee decisions are implemented

• Asset managers are appropriately monitored and challenged

• Clients sitting outside the approved proposition are identified and addressed

• Operational investment issues are identified before they become larger problems

• The Global Dealing Team operates effectively

• Senior management receives clear and useful investment MI

• Skybound's portfolio-construction methodology remains current, practical and consistently applied

Skybound Wealth Management is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of background.