Play a key role in the financial and operational control of Northern LGPS’s investments, supporting robust fund administration and high-quality service to its partner funds.

Northern LGPS is entering an important period of development, creating an FCA authorised investment management company and establishing the leadership, governance and operating capabilities required for the future.

As Investment Finance Manager, you’ll contribute across a broad range of investment finance and fund control activities, including net asset value reviews, valuations, pricing, cash monitoring, alternative investments, trade reconciliation and investment compliance. You’ll help ensure accurate investment records, effective controls and timely delivery for Northern and its partner funds.

This breadth makes the role an opportunity to develop your expertise across the Investment Operations environment while contributing to how services, processes and controls evolve. You’ll work with colleagues across Northern LGPS as well as partner funds, third parties and audit teams, helping identify improvements and maintain effective working relationships as the organisation develops its future operating model.

About Northern LGPS

Northern LGPS is a c£70bn pooled investment partnership for the Local Government Pension Scheme, bringing together the investments of Greater Manchester Pension Fund, Merseyside Pension Fund and West Yorkshire Pension Fund.

Building on the foundations of its collaboration over several years, Northern LGPS is now entering the next phase of its development. This phase focuses on establishing an FCA authorised investment management company with a dedicated senior leadership team; strengthening governance and creating a clear operating model to support long-term investment outcomes.

For those joining at this stage, the opportunity is exceptional. These roles offer the chance to shape strategy, set standards and build leadership capability for the long term, working closely with the partner funds, who are both shareholders and clients, Boards and regulators to ensure Northern LGPS continues to evolve as a well-governed, resilient investment organisation.

Our culture

As Northern LGPS continues to evolve, we are building a collaborative, open and trusting organisation where people can do their best work.

We believe strong outcomes come from working together, sharing knowledge and supporting one another. Our flexible and hybrid working arrangements give colleagues greater flexibility in how they manage their time, while supporting collaboration and colleague wellbeing.

We are developing a supportive learning culture where people are encouraged to grow, contribute ideas and help shape how the organisation works. Our ambition is to build a resilient and sustainable organisation that delivers for its Partner Funds over the long term.

The main responsibilities of this role

Reporting to the Head of Investment Operations, you’ll support the delivery of investment administration, financial services and fund control activities for Northern LGPS and its partner funds.

You will:

• Deliver fund control activities across areas including valuations, pricing, cash monitoring, alternative investment management, trade reconciliation and investment compliance.
• Complete net asset value (NAV) review activity to agreed timescales and maintain accurate records supporting the integrity of fund information.
• Support partner funds in meeting their public sector pension fund regulatory requirements while helping Northern LGPS meet its own FCA regulatory requirements.
• Process private markets investment financial transactions and maintain the associated administrative records within Northern’s internal data systems.
• Apply preventative, detective and corrective controls appropriately across your work and support the timely review and resolution of identified issues.
• Work with internal and external audit teams, providing effective support and helping ensure reported issues are addressed within appropriate timescales.
• Support colleagues across Northern to meet internal and external service level agreements, key performance indicators and key risk indicator reporting requirements.
• Build your knowledge across the breadth of Fund Control, developing an understanding of how the team supports day-to-day activity across Northern LGPS.
• Develop a strong understanding of the systems supporting Operations, including internal and third-party platforms, and identify opportunities to improve their effectiveness.
• Ensure daily and periodic activities are completed within defined service levels, including system updates, reporting and any subsequent actions or communications.
• Review processes and procedures, identifying opportunities to improve service standards, controls and performance and contributing ideas for agreed changes.
• Keep procedures and process documentation accurate and up to date when permanent changes are implemented, maintaining appropriate document and version control.
• Support monthly performance reviews, helping ensure KPI requirements are met and KRI information is accurately compiled for review and sign-off.
• Work collaboratively with other Operations teams to support periods of increased business volumes, change activity and developments such as client onboarding.
• Build effective professional relationships with partner funds and external third parties, helping address issues and support changes to service arrangements where required.
• Undertake relevant secondments to partner funds where required to support effective day-to-day management and understanding of Northern LGPS services.
• Maintain required learning and regulatory training, including training relating to anti-money laundering requirements.

What we're looking for

You’ll bring practical fund control experience together with a sound grounding in accounting and an interest in developing broader investment operations expertise.

Essential

You’ll have:

• At least two years’ experience working within a Fund Control department.
• Part qualification towards a relevant accounting qualification.
• FCA industry-recognised qualifications.
• Five GCSEs at grades A to C, including English and Maths, or equivalent qualifications.
• Willingness to develop the skills needed to operate within an FCA-regulated environment.

Desirable

It would be beneficial to bring:

• Exposure to public sector investment and/or pensions management requirements.
• Experience using general ledger systems, Microsoft Teams and other Microsoft Office software.
• Experience supervising a significant finance or accounting process or service, which could include banking or treasury operations.
• Experience of team leadership and supporting personal development.
• Experience developing third-party relationships and defining service level agreements.

Qualifications

You’ll be at least part-qualified towards a relevant accounting qualification.

The Job Profile also specifies FCA industry-recognised qualifications and five GCSEs at grades A to C, including English and Maths, or equivalent qualifications.

Location

Bradford. This is a 12 month fixed term contract.

Flexible and hybrid working

Northern LGPS offers flexible and hybrid working arrangements, alongside a commitment to colleague wellbeing.

Sponsorship

We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Equal opportunities

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race (including colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and able to thrive. If you require any adjustments to the recruitment process to support your application, please let us know, and we will work with you to meet your needs.

 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a sufficient volume of suitable applications.