Specialist, Settlement Services (Al Ain)

Role Overview

This position is responsible for the daily oversight and execution of settlement activities across domestic, regional, and international markets involving equities, mutual funds, fixed income, hedge funds, structured funds, ETFs, securities lending and borrowing, and local market short selling. The goal is to uphold the highest quality of client service aligned with global standards.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage and process highly complex settlement transactions covering multiple markets including receipt, validation, matching, and timely settlement of client and market instructions.
• Communicate regularly with clients, market participants, sub-custodians, regulators, brokers, and other stakeholders to ensure smooth and accurate settlement processing.
• Provide first-line training to new settlement specialists and assist them with inquiries.
• Oversee cash management for clients to facilitate effective settlements across various markets.
• Engage actively in understanding and processing securities lending and borrowing transactions, mitigating operational, financial, and reputational risks.
• Participate in department projects such as system upgrades, processing improvements, and implementation of new client service level agreements (SLAs) and market regulations.
• Review and validate cash and FX settlement transactions, escalating discrepancies and ensuring proper accounting treatment.
• Monitor and reconcile clients' securities and cash positions daily to identify and resolve any inconsistencies.
• Validate and authorize SWIFT messages and support second-level reconciliation processes.
• Ensure compliance with all departmental policies, regulatory standards, and audit requirements while monitoring risk indicators and KPIs.
• Contribute to continuous process improvement initiatives to enhance client satisfaction and reduce manual efforts and costs.
• Assist in preparing accurate and timely reports and statements to meet quality and policy standards.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with 5+ years of experience in securities services or back-office operations related to securities settlements and corporate actions.
• Strong knowledge of securities operations and related accounting activities.
• Ability to multitask and perform well under pressure while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills, teamwork, and interpersonal abilities.
• Proactive approach with strong execution skills and the ability to meet business objectives without compromising controls or risk parameters.

Desirable Skills

• Experience in specific securities functions such as settlements, client services, corporate actions, data maintenance, billing, or custody account opening is advantageous.