SVP, Head of Investment Services, Leading Investment Manager, Abu Dhabi, UAE

About our client

PER is partnering with a leading global investment manager based in Abu Dhabi on an exciting opportunity to hire a Senior Vice President to lead a newly established Investment Services team. As Head of Investment Services, the SVP will be accountable for the day-to-day operational delivery across these platforms, ensuring timely, high-quality, and well-controlled execution of all activities. The role involves managing a team and collaborating closely with key stakeholders across investment, finance, compliance, and technology functions.

The ideal candidate will bring proven experience in leading new initiatives and have a strong track record in the implementation of investment systems, specifically eFront and Aladdin.

This role requires full relocation to Abu Dhabi.

What the job involves

• Establish, lead, and manage a high-performing team across multiple asset classes and operational functions
• Oversee the design and continuous improvement of workflows to enable effective, scalable, and robust investment operations
• Take full accountability for operational activities related to public and private market assets, with oversight of Aladdin and eFront platforms
• Supervise the maintenance and integrity of IBOR, ensuring data accuracy and usability for portfolio managers and stakeholders
• Manage the end-to-end exception handling process, including trade capture, matching, corporate actions, settlement, and accounting
• Lead analyses of data quality issues, driving long-term solutions and improvements to the operating model
• Provide day-to-day and strategic operational support to the Investment Office and stakeholders, addressing both BAU and ad-hoc requests
• Define, review, and enhance service level agreements, KPIs, and performance metrics to ensure alignment with evolving business needs
• Ensure adherence to internal control frameworks, operational risk policies, and relevant regulatory requirements across all functions
• Oversee departmental budgeting, including forecasting and cost management to ensure operational efficiency
• Drive recruitment, talent development, and team engagement, fostering a culture of high performance, accountability, and continuous learning
  
  

Who we are looking for

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, or a quantitative discipline
• Significant leadership experience within investment operations or middle office functions in the asset management industry
• Hands-on experience with Aladdin and eFront is essential
• In-depth knowledge of the full trade lifecycle across both public and private markets
• Comprehensive understanding of operational processes across the front, middle, and back office
• Proven track record of building, leading, and inspiring large, cross-functional teams in a dynamic environment
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and collaborate across business units
• Demonstrated success in working effectively with key internal teams, including investment, finance, risk, compliance, and technology
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills