Banking & Balancing Team Manager (hybrid)

• Title: Banking and Balancing Team Manager (hybrid)

  Ref: 24/8/BBT

   

  About Us

   

  The world isn’t standing still, and neither is Allstate. We’re moving quickly, looking across our businesses and brands and taking bold steps to better serve customers’ evolving needs. That’s why now is an exciting time to join our team. You’ll have opportunities to take risks, challenge the status quo and shape the future for the greater good.

   

  You’ll do all this in an environment of excellence and the highest ethical standards – a place where values such as integrity, inclusive diversity and accountability are paramount. We empower every employee to lead, drive change and give back where they work and live. Our people are our greatest strength, and we work as one team in service of our customers and communities.

   

  Allstate operate a very flexible hybrid working policy that will allow you to design your working week in collaboration with your manager with a blend of remote and office working for NI based employees as well as condensed working patterns (4 day week/9 day fortnight). Employees based in GB will be employed on a permanent remote working contract.

   

  Join our team and you’ll find challenge and reward in a culture of innovation, support and balance. 

   

   

  Location

   

  Belfast / Derry – Londonderry / Strabane

   

  Your role in the team

   

  The Banking and Balancing Team is responsible for the management and oversight of procedures and key controls that are designed to ensure that accurate Balance Sheet and Income Statement account balances are maintained in Maximis and the General Ledger (SAP). 

   

  The Team ensures that custodial assets including cash and securities are reconciled to positions held in Allstate Investments’ bank accounts.  Additionally, the Team ensures that Allstate Finance Company Agent Loans are reconciled between the bank, Fizerv, and SAP

   

  The successful candidate will be responsible for managing staff and providing oversight to systems and controls that ensure that Allstate Investments’ accounting systems (Maximis, LMS, and FISERV) are reconciled, and support account balances in Allstate’s General Ledger (SAP). 

   

  They will monitor key controls and balancing reports and ensure that month end packages are completed on time in support of financial statement close deadlines. 

   

  They will source data into Maximis by means of Trade Order Management System interface balancing reviews, and have responsibility to ensure that post-segmentation balancing to the Investment Data Warehouse is completed per the stated SLA, and that the FISERV accounting system accurately supports stated SAP Balances for AFCO and AFCAL.

   

  Additional key responsibilities include:

   

  Management

   

  • Develop team and individual goals, provide feedback and input into setting performance ratings, and provide guidance on compensation and promotion
  • Recommend staffing needs and monitor capacity

   

  Guidance & Leadership

   

  • Mold team culture and motivate to achieve optimal performance from direct and indirect reports
  • Build strong internal relationships with other department leaders in Operations and Investment Finance
  • Interact effectively with Bank Personnel (BNYM)
  • Provide input into setting team priorities
  • Monitor controls, assess effectiveness, and resolve exceptions

   

   

  Communication

   

  • Provide status, risk assessments, and performance metrics to Management
  • Participate on non-Banking and Balancing Team related teams and groups to promote cross-team knowledge and awareness
  • Inform staff of changing policies and procedures to ensure compliance

   

   

  Functional

   

  • Coordinate development with Investment Finance Security Operations Team, Investment Technology, SS&C (Maximis vendor)
  • Develop & Maintain balancing controls to ensure General Account reconciliations are accurate and timely
  • Develop Controls to ensure that integrity procedures are being executed properly
  • Establish and enforce exception triage and escalation procedures
  • Establish Service Level Agreements (SLA’s) with data suppliers as well as key data subscribers’
  • Establish and measure Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) in support of SLA’s
  • Ensure Segmentation Balancing Procedures and Controls are executed according to designed specifications
  • Ensure AFCO and AFCAL balancing Procedures and Controls are executed according to designed specifications

   

  Perform Other Duties as Assigned

   

   

  Hours of work

   

  • Mon – Fri. Flexibility to meet business needs as required;
  • During peak periods (Work Days 1-5), hours are aligned with US working hours, equivalent to 1pm – 10pm UK time. This will be compensated through our Unsociable Hours Policy and employees will be eligible for a premium payment for all ‘non-standard’ working hours.

   

   

  So, what are the essential criteria to apply?

   

  • All candidates must evidence an existing right to work in the UK
  • A third level qualification in accounting, finance or equivalent
  • 5+ years of professional accounting or reporting experience, at least 2 of which must be in a leadership role
  • 5+ years’ working knowledge of Investment Technology, Finance and Reporting
  • Data Mining skills a strong plus
  • Access database knowledge or SQL coding a strong plus
  • CPA/CFA or similar qualification a strong plus

   

   

   

  We also have some desirable criteria

   

  • Ability to assess risks and deploy resources when needed
  • Advanced problem solving and decision making skills
  • Escalate risks appropriately and rationalize decisions to management
  • Prioritize workflows relative to goals and other deliverables
  • Able to delegate and manage multiple supervisors
  • Advanced knowledge of Investment Operations Control Functions
  • Advanced knowledge of Investment Systems and Data Structures
  • Advanced knowledge of Investment Compliance Functions
  • Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, Access, Outlook, Word, SAP or other general ledger applications and database querying tools

   

   

  What we offer

   

  As Digital DNA’s Workplace of the Year 2020 winners, we offer a generous benefits package that includes flexible annual leave entitlement, dental and healthcare insurance, an attractive pension package and discounts on gym memberships, public transport and parking.

   

  Allstate invests heavily in your development, as an employee you will have access to multiple world-class learning platforms and courses from our award-winning in-house Learning & Development team.

   

  We pride ourselves in providing clear career paths and opportunities for internal mobility allowing you to further develop within the organisation.

   

  We encourage a better work life balance and you’ll have the opportunity to apply for various flexible working arrangements.

   

  Statement on Fair Employment and Equal Opportunities

   

  Allstate NI wishes to ensure equal opportunity is given to all job applicants.  This company will not discriminate on the grounds of race, gender (including gender reassignment status), sexual orientation, religious belief, political opinion, marital status, age or disability.

   

  We are an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons. However, as women are currently under-represented in our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from women. All appointments will be made on merit.

   

  Applicants should note Allstate NI complete AccessNI background checks on all candidates offered a position.

   

  Apply here: https://bit.ly/3AZ4uwO 

   

  The closing date for receipt of applications is Tuesday 31^st August