Technical Specialist - Investment Operations

Canada Life UK looks after the retirement, investment and protection needs of individuals, families and companies. We help to build better futures for our customers, our intermediaries and our employees by operating as a modern, agile and welcoming organisation.

Part of our parent company Great-West Lifeco, Canada Life UK has operated in the United Kingdom since 1903. We have hundreds of respected and supported employees committed to doing the right thing for our customers and colleagues.

Canada Life UK is transforming to create a more customer-focused business by providing our customers with expertise on financial and tax planning, offering home finance and annuities propositions, and providing collective fund solutions to third party customers.
Job Purpose

We need an Investment Specialist to support the transformation and the future growth of the business within the Investment Operations function, so it can stand out for the experience and service we deliver by building on our service reputation, and delivering market-leading service excellence for our customers and advisers.

Overall knowledge of the Investment Operations Department;

• Responsible for controls oversight and sampling, suggesting new controls or improvements to existing controls where necessary
• Responsible for process effectiveness, quality reviews and improvements.
• Act as SME in terms of complex case resolution including complaints or escalations where necessary
• Represent and lead for Investment Operations in projects or initiatives as required
• Be responsible for the prioritisation and delivery of Tactical Initiatives
• Provide expert training and coaching to colleagues when required
• Proactively prioritise work to ensure issues and risks are addressed in order of criticality and in a timely manner and improvement effort provide a return on investment
• Have oversight of investment risks events, ensuring closure in a timely manner with appropriate remedial actions to avoid repeat instances
• Work closely with the Investment Team Leaders to ultimately improve the service offering
• Act in line with the company's values, policies and code of conduct, ensuring that conduct is appropriate at all times
• Ensure that we put the customer at the heart of everything we do in line with our Company values.

Key Accountabilities
Knowledge
Act as an SME for the Manager and Team Leaders within Investments to solve complex issues or to deliver expert training to colleagues. Act as an escalation point on complaints or high profile cases to ensure the best outcomes in a timely manner.
Process
Strive towards better solutions for our customers by reviewing and improving processes and documentation. Take accountability of regular reviews and ensure documentation remains current. Use complaints and risk event feedback and data to identify process weaknesses requiring review/improvement.
Risk
Have oversight of the risk events within Investments and lead in taking the necessary actions to mitigate those risks where possible. Have an oversight of the controls within Investments and review and test these regularly to ensure they are fit for purpose.
Change
Achieve excellence by being a champion for change; constructively challenge current practices by working with Team Leaders and Team Members, to identify process improvement opportunities. Oversee the delivery of improvements using Agile and Lean methodology.
Represent
Represent investments on projects within the project portfolio and for small initiatives to ensure positive outcomes and minimal impact of any planned change activity to protect the ongoing capability of Investments.

Desired Knowledge / Experience / Skills

• Significant experience of Investments and the International Life Office industry
• Demonstrable experience of continuous process improvement knowledge and application to an organisation.
• Proven ability to execute for results.
• Extensive problem resolution skills.
• Communicates effectively
• Analytical - proven ability to use, interpret and develop meaningful data on which decisions can be made.
• Proven ability to be flexible and swiftly adapt to changing organisational requirements.
• Proficient in MS Office (including Excel).
• Understands and meets the needs of the customer
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to meet tight deadlines in an environment with competing priorities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• "Can Do", proactive attitude
• Diligent and conscientious in the accuracy of their work, excellent attention to detail
• Ability to operate in a fast paced, dynamic environment and able to work under pressure
• Ability to solve complex problems quickly and decisively

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 A* - C / 9 - 4 Grade GCSEs (including English and Maths) or equivalent - essential
• CISI Introduction To Securities - desirable not mandatory

Benefits of working at Canada Life

We believe in recognising and rewarding our people, so we offer a competitive salary and benefits package that's regularly reviewed. As a Canada Life UK colleague, you'll receive a competitive salary and comprehensive reward package including a generous pension and bonus scheme, along with, income protection, private medical insurance and life assurance. We have a fantastic number of other benefits and support services as well as regular personal and professional development.

How we work at Canada Life

Our culture is unique and incredibly important to us. We care about doing the right thing for our people, customers and community and helping others to build better futures. Our blueprint behaviours shape and influence how we work, and are central to the relationships we have with others. Every day we are encouraged to be more curious, own the outcome, face into things together and find a way forward.

We want colleagues to have rewarding careers with us so we invest in the development of our people, technology and workplaces. That's why we offer a range of training, flexible working and opportunities to grow and develop.

Diversity and inclusion

Building an inclusive workplace with a diverse workforce where everyone can feel they belong and achieve their potential regardless of gender, ethnicity or any other characteristic is a key commitment for us. We are proud of the progress we're making in DEI, and we continue for it to be a significant focus.

"At Canada Life we believe in the power of great people from different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives coming together to build better futures. Emerging talent is crucial to our growth and creating an environment that continues to inspire us all." Nick Harding, Chief People Officer, Canada Life UK

We appreciate that everyone has different work and life responsibilities. We're happy to discuss flexible working arrangements, including part time, for any of our roles should this be a requirement for you.