Director, Investment Operations and Accounting

Job Details

Description

UJA-Federation of New York cares for those in need, rescues those in harm’s way, and renews and strengthens the Jewish people in New York, in Israel, and around the world. As the largest local Jewish federation in the world, UJA-Federation has been a critical actor in the historic work of North American Jewry in Israel over the past 60 years.

The Investment Office manages the endowment and pension plan assets of the UJA-Federation of New York. The assets are invested with external managers globally across a broad range of asset classes and strategies including public equity and credit, hedge funds, private equity and credit, and real assets.

Position Summary

The Director of Investment Operations and Accounting will be an integral member of the Investment Office, working collaboratively with investors, UJA Accounting, custodial banks, portfolio managers, software providers, to prepare performance and accounting reports and streamline operations and administration of investment-related activities. The ideal candidate will bring a strong knowledge of investment administration, accounting, operations, and performance reporting. The individual should be highly organized, results oriented, with excellent project management, teamwork, and time management skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the preparation and accuracy of monthly portfolio performance reports. Ensure reconciliation with the custodian's accounting book of record and distribution of reports to both internal and external stakeholders, upholding organizational requirements.
• Act as the primary liaison with the custodian, driving improvements to accounting processes and ensuring seamless operations. Conduct thorough reviews of valuations and transactions while managing the preparation and distribution of investor statements.
• Coordinate and manage annual audits and preparation of annual financial statements and tax filings, ensuring adherence to institutional standards.
• Lead the execution of portfolio rebalancing transactions and oversee cash management for all portfolios. Collaborate with brokers, managers, custodians, and the Accounting and Investment Office to ensure accurate transaction completion and settlement. Provide comprehensive weekly cash position reports for the portfolio.
• Collaborate with the Controller and Assistant Controller to support oversight and ensure compliance with all governance standards related to portfolio reporting.
• Lead all investor relations activities for the New York Jewish Institutions Investment Fund, LLC (JIIF), including preparing and distributing performance reports, addressing investor inquiries, coordinating with the custodian for timely and accurate statement distribution, and organizing the annual investor meeting as well as other investor or prospective investor events.
• Collaborate with data scientists and analysts to streamline processes, enhancing processing time and accuracy. Ensure robust backup systems and documentation for all responsibilities.
• Provide strategic oversight for operational due diligence and legal reviews of prospective and existing managers. Partner with outside vendors and perform independent reviews as needed.
• Manage the onboarding and offboarding of investment managers, ensuring accurate account setup and seamless integration of data into organizational systems.
  
  

Qualifications

The successful candidate will have an understanding of the workings of an endowment investment office and an understanding of accounting and performance reporting. This individual will possess project management experience and the ability to streamline investment office processes through the use of technology. The individual will have the ability to work well with others and interface with investment managers, service providers, and UJA-Federation’s professional and lay leadership. The candidate will be an intellectually curious, self-motivated individual who is analytical and detail-oriented and has excellent written and oral communication skills.

Competencies And Education

• Bachelor’s degree in business accounting and/or finance; CPA license, a plus.
• Over seven years of accounting experience and/or investment operations experience including cash management and performance reporting.
• Over five years of administrative and project management skills, preferably in the investment industry. Experience managing direct reports preferred.
• Heavy attention to detail with strong problem-solving skills.
• Advanced excel skills with the ability to build models. Programming skills a plus.
• Strong interpersonal skills and communication skills, both written and oral.
• Self-motivated with a strong ability to manage multiple projects with limited direction.
  
  

Salary

The salary range for this role is $160,000 to $175,000; commensurate with experience and qualifications listed above.