Fund Controller

Job Description

Global Private Markets Operations - Real Estate Operations

Fund Controller – Real Estate

Background

abrdn Investments is a leading global asset management company with a global footprint. Operations is committed to delivering a truly global, scalable and efficient operating platform at the heart of establishing and maintaining equilibrium in the firm, powering the investment management process and global distribution. We also play a core role in facilitating the product development process, fostering innovation and working with a range of trusted global third party providers to ensure world class service provision.

Global Private Markets Operations is a specialist operational partner providing expertise and support to the Private Markets’ asset classes and Investment teams whilst leveraging a number of services from the rest of Operations. Global Private Markets Operations supports all alternative and real estate asset classes whilst recognising the differences in execution and specialism across different asset classes, clients, geographies and systems. We also support emerging new asset classes and new products combining different Private Markets and/or traditional asset classes. By bringing these and related activities together, we work together on common initiatives enabling us to become more scalable, efficient and consistent globally.

Role Purpose

Reporting to the Fund Control Manager, this role carries responsibility for Fund Control of existing and new product offerings within direct real estate operations.

Direct real estate operations is a department within Private Markets Operations and encompass funds and mandates with mainly non UK investments. The assets are typically held within a private markets style fund wrapper such as a limited partnership, RAIF or investment trust but may also include segregated mandates and other fund wrappers. There will normally be multiple special purpose vehicles in the structure and there may be external bank debt, derivatives, indirect investments and a high degree of tax and structuring and / or operational complexity.

The role holder will work closely with other Private Markets Operations teams worldwide, the Investment teams and other relevant teams to achieve our goals of excellent service, scalability, efficiency and global consistency. 

Core Roles and Responsibilities

• Fund Accounting for German domestic funds including all General Ledger and Sub Ledger postings (Fixed Asset, accounts payable and accounts receivable etc.)
• Reconciliation and import of data deliveries from external service providers
• Preparation of monthly and annual financial statements
• Preparation of monthly client reporting and regulatory reporting
• VAT reconciliation
• Coordination of annual audits
• Interaction, oversight and KPIs on local Service Provider
• Payments

Skills, Experience & Qualifikation

• Training as an accountant, tax clerk or business economist with at least 2 years of professional experience
• Excellent knowledge of HGB and KAGB (desirable)
• Excellent Excel skills
• Self-motivated with excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Excellent knowledge of German and English language

Competencies

• Collaborates: communication skills and teamwork – developing trusting and collaborate working relationships across the business, sharing information, respective interests and areas of expertise.
• Client focus: creates client value – anticipating and incorporating (internal or external) client needs .
• Demonstrates responsibility and accountability: holds self and others accountable – holding self and others to account to complete tasks comprehensively and to a high standard and in alignment with regulations, legislation, governance and compliance requirements.
• Delivers with excellence: makes sound decisions – making proactive and high quality decisions, balancing priorities and leveraging knowledge of the whole business.
• Applies technical knowledge: uses technical knowledge to inform – applying and clearly communicating relevant functionally-specific knowledge to generate solutions and complete work.
• Planning & organising – schedules daily work and does not rely on others to prioritise activities.
• Tenacity – copes well with high volumes of work and thrives in a fast paced work environment.

We’re committed to providing an inclusive workplace where all forms of difference are valued and which is free from any form of unfair or unlawful treatment. We define diversity in its broadest sense – this includes but is not limited to our diversity of educational and professional backgrounds, experience, cognitive and neurodiversity, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion or belief and ethnicity and geographical provenance. We support a culture that values meritocracy, fairness and transparency and welcomes enquiries from everyone.If you need assistance or an adjustment due to a disability please let us know as part of your application and we will assist.