Specialist, Settlement Services (Al Ain)

Role overview

This role is focused on end-to-end settlement operations across domestic, regional, and international markets. The work spans a wide range of products including equities, mutual funds, fixed income, hedge funds, structured funds, ETFs, local and international securities lending and borrowing, and local market short selling. The aim is to deliver a high standard of client service while maintaining strong control, accuracy, and compliance.

What you'll do

• Oversee the daily monitoring and processing of settlement activity across local, regional, and global markets.
• Manage complex settlement transactions by receiving client, market, and sub-custodian instructions, checking them for accuracy, and ensuring timely matching and settlement.
• Work closely with clients, counterparties, markets, sub-custodians, regulators, companies, brokers, paying agents, issuers, and other stakeholders involved in the settlement cycle.
• Maintain and follow quality control standards, procedures, policies, and operating instructions.
• Provide initial training support to newly joined specialists and help colleagues resolve queries.
• Handle client cash management activities to support smooth settlement across markets.
• Support securities lending and borrowing activities, including high-value and operationally complex transactions, while helping prevent financial, reputational, and operational risk.
• Take part in section projects such as system upgrades, process changes, enhancement work, and after-hours testing.
• Support implementation of settlement processing for new clients, SLAs, SLDs, sub-custodian arrangements, new products, market rules, and regulatory changes.
• Identify process risks created by market changes and help design suitable controls.
• Coordinate with internal teams and external parties on projects aimed at process re-engineering, better client delivery, and reduced manual work.
• Prepare timely and accurate statements and reports as required by the department.
• Monitor and respond to client queries with clear settlement information aligned to market rules and best practices.
• Review transactions, reconciliations, cash positions, positions/holdings, SWIFT instructions, and related reports, escalating exceptions to the VP where needed.
• Track controls, KPIs, KRIs, capacity planning, incidents, and compliance/audit requirements, and ensure adherence to standards.
• Contribute to continuous improvement efforts that improve productivity, sustainability, quality, and cost efficiency.

Additional information

• The department currently covers Position Management, Security/Cash Settlement, Corporate Actions, Reporting, Invoicing, Reconciliation, SWIFT, Market Security Movement, FX Management, Cash Management, Project Support, Proxy Services, Tax Reclaims, and Income Management.
• Planned growth includes support for Securities Lending, Client Short Selling, Network Management Support, Claim Management, and other related services.
• The role requires comfort with significant transaction volumes, complex product structures, and a fast-changing business environment.
• Strong execution, follow-up, relationship management, and the ability to challenge ideas constructively are important for success in this position.

Minimum qualification

A university degree or bachelor’s degree is expected. Candidates with around 5 years of relevant work experience may also be considered in place of the degree requirement.

Minimum experience

You should bring at least 5 years of relevant experience in security services or back-office operations, preferably with exposure to securities settlements and/or corporate actions. A solid understanding of security services, operations, and the related accounting activity is required.

Working style

This position calls for a person who can work under pressure, manage several priorities at once, and stay focused on business goals without weakening controls or risk limits.