Marlborough is a rapidly growing investment group that manages more than £10 billion for over 200,000 clients and employs some of the UK’s most respected fund managers. The group has its headquarters in Bolton and offices in London, Staffordshire, Guernsey and Dublin.

The companies in the group – Marlborough Fund Managers, Marlborough Investment Management, Marlborough International, Investment Fund Services Limited (IFSL) and IFSL International – employ more than 200 people. Marlborough’s success has been built on a reputation for excellence in active fund management, with the group leading the way in industry expertise, service quality, product understanding and added value for our investors.

As we continue with our ambitious growth plans, we are looking for talented financial services professionals who share our values and can help us ensure they remain at the heart of the business. That means putting our investors at the forefront of everything we do and constantly striving for excellence in the service we deliver. In addition to receiving a comprehensive benefits package, successful candidates will join a team who are committed to collaborative working in an environment where personal and professional development are genuinely valued.

To work collaboratively within the team to achieve the objective of managing the product review and approval process together with ensuring that all products manufactured by the firm are functioning as the business and investors would expect, that they are designed to satisfy the needs of the identified target market and that they continue to function correctly and meet regulatory requirements at all stages throughout the product life cycle.

The role requires a thorough understanding of the MIFID and PROD product management and governance requirements together with an in depth understanding of the investment funds business.

This is a client/investor centric role with wide stakeholder engagement.

We are happy for this role to be based either out of our Bolton or Peterborough office. We are also happy to consider a hybrid of office and home working or remote working for the right candidate.

Role Purpose

• Influencing all major stakeholders to implement and maintain robust processes and procedures. Conduct regular reviews and evidence outcomes to ensure we meet investor needs and demonstrate alignment with the Product Governance Framework.
• To support the business to understand their Product Governance responsibilities
• Working with and advising the business on new business pipeline and product changes to secure business/board level approval or timely challenge with a view to improve products’ time to market with key external stakeholders..
• To ensure implementation of the product governance policies and processes for the business.
• Work alongside business units and clients to design and manufacture products.
• To co-ordinate and assist in the production of Value Assessment reports across the fund range whilst meeting strict publication timelines.

• To be a subject matter expert and represent the Product Governance and Management team at internal and external meetings as and when required by the Head of Product Governance and Management.
• To develop and maintain product governance monitoring in order to highlight any concerns, propose action and track progress through to resolution.

Key Responsibilities

• To create and provide product governance reporting, in line with the requirements in the PROD sourcebook, to the Board and the relevant committees.
• Scope and agree product design or change with relevant business units and clients.
• Create specifications for new products and product changes for approval by the product governance committee.
• Scope product design and change requirements so that the Project Management team can effectively plan and deliver the project.
• To create, maintain and communicate the value assessment schedule to all key stakeholders ensuring key tasks are completed ahead of the Value Assessment Committee.
• Conduct value assessments for the funds, create reports and liaise with other stakeholders as required for input, challenge and approval.
• To maintain records and track progress of all product changes and developments, including where remedial actions have been instructed by the various Committees
• To approve for publication fund documentation including the Target market & distribution assessments for each fund and conduct a review of these on an annual basis
• To plan, coordinate and assist with the annual review of each fund to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the target market
• To review monthly the Product Governance Assessment report and highlight any areas that further investigation or provide rationale where no actions are required
• To be a member of the Change council

Essential skills:

• Excellent interpersonal and management skills
• Excellent collective investment scheme product knowledge
• Familiarity with the FCA and its regulations and principles
• Experience managing data and reporting
• PC literacy and internet skills
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft applications
• Analytical skills
• Attention to detail
• Accurate inputting skills
• Ability to problem solve and deal with complex queries
• Ability to prioritise

Beneficial Experience:

• Prior knowledge of Product Governance regulation
• Experience with collective investment scheme FCA applications

Qualifications:

• Qualified to degree level or able to demonstrate equivalent experience
• IOC (Investment Operations Certificate) qualification
• Investment industry specific qualification.

Experience:

• Experience of working in the investment industry with collective investment schemes
• Experience in a collective investment scheme product, oversight or technical role

Beneficial Experience:

• Management experience
• Proven ability to present information to boards and key clients

Personal Qualities:

• Ability to effectively manage and prioritise workloads
• Ability to take on responsibility for workload
• Ability to be flexible and learn quickly
• Ability to work under pressure to close deadlines
• Confident manner both written and verbally
• Positive attitude

• Competitive salary with annual salary reviews
• 25 days annual leave plus statutory bank holidays
• 9% non-contributory pension
• Annual discretionary bonus scheme
• Private Healthcare Scheme
• Death in Service at 5 x annual salary
• 35 hour working week
• Training for IOC and other relevant qualifications
• Exam completion bonus £500 (IOC)
• Study leave
• Cycle 2 work scheme
• Eye test reimbursement
• Your birthday off
• Christmas party and paid for social events during the year
• 13 weeks fully paid maternity leave
• 2 weeks fully paid paternity leave
• Perkbox membership - access to more than a hundred rewards, ranging from free food in major UK restaurants, to movie tickets and more.