Senior Business Analyst - Derivatives & Collateral

Global Derivative Services (GDS) is responsible for all back-office functions that support derivative trading enterprise-wide, including both the General Account and 3rd party funds handled by Manulife Investment Management across multiple legal entities, segments and portfolios. Instrument types comprised of cleared and over-the-counter swaps, futures, options, fx and the candidate should have intimate knowledge of each. Daily functions include derivative trade life cycle processing, trade confirmations, reconciliations, OTC and margin settlements, fielding audit inquiries, liaising with Front Office and Solutions Teams, collateral management, static data maintenance and reporting.

Senior Business Analysts are on the Derivatives & Collateral Solutions team, embedded within the GDS Group, and are responsible for business requirements documentation and performing User Acceptance Testing. The Solutions team represents the other GDS teams during the SDLC process, advocating for those teams while working with Technology partners.

The opportunity

The Senior Business Analyst - Derivatives & Collateral will be responsible for performing sophisticated research and analysis of major derivatives and collateral initiatives to identify, document and analyze complex processing, service and/or technical improvement opportunities. Business initiatives may also include implementations of new technologies and new product implementations.

Responsibilities:

1. Work independently, or with management, to identify sophisticated operational business issues and develop creative solutions involving workflow procedures and/or new technologies.
2. Review and redefine project plans to ensure plans are complete.
3. Coordinate post implementation support for all projects and initiatives.
4. Represent business unit in major division or corporate initiatives, ensuring business unit needs are appropriately addressed.
5. Keep current on possible future initiatives affecting the business areas and the Company.
6. Identification of solutions and alternatives to business and system problems, outlining their relative merits, cost, compatibility, etc, to ensure clients make informed decisions.
7. Use industry experience and contacts to assist GDS teams in understanding what other similar companies are doing with regards to providing like solutions for initiatives tables (i.e. "best of breed" solutions).
8. Development of individual as well as multi-functional feasibility studies and cases for new initiatives that will identify the business requirements and detail cost/benefit analysis to gain overall approval.
9. Build and maintain external vendor relationships to stay ahead of changing practices in the financial sector and bring together research of options available to assist business partners in making informed decisions regarding specific business needs.
10. Establish relationships with business leaders in order to identify optimal solutions for sophisticated business needs. Use your industry knowledge and expertise, as well as external service providers to support new processes or requests by clients.
11. Ensure that all processes and systems work within the mandated regulatory and compliance requirements for the industry.
12. Development of test strategies, test plans, test cases and expected results in consultation with clients to ensure that initiatives being implemented meet expected deliverables.
13. Ensure team members have a common understanding of project deliverables and parameters (e.g. Time, cost, quality and benefits).
14. Exercise judgment in identifying issues, modifying plans as business conditions change, assessing courses of action and developing recommendations.
15. Maintain focus as priorities change, keeping business needs and importance in perspective as it relates to overall strategic goals and communicating these changes in an understandable, justified and acceptable means.
16. Act as a mentor in terms of implementing superior Application management processes/methodology, particularly within Derivatives and Collateral and the more technical resources working on projects from other areas (Compliance, Risk Management, Front Office, etc.).
17. Provide real time systems support for derivative operations as needed for pricing, data capture/processing, batch processes, etc.
18. Track business requirements through the Work Request or project processes contributing, as needed, to the design/analysis and testing phases.
19. Trouble shoot existing processes to discover errors, inefficiencies, and automation opportunities.

How will you create impact?

This role will report to a senior member of the Derivatives & Collateral Solutions team and will work on time sensitive derivatives and collateral projects for Front, Middle, and Back Office teams. The incumbent will become an expert on the Collateral Management and Derivatives systems to the point where they will be the go-to person to help resolve production questions and issues. This role is becoming increasingly critical to the organization as derivatives and collateral play an important role in the firm's daily investment activities.

What motivates you?

• You obsess about customers, listen, engage and act for their benefit.
• You think big, with curiosity to discover ways to use your agile approach and enable business outcomes.
• You thrive in teams and enjoy getting things done together.
• You take ownership and build solutions, focusing on what matters.
• You do what is right, work with integrity and speak up.
• You share your humanity, helping us build a diverse and inclusive work environment for everyone.

What we are looking for

Technical Skills

• University degree in Business/Finance.
• MBA, CPA, CFA, FRM or similar certification would be an asset.
• 5-8 years Business Analysis experience in Application Management environment within the financial sector.
• Experience with SDLC (software development life cycle) or Agile methodology.
• Hands on experience with SQL and an understanding of Java language.
• Experience with business requirements gathering and UAT script/scenario documentation.
• In-depth understanding of strategic business objectives combined with broad industry knowledge of investment products, market practices and derivatives operations.
• Experience with Apex, COLLINE, FINDUR, SUMMIT, Calypso, Murex, Sungard or similar derivatives/collateral applications is required.
• Knowledge and understanding of system design and analysis, acceptance and user testing, training and product improvement methodologies.

Industry Specific Skills

• Strong Investment business knowledge, especially with derivatives trade lifecycle and Collateral Operations functions, with 5+ years of hands-on experience as a Business Analyst in Derivatives/Collateral/Investment IT Application Management.
• Exposure to OTC and exchange traded derivatives through formal course work and/or industry experience.
• Knowledge of financial services industry compliance and regulatory requirements.

Other Skills

• Ability to handle multiple demands and competing priorities of multiple, large initiatives.
• Proven capability in initiating, motivating and handling change successfully.
• Highly developed presentation and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team in an international setting.
• Able to analyze complex subject matter and propose solutions.
• Proactive versus correction problem resolution.

Bilingual (French & English) is required - The successful candidate will be required to communicate in English and French to support clients from various jurisdictions outside of Quebec.

What can we offer you?

• A competitive salary and benefits packages.
• A growth trajectory that extends upward and outward, encouraging you to follow your passions and learn new skills.
• A focus on growing your career path with us.
• Flexible work policies and strong work-life balance.
• Professional development and leadership opportunities.

Our commitment to you

• Values-first culture
  We lead with our Values every day and bring them to life together.
• Boundless opportunity
  We create opportunities to learn and grow at every stage of your career.
• Continuous innovation
  We invite you to help redefine the future of financial services.
• Delivering the promise of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  We foster an inclusive workplace where everyone thrives.
• Championing Corporate Citizenship
  We build a business that benefits all stakeholders and has a positive social and environmental impact.

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact recruitment@manulife.com.

Primary Location

Montreal, Quebec

Working Arrangement

Hybrid

Salary range is expected to be between

$81,450.00 CAD - $146,610.00 CAD

If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact recruitment@manulife.com for the salary range for your location. The actual salary will vary depending on local market conditions, geography and relevant job-related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience, and education/training. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance.

Manulife offers eligible employees a wide array of customizable benefits, including health, dental, mental health, vision, short- and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance coverage, adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits, and employee/family assistance plans. We also offer eligible employees various retirement savings plans (including pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources. Our generous paid time off program in Canada includes holidays, vacation, personal, and sick days, and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence. If you are applying for this role in the U.S., please contact recruitment@manulife.com for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.