01/10/2025

Address:

151 W 42nd Street

Job Family Group:

Customer Shared Services

Clearpool Settlement Operations - Associate Director

Role

This position’s responsibilities will include but is not limited to Managing Clearpool (CES) middle office operations and settlements. This role will be accountable for supporting operational processes related to clearing and settlements and will involve working directly with clients, CES’s clearing broker, the business group, and other internal teams.  The right candidate should possess excellent client service skills and prior experience with US Equities broker to broker, and DVP settlements. Familiarity with international settlements and asset servicing is a positive, with particular focus on Canada and UK/Europe.

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities

Work with CES client service and sales team to onboard and set-up new clients utilizing our proprietary systems.  Work with Clearing firm on any escalations regarding aged fails, trade breaks and or positions. Monitor trades to ensure settlement and work with clients, client services, custodians, clearing agents, and brokers to resolve settlement issues and resolve trade fails Respond to intraday trade inquiries from clients, Client Service and other BMO teams Review failed sales and escalated potential Regulation SHO issues Communicate buy-ins to affected clients and Help Desk. Represent the CES Ops team with other BMO teams to ensure compliance with operations regulations. Work extensively with Technology, Operations, Business Management, Client Service and other BMO teams to help manage the technology applications and business processes supporting trade settlement and asset servicing Work closely with BMO Settlements teams in Europe and Canada to work on establishing and or automating new processes involving CES client business and or non us clients executing with CES.

Education/Experience Requirements

Bachelor’s degree at a minimum. Series 99 (or ability to obtain within 6 months). Very strong Client Service skills are required. A minimum of three to five years prior US Equity settlements operations or middle office experience with strong understanding of broker/dealer operations. Prime brokerage Operations Experience is a plus Strong interpersonal skills and ability to interact with business and technical staff. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Strong computer skills. Strong organizational skills. Ability to work well under pressure and ability to multitask.

Provides support and delivers specific operational processes to ensure timely and accurate settlement of Security, Derivative, Foreign Exchange and Money Market transactions executed globally, and confirms the activity is accurately recorded in the bank's book of records. Specific operational processes include pre and post settlement support related to account opening, confirmation, cash management, margin, and collateralization. Also provides support for specialized operations - Asset Servicing (corporate actions/entitlements), Correspondent Banking Services, and the Wire Payment Operations hub for the bank. Ensures compliance with all regulatory topics and reporting requirements related to the products and processes it supports.

• Fosters a culture aligned to BMO purpose, values and strategy and role models BMO values and behaviours in all that they do.
• Ensures alignment between values and behaviour that fosters diversity and inclusion.
• Regularly connects work to BMO’s purpose, sets inspirational goals, defines clear expected outcomes, and ensures clear accountability for follow through.
• Builds interdependent teams that collaborate across functional and operating groups to create the highest value for all stakeholders.
• Attracts, retains, and enables the career development of top talent.
• Improves team performance, recognizes and rewards performance, coaches employees, supports their development, and manages poor performance.
• Provides strategic input into business decisions as a trusted advisor.
• Makes recommendations to senior leaders on strategy and new initiatives, based on an in-depth understanding of the business/group.
• Acts as a subject matter expert on relevant regulations and policies.
• May network with industry contacts to gain competitive insights and best practices.
• Leads the execution of strategic initiatives to deliver on business goals.
• Develops the business case by identifying needs, analysing potential options and assessing expected return on investment.
• Communicates with internal business partners and external customers to respond to standard and non-standard inquiries.
• Ensures alignment between stakeholders.
• Acts as the prime subject matter expert for internal/external stakeholders.
• Defines business requirements for analytics & reporting to ensure data insights inform business decision making.
• Integrates information from multiple sources to enable more efficient processes, enhanced analysis and/or streamlined reporting.
• Monitors and tracks performance, and addresses any issues.
• Builds change management plans of varying scope and type; leads or participates in a variety of change management activities including readiness assessments, planning, stakeholder management, execution, evaluation and sustainment of initiatives.
• Defines communication plans designed to positively influence or change behaviour; develops tailored messaging; and identifies appropriate distribution channels.
• Leads the execution of operational programs; assesses and adapts as needed to ensure quality of execution.
• Reviews the program for effectiveness, considers industry trends and recommends enhancements; makes changes as required.
• Employs systems (e.g. customized exception reports, tracking reports etc.) to manage information.
• Integrates information from multiple sources to enable more efficient processes, enhanced analysis and/or streamlined reporting.
• Fulfill routine and frequently non-routine transactions, internal business partner and/or external customer inquiries/requests, and/or audit/reconciliation activities.
• Analyzes and resolve complex issues efficiently and effectively in accordance with Bank and industry standards.
• Evaluates circumstances requiring exceptions and engages senior management for resolution where required.
• Oversees the design, development, and implementation of tools and training required to deliver business results.
• Participates/leads process/system continuous improvement initiatives.
• Leads/oversees the management of vendor relationships and provides guidelines for execution; ensures that all agreements are met as per requirements.
• Follows documented policies and procedures to execute day to day transactions, activities, processes and ensure all Service Level Agreements(SLAs) are met. Checks and reconciles information and documentation to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Analyzes data and information to provide insights and recommendations.
• Identifies and analyzes issues and problems, and resolves discrepancies in a timely manner. Deals with clients directly to resolve issues and/or escalates as required.
• Communicates and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders in order to deliver on business objectives.
• Develops and maintains effective relationships with internal & external stakeholders to execute work and fulfill service delivery expectations.
• Communicates and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders in order to deliver on business objectives.
• Understands the regulatory requirements and risks inherent in the operations and ensures appropriate actions are taken and operational integrity is maintained.
• Collaborates in development/implementation of new processes/systems and changes/improvements to existing systems and processes.
• Supports the development of tools and delivery of training focused on delivering business results.
• Operates at a group/enterprise-wide level and serves as a specialist resource to senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Applies expertise and thinks creatively to address unique or ambiguous situations and to find solutions to problems that can be complex and non-routine.
• Implements changes in response to shifting trends.
• Broader work or accountabilities may be assigned as needed.

  Qualifications:

• Typically 7+ years of relevant experience and post-secondary degree in related field of study or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge and experience using relevant systems and technology – In-depth.
• Knowledge and understanding of the business unit’s key products and services, processes and controls – Expert.
• Knowledge of the risk and regulatory requirements of the business – Expert.
• Prioritization skills – In-depth.
• Customer service skills – Expert.
• PC skills (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint) – In-depth.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• Seasoned professional with a combination of education, experience and industry knowledge.
• Verbal & written communication skills - In-depth / Expert.
• Analytical and problem solving skills - In-depth / Expert.
• Influence skills - In-depth / Expert.
• Collaboration & team skills; with a focus on cross-group collaboration - In-depth / Expert.
• Able to manage ambiguity.
• Data driven decision making - In-depth / Expert.

Salary:

$110,000.00 - $204,100.00

Pay Type:

Salaried

The above represents BMO Financial Group’s pay range and type.

Salaries will vary based on factors such as location, skills, experience, education, and qualifications for the role, and may include a commission structure. Salaries for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on number of hours regularly worked. For commission roles, the salary listed above represents BMO Financial Group’s expected target for the first year in this position.

BMO Financial Group’s total compensation package will vary based on the pay type of the position and may include performance-based incentives, discretionary bonuses, as well as other perks and rewards. BMO also offers health insurance, tuition reimbursement, accident and life insurance, and retirement savings plans. To view more details of our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.bmo.com/global/en/Total-Rewards

About Us

At BMO we are driven by a shared Purpose: Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. It calls on us to create lasting, positive change for our customers, our communities and our people. By working together, innovating and pushing boundaries, we transform lives and businesses, and power economic growth around the world.

As a member of the BMO team you are valued, respected and heard, and you have more ways to grow and make an impact.  We strive to help you make an impact from day one – for yourself and our customers.  We’ll support you with the tools and resources you need to reach new milestones, as you help our customers reach theirs. From in-depth training and coaching, to manager support and network-building opportunities, we’ll help you gain valuable experience, and broaden your skillset.

To find out more visit us at http://jobs.bmo.com/us/en

BMO is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. We evaluate applicants without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or any other legally protected characteristics. We also consider applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.

BMO is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to [email protected] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Note to Recruiters: BMO does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to BMO, directly or indirectly, will be considered BMO property. BMO will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. A recruiting agency must first have a valid, written and fully executed agency agreement contract for service to submit resumes.