Middle Office Operations Associate

Middle Office Operations Associate

Artisan Partners Limited Partnership is seeking a highly motivated, detail-oriented associate to join the middle office operations team. This role will be responsible for ensuring the accuracy and timely communication of books and records for investment strategies holding a diverse asset class of bonds, derivatives, equities and loans. The selected candidate will be responsible for managing daily processes such as OTC collateral management, cleared OTC margin processes, cash and position reconciliation, vendor oversight, exception reporting and resolution, as well as other operational controls that support trading.

The ideal candidate for this role will possess a sharp attention to detail and a strong understanding of the derivative trade lifecycle. As a middle office operations associate, the individual will be expected to coordinate and communicate effectively with both internal teams and external stakeholders. Success in this role requires a proactive approach, strong time management skills, and clear and concise communication.

Location: Milwaukee, WI | Chicago, IL

Milwaukee preferred. Relocation offered. Other locations will be considered with regular travel to Milwaukee headquarters required.

Responsibilities

The candidate can expect to:

• Perform daily cash, position, and transaction reconciliations between internal records, custodians, and counterparties
• Investigate cash and position exceptions promptly, appropriately assigning breaks to responsible parties
• Administer the accurate and timely reporting of investable cash across portfolios
• Ensure daily confirmation and settlement of futures and cleared OTC variation margin
• Issue and respond to daily OTC margin calls related to bilateral and PB counterparties
• Reconcile repo positions to aid front office in margin obligations
• Engage with clearing brokers, counterparties, custodians and fund administrators to ensure optimal lifecycle support
• Maintain proper supporting documentation related to operational controls to ensure compliance and audit requirements are met
• Assist in developing and enhancing workflows, controls and reporting to increase efficiency and mitigate risk
• Actively participate in projects and initiatives as needed

Qualifications

The successful candidate will possess strong analytical skills and attention to detail. Additionally, the ideal candidate will possess:

• Undergraduate degree in Finance, Accounting or Economics required
• 2-5 years of relevant work experience
• Willingness to perform structured tasks with a high sense of urgency and excellent attention to detail
• Strong analytical skills and critical thinking
• Ability to identify and escalate issues
• Works effectively with internal and external partners, from peer group to senior managers or service providers
• Deep understanding of cleared derivatives and margining
• Familiarity with industry utilities and platforms (e.g. Acadia, Trioptima) is a plus; experience with BlackRock's Aladdin preferred
• Previous financial services experience required

Artisan Partners Limited Partnership is an equal opportunity employer. Artisan Partners does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected under applicable law. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need.