Head of Transfer Agency

A newly established Transfer Agent department is being formed to serve as the central liaison between investors and the fund, while also managing relationships with both domestic and international Transfer Agents and related service providers. This department will be responsible for maintaining and overseeing the shareholder or unitholder register, processing investor transactions, managing transfers, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, including KYC procedures and initial control functions.

To lead this strategic initiative, the organization is seeking an experienced and visionary Head of Transfer Agency to shape and drive the evolution of Transfer Agency operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the centralized TA department, overseeing TA Operations, KYC Onboarding, AML processes, Shareholder Services, and Distribution/Retrocession activities.
• Supervise daily operations of delegated Transfer Agents, ensuring accurate and timely processing of investor transactions, capital calls, distributions, and inquiries.
• Manage the organization's KYC and investor onboarding processes.
• Mentor and develop a team of TA professionals, promoting a culture of accountability, service excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure adherence to regulatory requirements and internal policies across all jurisdictions.

• Direct the global TA function, ensuring operational efficiency and regulatory compliance.
• Design and implement a scalable target operating model for TA and KYC services aligned with the organization's strategic objectives.
• Lead the internalization of KYC activities, including onboarding, due diligence, monitoring, and AML scoring.
• Establish and integrate support centers outside the primary jurisdiction to enhance service delivery and cost efficiency.
• Drive transformation initiatives such as automation, digitalization, and process optimization.
• Manage budgeting and forecasting for the TA function.

• Serve as the primary contact for internal and external stakeholders (e.g., regulators, auditors) on TA matters.
• Collaborate with departments such as Legal, Compliance, Risk, and IT to ensure strong governance and risk management.
• Represent the TA function in client meetings, regulatory discussions, and industry forums.
• Oversee management reporting and Service Level Agreement (SLA) negotiations.

Requirements

• Over 15 years of experience in Transfer Agency, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Proven experience in establishing and managing offshore or nearshore support centers.
• Strong expertise in KYC/AML regulations and internalizing KYC functions.
• Demonstrated success in designing and implementing target operating models and leading change initiatives.
• Deep understanding of operational risk frameworks in regulated environments.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluency in English; additional languages are advantageous.
• Background in private equity, real assets, alternative investments, and UCITS structures.
• Familiarity with TA or KYC systems such as Multifonds, Investran, eFront, Fenegro, Cascade, or Worldcheck.
• Project management certification (e.g., PMP, Prince2) is a plus.