Operations Associate
SOFT DOLLAR ADMINISTRATION•Reduced annual spend by ~$5 million between EOY 2011 and December 2012 and decreased projected 2013 spend by ~$2 million.•Primary point of contact for over 200 research and market data vendors, as well as multiple CSA relationships.•Manage a database containing information related to soft dollar payments, Commission Sharing Arrangement (“CSA”) balance transfers and employee payment allocations. Reconcile CSA payments on a monthly basis.•Administer market data usage, including creating and updating user lists. Maintain a proprietary spreadsheet tracking market data spend for all employees (front and back office).•Track all vendors (both research and market data), vendor approval status, users, annual service costs and material contract terms.•Work with head of trading and director of operations to obtain compliance, budgetary and supervisory approvals. Work with portfolio managers regarding renewals, terminations and onboarding of vendors.COMMISSION MANAGEMENT•Track and monitor soft dollar commission balances across CSA relationships.•Work with IT developers to create a database to facilitate automatic monthly reconciliation of commissions across all CSA relationships. Resolve any reconciliation discrepancies with CSA’s directly.•Provide a weekly commission report to the head of trading and director of operations tracking current CSA balances, YTD soft dollar accruals, YTD payments and commissions paid to all executing brokers.LEGAL AND COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT LIASON•Assist Legal Department with drafting and negotiation of research and consulting agreements, as well as other related agreements.•Assist the Compliance Department with performing due diligence on vendors.•Perform analysis to ensure all services paid for via soft dollars fall within Section 28(e) of the Exchange Act of 1934 (“28(e)”).•Revise soft dollar related internal policies and procedures in accordance with 28(e) and industry guidelines.
