Sarah Vale

Results-driven Management professional with 20 years of experience in Asset Management operations, production management, organisational development and team building within diverse industries. Highly adept in planning, coordinating and executing successful production strategies. Track record of improving operational stability, efficiency and profitability.

Strong collaborator with senior stakeholders, effectively prioritising activities, translating business requirements into solutions and achieving defined objectives.

An influential leader with strong communication and interpersonal skills with the proven ability to head and successfully drive teams to execute financial operations, data migrations and cash transfers in full compliance to regulations, policies, and best practices, regardless of pressure.

Fairstone Private Wealth ltd

Platform Manager 04/2021 – to Date

• Manage the regulations and operational aspects of the managed portfolio service and the oversight of and relationships with operating platforms.
• Prepare and Analyse Due Diligence from Platforms and Advisors
• Developed, recommended, and implemented strategies to improve employee work quality and speed.
• Partnered with internal teams to develop new operating opportunities to enhance service delivery.
• Served as key corporate representative, liaising with various stakeholders in support of operational excellence.
• Monitored and reviewed operational performance, aiding improved business strategy to maximise productivity.
• Performed strategic process improvements and updated methodologies to enhance operations. Established and maintained robust links between systems.
• Partnered with users to understand and define system requirements.
• Consulted with users and management to formulate guiding principles.
• Navigated multiple application-specific interfaces to carry out analysis.
• Outlined needs to meet end user requirements.
• Wrote functional specifications for systems developers and completed regular updates to incorporate changes.
• Constructed and managed investment portfolios as outlined in company procedures.
• Responded swiftly to investment queries to maintain high levels of client satisfaction.

Square Mile Investment Consulting & Research

Operations Manager 11/2020 – to Date

Manage the regulations and operational aspects of the managed portfolio service and the oversight of and relationships with operating platforms.

• Prepare and Analyse Due Diligence from Platforms and Advisors
• Manager Advisor Contracts, addendums and Applications
• Analyse share classes ensuring the cheapest is available and used
• Mapping of Funds 
• Promote and build effective connections with Fund manager and platforms to ensure positive working relationships
• Develop new process for automation
• Monitored multiple platform and databases to keep track of all trading activity and money movements
• Involved in developing the implementation approach and managing the impact of using a New Data Provider

Independent Strategic Group

Head of Operations 11/2015 –10/2020

• Responsible for provide initial screening of investment managers; participating in meetings with the managers; quantitative performance analysis and qualitative due diligence; and participating in internal discussions that lead to an investment recommendation
• Assist in the preparation of investment due diligence reports
• Provide ongoing monitoring of funds in client portfolios or on fund lists in the given strategy to ensure accuracy of existing research and ratings
• Help build relationships with the client and covered managers to assist with client access to funds
• Reviewing and analysing Fund documents, including prospectuses, legal agreements and financial statements, setting up dedicated mandates and assessing the systems and controls of external managers on-site.
• Responsible for the production and maintenance of asset class/industry research outlining the key attributes, trends and drivers of a given strategy.
• Participated in due diligence meetings with current and prospective Fund Manager.
• Execute ongoing monitoring of funds in the strategy and clients’ portfolios to ensure accuracy of existing research and ratings.
• Support business development activities, including involvement in client marketing and portfolio construction as needed.
• Responsible for providing leadership and direction to a diverse global team to deliver a world class Operations processing service for our business and clients base.
• Drive a proactive agenda and strategy, ensuring a robust control environment, enhancing our service capabilities, simplifying our systems to build appropriate products whilst maintaining upmost expense rigor to meet productivity targets and budget plans
• Develop an effective control framework that fully meets Audit, Compliance and Regulatory requirements; delivery of periodic presentations to external regulators as required
• Maintaining a culture and environment where processes and controls are continually monitored, and potential risks escalated on a timely basis
• Delivered an exceptional level of service to each customer by listening to concerns and answering questions.
• Detailed client understanding and cross functional relationship management
• Build and maintain effective connections with clients and partners to ensure positive working relationships
• Proactively assesses, clarify, and validate client and partner needs on an ongoing basis
• Managed a team of 30 employees, overseeing the hiring, training, and professional growth of employees.
• Oversaw 29 customer accounts with a combined AUM £4 billion.
• Analysed departmental documents for appropriate Regulatory content, distribution and filing.
• Implemented new team on-boarding program, compliance manuals and staff handbook
• Monitored multiple platform and databases to keep track of all trading activity and money movements
• Supported CEO in improving operations and resolving issues to deliver Great customer service.
• Researched and updated all required materials needed for firm and partners.
• Interface with key development staff and other product management team members to complete solution design or other custom materials as needed
• Participate in client lifecycle initial stages to influence key implementation decisions
• Developed new process for employee evaluation which resulted in marked performance improvements.
• Supported Chief Operating Officer with daily operational functions.
• Supported CEO in improving operations and resolving issues to deliver Great customer service.
• Researched and updated all required materials needed for firm and partners.
• Ensure Health & Safety standards are met, including risk management

BTEC First and BTEC National Diplomas in Business & Finance