Job Title: Senior Fund Expense Allocation Specialist
Location: UAE (Remote)
Employment Type: Full-Time
Level: Senior
Work Arrangement: Fully Remote
About UsWe are seeking an experienced Senior Fund Expense Allocation Specialist to oversee fund expense allocation, expense accruals, fee calculations, and cost distribution across investment funds and portfolios. This role is responsible for ensuring that expenses are allocated accurately, consistently, and transparently in accordance with fund documentation, investment management agreements, internal policies, and applicable regulatory requirements.
The ideal candidate has strong expertise in fund accounting, expense allocation methodologies, financial controls, and fund operations, with the ability to investigate discrepancies, improve processes, and collaborate effectively with fund administrators, finance teams, investment managers, and other stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities Fund Expense Allocation: Oversee the allocation of operating expenses, management fees, administration fees, custody fees, audit fees, legal expenses, and other fund-related costs across funds, share classes, and investment portfolios.
* Expense Accruals and Reconciliation: Review expense accruals, validate supporting documentation, and reconcile allocated expenses against accounting records, invoices, budgets, and fund administrator reports.
* Allocation Methodologies: Develop, maintain, and review allocation methodologies based on fund size, net asset value (NAV), investor holdings, transaction activity, usage, or other approved allocation drivers.
* Fund Documentation Compliance: Ensure allocations comply with fund prospectuses, offering memoranda, limited partnership agreements, investment management agreements, service contracts, and internal policies.
* Management Fee and Operating Cost Review: Validate management fees, performance-related expenses where applicable, fund-level charges, and other costs to ensure accurate calculation and treatment.
* Cross-Fund Expense Oversight: Identify and prevent inappropriate cross-subsidization between funds, share classes, mandates, or investor groups.
* NAV and Financial Reporting Support: Coordinate with fund accounting teams to ensure expense allocations are accurately reflected in NAV calculations, financial statements, investor reporting, and periodic fund reports.
* Exception Management: Investigate unusual expense movements, allocation variances, duplicate charges, incorrect cost classifications, and unexplained differences, ensuring timely resolution.
* Internal Controls and Audit Support: Maintain clear audit trails, allocation schedules, approval records, and supporting documentation for internal reviews, external audits, and regulatory examinations.
* Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to automate expense calculations, strengthen validation controls, standardize allocation procedures, and reduce manual processing risks.
* Stakeholder Coordination: Work closely with fund administrators, finance, compliance, operations, portfolio management, and external service providers to resolve complex expense allocation matters.
* Team Guidance:* Provide technical guidance to junior team members, review complex allocation cases, and promote consistent application of fund expense policies.
Qualifications and Experience
- * Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
- Professional qualifications such as ACCA, CPA, CFA, CIMA, or an equivalent credential are advantageous.
- Significant experience in fund accounting, fund operations, expense allocation, financial control, or investment fund administration.
- Strong understanding of fund structures, share classes, NAV calculations, expense accruals, management fees, and fund financial reporting.
- Practical experience reviewing fund documentation and translating contractual expense provisions into operational allocation procedures.
- Knowledge of investment fund structures, including mutual funds, private funds, alternative investment funds, or institutional investment mandates.
- Strong reconciliation, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to investigate complex allocation discrepancies.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including advanced formulas, pivot tables, data analysis, and financial reconciliation techniques.
- Experience with fund accounting platforms, portfolio accounting systems, or financial reporting tools is preferred.
- Familiarity with internal controls, audit requirements, and relevant fund accounting and regulatory standards.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain allocation methodologies and findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- High attention to detail, strong organizational skills, professional integrity, and the ability to manage multiple reporting deadlines independently.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)Performance will be assessed using measurable indicators, including:
- Allocation Accuracy: Percentage of expense allocations completed correctly and in accordance with approved methodologies.
- Timeliness: Completion of expense calculations, accruals, reconciliations, and reporting within established deadlines.
- Reconciliation Quality: Number and materiality of unresolved discrepancies across fund accounting records, invoices, and administrator reports.
- Exception Resolution: Average time required to investigate and resolve expense allocation errors and disputed charges.
- Control Effectiveness: Compliance with approval workflows, documentation standards, segregation of duties, and internal control requirements.
- Audit Readiness: Completeness and accuracy of supporting schedules, allocation records, and audit documentation.
- Cost Allocation Compliance: Adherence to fund documentation, contractual requirements, and approved allocation policies.
- Process Efficiency: Reduction in manual adjustments, recurring errors, processing time, and avoidable operational costs.
- Stakeholder Service: Timely responses to queries from fund administrators, finance teams, auditors, and other internal or external stakeholders.
- Continuous Improvement: Successful implementation of process enhancements, automation initiatives, and allocation control improvements.
What We Offer
- * Competitive compensation aligned with experience and technical expertise.
- Fully remote working arrangement based in the UAE employment framework, subject to applicable employment and work authorization requirements.
- Opportunity to work with complex investment fund structures and sophisticated financial operations.
- Professional development opportunities in fund accounting, expense governance, and investment operations.
- A collaborative environment that values accuracy, accountability, process improvement, and professional growth.
- Opportunities to contribute to the enhancement of fund expense controls, reporting standards, and operational efficiency.
How to ApplyInterested candidates should submit an updated CV highlighting their experience in fund expense allocation, fund accounting, expense accruals, reconciliation, and investment fund operations.
Please include examples of relevant experience with allocation methodologies, complex fund structures, expense control improvements, or audit support where applicable.
- Email Subject Line: Application – Senior Fund Expense Allocation Specialist (UAE Remote)
