Associate Director - Emerging Technology Portfolio

at  Aztec Group

REPORTS TO: DIRECTOR – MARKETS TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

The Associate Director for the Emerging Technology Portfolio is a key leadership position within the Markets Technology Services team. This role focuses on the management and optimisation of a diverse portfolio of niche, high-impact applications that deliver innovation and specialised capabilities for Aztec Group’s clients. You will ensure these applications align with the business’s strategic objectives and leverage robust data management and integration practices to maximise their impact and interoperability.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, EXPERTISE:

• Data Management Expertise: Deep understanding of data governance, quality, and lifecycle management, with experience implementing master data management (MDM) practices.
• Integration Knowledge: Proficient in managing APIs, middleware, and data pipelines to enable seamless system interoperability and data sharing.
• Strategic Vision: Ability to align technology and data initiatives with business objectives, translating complex requirements into actionable roadmaps.
• Technical Expertise: Familiarity with application architecture, cloud technologies, and reporting solutions, with a focus on financial services systems (e.g., eFront, Yardi, Viewpoint, Fenergo).
• Leadership: Proven experience in leading cross-functional teams, driving engagement, and fostering innovation.
• Client-Centric Approach: Strong understanding of client needs in financial services, ensuring applications and integrations deliver exceptional value and insights.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in technology, data management, or a finance related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in technology, data management, or applications management roles within financial services, with at least 3 years in a leadership capacity.
• Strong track record of delivering integrated application solutions and data strategies.
• Experience with data governance frameworks, ETL tools, and middleware platforms.
• Familiarity with Aztec’s key platforms (e.g., eFront, Yardi, Fenergo, Investran, Medius and client-facing portals).
• Previous practical IT Application Support Management experience within a financial services business, supported by a relevant professional qualification
• Strong stakeholder and relationship management skills
• A broad technical understanding of a wide range of applications and technologies, including Cloud
• Ability to lead, coach and mentor a team aligning to Aztec Group values
• Good understanding of technical principles
• Strong internal and external communication and interpersonal skills, together with the ability to develop good working relationships within the business, the IT team and with other service providers
• Proven ability to quickly learn new information, processes and procedures
• Proven ability to meet deadlines and identify and deal with problems
• Occasional travel to other jurisdictional offices will be required
  You will need to be quick to learn new systems and be great with people, as close working relationships between our colleagues and clients is at the heart of what we do. Beyond that, we will be with you every step of the way, enabling you to get the most out of your role, grow your skills your way, and see your career develop in the way you want. Be part of our talented Technology team and unbox your passion at a multi-award-winning leader in the alternative fund management industry

Portfolio Leadership:

• Oversee the strategic roadmap for a portfolio of innovative, client-centric applications, ensuring alignment with business priorities and the broader technology strategy.
• Drive the adoption and integration of these applications to deliver value across operational and client-facing teams.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify, prioritise, and implement improvements or new features to meet evolving client needs.

Data Management and Integrations:

• Ensure effective data governance across all applications, promoting accuracy, security, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Work with the data team to develop and oversee integration strategies to enable seamless data flow between applications, enterprise systems (e.g., eFront, Yardi, Fenergo), and client-facing portals (e.g., Aztec Connect, Aztec Verify).
• Champion the use of APIs and middleware solutions to streamline data sharing, reduce manual processes, and enhance reporting capabilities.
• Drive the adoption of master data management (MDM) practices to ensure consistency and reliability across systems.
• Partner with data architects and reporting teams to deliver integrated insights, enabling advanced analytics and decision-making.

Innovation and Adoption:

• Continuously identify and evaluate emerging technologies in data management, integrations, and client-facing solutions that can differentiate Aztec Group in the market.
• Champion innovative approaches to leverage existing applications and introduce new tools that enhance efficiency, scalability, and client satisfaction.

Vendor and Partner Management:

• Build strong relationships with third-party vendors, ensuring service delivery meets performance, security, and cost-effectiveness standards.
• Oversee vendor roadmaps and developments to align with Aztec’s strategic needs, advocating for new features or functionality when required.
• Manage contracts and service-level agreements (SLAs), ensuring alignment with Aztec’s operational goals.

Operational Excellence:

• Monitor application performance, ensuring high availability, security, and compliance with industry standards.
• Define KPIs and metrics for application success, tracking impact on operations, data quality, and client outcomes.
• Oversee incident management, root cause analysis, and remediation for issues affecting applications in the portfolio.

Team Leadership:

• Lead and mentor a team of application configuration analysts and technical specialists, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Provide technical guidance to team members on data architecture, integrations, and application optimisation.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Act as a trusted advisor to internal teams, bridging the gap between technology and business by understanding their data and application needs.
• Support pre-sales and onboarding activities by providing subject matter expertise on data integration, reporting, and portfolio capabilities.