Wholesale Financing Product Controller (6-9 months Contract)

Company overview

Nomura is a global financial services group with an integrated network spanning approximately 30 countries and regions. By connecting markets East & West, Nomura services the needs of individuals, institutions, corporates and governments through its three business divisions: Wealth Management, Investment Management, and Wholesale (Global Markets and Investment Banking). Founded in 1925, the firm is built on a tradition of disciplined entrepreneurship, serving clients with creative solutions and considered thought leadership. For further information about Nomura, visit www.nomura.com.

Department overview:

Product Control is a key function within the Finance department, interacting with virtually every part of the firm’s businesses, products and technology systems. Product Control is a global function with staff located in London, New York, India and across the Asia Pacific region.

Product Control is primarily responsible for understanding, substantiating and controlling the daily trading balance sheet and income statement for Nomura, analysing the daily trading activities and explaining the trading divisions' revenue. Product Control support the execution of regular independent price verification to verify the values of positions held by the trading desks. In addition, Product Control review and opine on new products and transactions ensuring compliance with accounting, regulatory and valuation guidance and the efficient deployment of the firm’s financial resources.

Product Controllers are expected to develop a good understanding of the products they monitor and of the strategies used by the trading desk to generate revenue for Nomura. The function has become increasingly technical in content and offers a challenging and interesting role, suited to dynamic, bright and ambitious individuals with a drive to succeed.

Product Control has a significant presence and role within the organisation. It has a close working relationship with the trading desks, investment bankers and other corporate areas. It is the central point of contact for many issues that affect the firm including new transaction and product approval, understanding business performance and independent price verification and reserving of trading inventory. It operates dynamically with a heavy focus on automation and technology and is involved in numerous cross departmental projects throughout the firm. 

Product control management take a hands-on approach to running the department and are keen to reward hard work, enthusiasm and success. They positively promote the need to constantly question and challenge, to strive for improvements and to further your understanding. This leads to an ever changing and exciting environment. Nomura presents a unique opportunity to learn and gain experience of a broad range of products and business lines within a supportive setting and surrounded by skilled professionals. The strong team spirit is encouraged by regular departmental social and team-building events, and an emphasis is placed on achieving a healthy work-life balance.

Role description:

As part of the Wholesale Financing PC team, the controller will oversee Securitised Products & Private Credit. The role reports to the head of Wholesale Financing PC.

• Nomura operate a mature offshore PL production model and the business utilise a single ledger and single FO booking system. This means the role is focussed on liaison with the business and value add advisory work. The role of the onshore team spans business advisory, performance analysis, balance sheet substantiation and valuation controls.
• The product control team are an integral part of new business development, co-ordinating the finance response to new products and non-standard transactions as well as evaluating the financial metrics and returns to ensure the new trade proposals meet internal profitability requirements. The candidate will be required to develop and maintain a sound understanding of relevant accounting standards and regulatory developments affecting RWA, Leverage Exposure and Liquidity metrics in order to provide a value add service to the trading desk.
• The candidate will need to maintain close working relationships with both the trading desk and investment bankers and develop a deep understanding of any new transactions, to evaluate desk performance and provide insight to senior management on business performance, challenges and opportunities.
• The role involves reviewing and calculating resources and returns for new transactions to support senior finance leads to evaluate and approve those transactions.
• The role offers exposure to senior management within Nomura Finance, Global Markets, Investment Banking, Risk and Operations, challenging the individual to liaise with stakeholders across the bank which will require excellent communication and presentation skills.

Skills, experience, qualifications and knowledge required:

Planning and organizational skills; executing priority actions on-time, keeping stakeholders updated and managing expectations.

Communication skills; Articulate and receptive, able to adjust communications styles to deal with a wide ranging audience from offshore PC team to senior Global Markets management.

A demonstrable sense of ownership and a strong control mind-set with initiative to identify and solve problems.

• Leadership; Builds a collaborative and productive working relationship across Nomura.
• Results orientated with a clear focus on execution and deliveryProduct Control experience essential
• Strong communication skills and attention to detail with analytical capability and a ‘can do’ attitude
• Understanding of Credit Products, i.e. loans, CDS, bonds, etc.
• Strong interest in Financial Markets and Banking.
• Accounting qualification preferable

Nomura competencies

Trusted Partner

• Understand clients’ needs and issues, and respond with high-quality proposals
• Acquire capabilities to perform one’s responsibilities and contribute to being a Trusted Partner

Entrepreneurial leadership

• Produce new ideas that might challenge the status-quo or oneself

Teamwork Collaboration

• Seek advice from senior colleagues and utilize it for improved results
• Collaborate with members from relevant departments

Influence

• Contribute to the success of the organization both quantitatively and qualitatively, and act with awareness of the impact on others
• Serve as role model and provide guidance to junior employees

Integrity

• Have a good understanding of corporate philosophy, professional ethics, compliance, risk management, and code of conduct, and make decisions and take actions accordingly

Diversity Statement:

Nomura is committed to an employment policy of equal opportunities and is fundamentally opposed to any less favourable treatment accorded to existing or potential members of staff on the grounds of race, creed, colour, nationality, disability, marital status, pregnancy, gender or sexual orientation. If you require any assistance or reasonable adjustments due to a disability or long-term health condition, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Right to Work

The UK Government have taken steps to reduce net migration to the UK by limiting the number of overseas workers from outside the EEA coming to the UK for employment. Please note that whilst we are able to consider applications from overseas workers from outside the EEA (who require a Tier 2 (General) visa) we can only employ them if we can provide evidence that there are no other suitable candidates for this vacancy from inside the EEA.

Please contact us if you are visiting our offices and require any form of personal assistance or physical adaptations to be provided for your appointment.  A member of staff will be happy to help.

Nomura is an Equal Opportunity Employer