The Headhunter

Head of Product Management - Reference Data - London

Our client is a global business with well-known retail and wholesale financial products. We are working with their reference data business division.

We seek a Head of Product Management. This is a wide-ranging role, managing this global financial data vendor’s UK & Irish product offering. The products range from reference data and corporate actions feeds, intra-day pricing services through to real-time pricing and news feeds as well as display products across vendor terminals.

You will manage a team of product specialists and product developers. The team is responsible for a number of key internal tools and systems including the pre-processing of certain incoming data feeds. You will also provide second level support ongoing clients, dealing with queries that the helpdesk or account manager is unable to resolve. The group works closely in pre-sales with clients to build customised solutions to match client requirements (from initial discussions with clients to final design).

For a confidential discussion about this role please contact Aine Hall on +44 (0)20 7392 2644.

Facebook Vetting "Could Be Illegal"

An internet expert, in an article in today's Daily Telegraph, has warned that employers who trawl social networking sites such as Facebook in order to dig up information about potential employees could be breaking the law.

This follows on from a story last week in the same newspaper with the headline that "Facebook posts could threaten your career".

As one US website claims, be aware that the pictures, blogs, and journal entries posted on the web are public information and could have a profound effect on your search for employment.

Client Specialist - Equity Research - Buy-Side Client Base - based London

Our client is a rapidly expanding firm with a product portfolio across equity research.

We seek an Equity Research Product Specialist to work with clients in a pre-sales and post-sales capacity, with the aim of growing our client's European revenues. You will work with Portfolio Managers and talk credibly about their investment strategies and investment techniques. You will then recommend customised or bespoke products that suit their business work flows.

You will have a very good knowledge of equity markets which will have been gained as an equity analyst or as a Support Consultant for a quantitative research product. You will have very good client facing skills. Ideally you will have theoretical (CFA, MSc Finance) knowledge as well as practical market knowledge gained working in the equity sector.

For a confidential discussion, please contact Aine Hall on +44 (0)20 7392 2644.

ICAP and Exchange Status

Finextra reports that ICAP  has disclosed plans to establish an exchange-based business in Europe and says it has applied to the FSA for the status of a regulated market under MiFID. In its first half results statement, ICAP says it believes there are opportunities in several markets to offer trading on an "Icap Exchange" and it intends to apply to the FSA for regulated market status under MiFiD so that it can launch new products in markets such as emissions, energy and transport.

This year ICAP acquired FX trading platform EBS, shipping broker J.E. Hyde and post-trade services company Traiana.

Hedge Fund Sales - Fund Administration - London

We represent a fast growing provider of hedge fund administration services. The company has substantial financial backing and has a mandate to build a global business which sets a new standard within the hedge fund community.

We seek a “hands on” sales leader who will play a key role in building the European business. Based in London your initial focus will be revenue generation through your own sales activity and all candidates should have a good network of hedge fund contacts. The company has aggressive growth targets and it is expected that over the next 3-5 years you will build a substantial team.

Remuneration is competitive and is geared towards success. There is the potential for significant gain through equity participation.

For an initial discussion please contact Paul Chambers on +44 (0)20 7392 2644.

New Business Sales - Primary Buy-Side Research - London

Our client is a small business division of a large multi-national corporation.

We seek a new business sales person to bring on board new named clients across the investment management and hedge fund communities in London. Our client's product is in the equity research space. Once you have brought in new clients you will up-sell into other departments and grow revenues. You will manage deal sizes from GBP60K to GBP1mn.

To be considered for this role you will have a large network of contacts in the London market and will know Portfolio Managers and Heads of Research in buy-side firms. You will also have a track record of building new revenues by carefully qualifying your prospects and managing the whole sales process.

For a confidential discussion, please contact Aine Hall on +44 (0)20 7392 2644.

Sales Specialist - Portfolio Analytics - London

Our client is a global firm that sells portfolio analysis applications to investment managers. We are looking for candidates with excellent client facing skills to work internally with Sales and Support and externally with clients in a pre-sales and post-sales capacity. You will have an excellent understanding of portfolio applications and calculations including attribution analysis, asset allocation and contribution analysis. You will have sound fund management knowledge and excellent communication skills. This is an excellent opportunity within a well-established firm.

For more information please contact Aine Hall on +44 (0)20 7392 2644

Buy-Side Technology Awards

This month Buy-Side Technology has announced the winners of its technology awards.

Then winners in the best of buy-side are listed below:

OMS - Charles River Investment Management System.
EMS - Fidessa Latent Zero Minerva EMS
Algorithmic/DMA product - Goldman Sachs GSAT
Risk analytics product - Imagine Trading System
Performance measurement/attribution product - Statpro SPA v5
Commodities trading platform/service - Trading Technologies X_Trader
Pricing/valuation service - Markit
Data management product - Citadel Associates CADIS
Data provider to the buy side - Rimes Technologies SmartFiles
Portfolio analytics product - Sophis VALUE
Integrated front-office platform - Charles River IMS
Portfolio accounting platform - Advent Geneva
Broker-supplied tool/technology to the buy side - BNY Convergex APEX
Newcomer (vendor or product) - Derivative Fitch RAP CD
In-house developed or proprietary technology - UBS Delta
Best overall buy-side technology vendor 2007 – Advent

Senior Account Executive - Investment Manager Client Base - London

Our client is a global business with a range of fund products and services sold to a retail and wholesale customer base.

We seek a Major Account Manager to manage our client's top billing London clients. You will manage the whole client relationship which would include implementations, resolution of issues, merging contracts, looking for new sales opportunities (i.e., new products or new users in new areas/departments). You will make every customer interaction world class and efficient. To be successful in this role you will be organised as well as commercially aware. You will understand the investment process. You will be able to demonstrate at interview how you have managed to up-sell, cross-sell or protect revenues in a current or previous role.

For more information please contact Aine Hall on +44 (0)20 7392 2644.

MiFID Effective Today

MiFID comes into effect today.

Times' readers yesterday, under the headline that MiFID is "promising a revolution", were given facts that the new legislation has created 1.9mn Google references and the estimated cost of compliance will be EUR6bn in the EU. One FT article states "many countries and companies are far from fully implementing it" and another that the spectre of MiFID haunts mid-tier banks. The Independent reports the "City is set for big changes as MiFID goes live".