Public Markets Operations – Middle Office Associate

Business Area: Operations

Place of Work: London

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract

When you join USS, the size and scale of our pension scheme means you will have numerous opportunities to learn and develop your career. Given our size you'll have real autonomy and influence as you collaborate closely with a wide-ranging team of experts.

About the role

In your role as Public Markets Operations – Middle Office Associate, you will make a meaningful and valued contribution from the outset. This role will provide a great opportunity to work within the Public Markets team – Middle Office team and is responsible for the day-to-day core trading support of the scheme & all aspects of a Middle Office function. The scheme invests in a broad range of assets and a flexible can-do attitude is required.

What you will be doing

As a trusted part of the Operations team you will be responsible for:

Delivery

• Performing trade/OTC support duties on all aspects of public markets assets
• Performing Collateral management duties & oversight
• Performing scheme Funding & Cash management duties
• Liaison with the Third-party providers for core middle office services (JP Morgan) & clearing brokers.
• Interaction with trading desks to ensure a smooth middle office support model.
• Identify & deliver improvements to day-to-day process.
• Support business initiatives impacting team & deliver into day to day.
• Daily investigation and correction of price exceptions and the stale / static values of assets
• Daily investigation and resolution of reconciling items of all cash and positions across the Scheme for internal and external managers
• Liaison with the third-party providers for Fund Accounting and Custodian services (JP Morgan and Northern Trust), external fund managers

Stakeholder management

• Build a strong relationship with USS colleagues.
• Develop close working relationships with third party service partners & trading desks.

Development

• Look for training opportunities to enhance skills.
• Improve personal skill matrix score each year.

About you

We know that sometimes people can be put off applying for a job if they don't tick every box, if you're excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we're looking for, then please apply, regardless of whether you meet all the requirements outlined in this profile.

To be successful in the role you will have:

• Financial experience (beneficial)
• Business qualification advantageous – IMC/IOC
• Business/ Operational experience of working with a range of assets & awareness of investment products.
• Buy side or Outsourced Oversight experience preferred.
• Experience of Bloomberg AIM an advantage.
• Problem solving with independent thought.
• Attention to detail.
• Can do attitude.
• Ability to work independently.
• Good Excel skills

At USS, every individual contributes to building a secure financial future for our members and their families. We strive to create a work environment where everyone can thrive professionally while making a meaningful impact on the lives of others. We're also committed to helping you build your career by providing opportunities for development. We put a focus on recognising and supporting each individual's unique career path, driving this forward with the support of an engaged and proactive management team. Here at USS, we want you to thrive in and out of work with a friendly team, flexible culture and excellent range of benefits!

How we will reward you

• Great starting salary
• Generous annual leave package
• Access to a high quality pension scheme provided through Universities Superannuation Scheme
• Supportive people policies (including enhanced occupational sickness pay and family friendly pay)
• Financial contributions towards your personal development to help you maintain your physical and mental wellbeing
• Access to a range of health and wellbeing services i.e., private healthcare, discounted gym membership
• Learning and development opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and talent
• Employee Volunteer Day’s to support the communities where you work and live
• Cycle to Work Scheme
  
  

Our people are what makes us different. We work together to create a diverse and inclusive culture that embraces individuality, where people are welcomed and feel comfortable in the knowledge that they can be themselves. Our purpose firmly states the importance of members, putting them ‘front and centre’ of what we do. This is embedded through our values:

• Integrity
• Collaboration
• Excellence
  
  

Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) was established in 1974 as the principal pension scheme for universities and other higher education institutions in the UK. We work with around 330 employers to help build a secure financial future for almost 577,000 members and their families. We are one of the largest private defined benefit pension schemes in the UK, with total assets of around £76.8bn (at 31 March 2025). To find out more, please visit https://www.uss.co.uk

USSIM is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to ensure our recruitment process is as flexible and inclusive as possible so we can attract diverse candidates and recruit the best talent. We want all candidates to perform at their best during the recruitment process, so if you need any reasonable adjustments or if there is anything we can do to help support you through your recruitment journey please let us know by contacting resourcing@uss.co.uk.