Global Head Directorship Services

Overview of role

Based in the Cayman Islands, the Global Head of Directorship Services ("Global Head ") is responsible for planning, directing and leading the Walkers Fiduciary Limited (WFL) directorship services business (the "Business") in order to achieve its global operational and strategic objectives.  The Global Head will report to the Managing Director, Americas of Walkers Professional Services (“WPS”), be a member of and work closely with the WPS Senior Management Team ("SMT") to design and implement the ongoing strategies and global vision for the Business in the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, BVI and Dubai. 

 

The Global Head will help meet the WPS objectives, focused on the Evolution28 Business Plan and its four main pillars of Client Centricity, Innovation & Simplification, Market Expansion and Future Facing Talent. The Global Head will lead the Business including the ongoing development and management of the budget, KPIs and ensuring compliance with all legal and regulatory obligations. The Business provides a range of asset finance and structured product services including, but not limited to, providing Directors to special purpose vehicles and fiduciary, administrative, tax and regulatory compliance services and support to special purpose vehicles, holding companies and other entities (together "SPVs") involved in a wide range of corporate structures or financial transactions and/or to sponsors of such SPVs, structures or transactions or participants therein (together "Sponsors").


The Global Head will also play a significant role in building and designing new products and business lines, securing new mandates and developing relationships with asset managers and other industry participants, as well as with internal stakeholders.

Duties, Responsibilities & Person Specification

• Lead teams of Fiduciary Services professionals across multiple jurisdictions including Cayman, Bermuda, BVI and Dubai including operations, performance management, reporting, risk and compliance, training and development

• Enhance a high performance culture across the team and act as the senior escalation point for all client related matters within the team

• Ensure ongoing review and application of appropriate systems and procedures for the day-to-day management of a portfolio of SPVs from inception of the transaction to closing, termination and winding up of the SPV as well as handling post-closing obligations/issues (including liaising with transaction parties such as lenders, trustees, collateral managers, onshore/offshore counsel, stock exchange and coordinating administration of the SPVs.)

• Working alongside other WPS departments, ensure the ongoing application, review if appropriate, of appropriate systems and processes to enable compliance by SPVs/Sponsors with relevant tax and other regulatory reporting obligations including AEOI, BOR, ES and with regulatory compliance (including with respect to EMIR, Commodity Exchange Act, AML and other similar, equivalent or analogous requirements);

• Business development, marketing, client relationship building and ongoing management and attendance at industry conferences; and

• Management of and assistance with ad hoc projects and initiatives as required including service line and jurisdictional reviews, regulatory inspections, reconciliation exercises, oversight and coverage.

• Providing a clear career framework and opportunity for progression for staff members at all levels in the team to ensure that they are striving to meet their own goals and ambitions alongside the wider WPS initiatives.

Education & Skills

The Global Head should hold a professional qualification in Law or Accountancy with a relevant degree in Finance, Commerce or Business and have a minimum of ten (10) years' work experience acting as a Director of SPVs and no less than fifteen (15) years' experience working in a fiduciary services, accounting or law firm.  In addition, the Global Head should have the following competencies:

• Minimum 5 years' relevant and demonstrable experience in similar roles at Managing Director or Head of level including team management experience 
• Strong inter-personal and influencing skills with proven ability to lead and promote a high performance culture 
• Strong organisational, analytical and decision-making skills with excellent attention to detail 
• Energy, enthusiasm and a proactive solution-driven attitude with a proven ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines 
• Expert knowledge of Cayman Islands laws and regulations underpinned by the knowledge of, and extensive experience in, the US legal market

Experience

• Experience of Bermuda, BVI and Dubai (ADGM and DIFC) laws and regulations would be beneficial
• Highly knowledgeable of typical structures and transactions involving Cayman Islands SPVs and other offshore SPVs and structured products and be familiar with and known to the main transaction parties and industry participants
• Administratively strong with high functioning organisational skills
• Must have a thorough understanding of FATCA and CRS, the practical aspects of complying therewith and experience of developing appropriate systems and processes relevant thereto
• Must have demonstrable experience of and competence in investigating tax and other regulatory obligations which may affect SPVs/ Sponsors and developing business lines and internal processes to support them in meeting such obligations
• Experience of communicating and liaising with Regulators in multiple jurisdictions as well as the preparation for and conduct of regulatory inspections and post-inspection action point review and completion
• Proven skills and experience in marketing, the conception of and conducting business development and client relationship management programmes.