{"id":20052,"date":"2025-04-01T23:29:37","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T23:29:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kaizenrecruitment.com.au\/?p=20052"},"modified":"2025-06-24T04:10:14","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T04:10:14","slug":"kaizen-recruitment-investment-operations-roundtable-sydney","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kaizenrecruitment.com.au\/kaizen-recruitment-investment-operations-roundtable-sydney\/","title":{"rendered":"Kaizen Recruitment Investment Operations Roundtable Sydney"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Kaizen Recruitment was proud to host our latest Investment Operations Roundtable in Sydney, bringing together key leaders from the investment management industry to discuss current challenges and opportunities in fund operations.<\/em><\/p>\n

We have long recognised a gap in the consistent sharing of knowledge between leaders in investment management. This roundtable was designed to support those leaders by facilitating candid conversations, the exchange of ideas, and actionable insights.<\/em><\/p>\n

We\u2019d like to extend our sincere thanks to the leaders who participated, representing ROC Partners, MA Financial, Ellerston Capital, Macquarie Asset Management, Centuria Bass Credit, AMP, and Koda Capital. Special thanks to Greig Nicholson for moderating the session, and to ROC Partners for generously hosting us in their boardroom for what proved to be an engaging and insightful luncheon.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Key Themes and Discussions<\/h2>\n

1. The Practical Adoption of AI in Investment Operations<\/h3>\n

One of the most discussed topics was the evolving adoption of AI. The consensus: while AI holds immense promise, implementation is still in its early stages for many organisations. So far, AI is being used in specific operational functions, such as:<\/p>\n

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\u2022 Reconciliations
\n\u2022 Operational due diligence forms
\n\u2022 Report generation
\n\u2022 Member reporting and engagement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

While some funds referenced modest ROI \u2014 such as FTE reductions through automation \u2014 most agreed that AI\u2019s value lies in enabling scalability to meet growing investor demand for customised and timely reporting.<\/p>\n

The prevailing view? AI won’t replace people \u2014 but it will replace people who don’t learn to work with AI.<\/p>\n

Participants also noted that while many system vendors are integrating AI features, there is a divergence between promise and performance. Many remain unconvinced of the tangible value added so far.<\/p>\n

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2. Data: The Fuel Behind AI<\/h3>\n
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As expected, data quality and accessibility dominated much of the conversation. Most funds have built data warehouses, yet still find themselves constrained by legacy or bespoke systems that limit integration and insights.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood data in, good data out\u201d was a recurring theme \u2014 underscoring that AI\u2019s effectiveness hinges on high-quality inputs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

3. Technology as a Competitive Advantage<\/h3>\n
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\"\"When the conversation shifted to systems and technology, leaders discussed how they are leveraging technology to drive operational efficiency and strategic value. This was particularly challenging for private markets fund managers, who cited difficulty in finding systems that serve both operational and finance teams effectively.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

4. Regulation and Industry Standards<\/h3>\n
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The recent ASIC discussion paper on private markets was also raised. Leaders from private market firms welcomed the attention, viewing it as a step towards higher standards and transparency across the sector.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Talent Trends: Skills, Offshoring, and Hiring for Attitude<\/h2>\n

As a recruitment-led roundtable, it was only natural the conversation turned to talent. Leaders shared reflections on their own career paths \u2014 many having gained broad exposure early in their careers, opportunities that are now rarer due to increased offshoring. (You can read more on this in our salary guide below<\/em>)<\/em><\/p>\n

INVESTMENT OPERATIONS SALARY GUIDE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

When it comes to hiring, there was strong alignment across the group:<\/p>\n

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