{"id":22494,"date":"2026-05-13T08:19:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T08:19:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kaizenrecruitment.com.au\/?p=22494"},"modified":"2026-05-13T08:19:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T08:19:17","slug":"kaizen-recruitment-investment-operations-roundtable-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kaizenrecruitment.com.au\/kaizen-recruitment-investment-operations-roundtable-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Kaizen Recruitment Investment Operations Roundtable 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Kaizen Recruitment was proud to host our annual Investment Operations Roundtables in Sydney and Melbourne this April, bringing together senior leaders from across the investment management industry to explore the evolving challenges and opportunities within fund operations.<\/p>\n

We have long recognised a gap in the consistent sharing of knowledge between leaders in investment management. These roundtables were designed to address that gap – facilitating candid discussion, the exchange of ideas, and the development of practical, actionable insights.<\/p>\n

We extend our sincere thanks to Peter Callanan and Andrew Stanwell for expertly moderating the sessions, and to L1 Capital and Koda Capital for generously hosting us. Both events proved to be highly engaging, insightful luncheons with strong participation from across the industry.<\/p>\n

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Key Themes and Discussions<\/h2>\n
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The Adoption of AI Across Investment Operations<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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Artificial Intelligence was the central theme across both roundtables, reflecting the rapid pace of change seen over the past 12 months.<\/p>\n

There has been a clear acceleration in the adoption of AI within investment operations, with a growing number of practical use cases emerging. Examples discussed included the shift towards exception-based fund accounting oversight, automated reconciliations, and the use of AI in DDQ and RFP processes.<\/p>\n

However, participants noted that regulation is struggling to keep pace with the speed of AI development, creating uncertainty for organisations navigating implementation. There was also discussion around whether firms should adopt multiple AI solutions across different functions, or aim for a more unified, flexible model.<\/p>\n

Approaches to AI adoption varied across organisations. Some have established dedicated AI teams, while others are leveraging \u201cAI champions\u201d within the business. Regardless of approach, all participants acknowledged the need for continued investment, particularly as smaller boutique firms face challenges in keeping up with larger, more resourced peers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Role of Service Providers<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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A consistent theme from both sessions was the evolving role of custodians, registries, and other service providers.<\/p>\n

Many participants expressed the view that service providers need to do more to innovate, especially in the context of AI. There was a perception that providers are not bringing enough forward-thinking ideas to the table and are often too closed in their benchmarking against competitors.<\/p>\n

As a result, some investment managers are increasingly evaluating whether to build internal capabilities rather than relying on third-party providers. There was also discussion around the potential for \u201cin-shoring,\u201d where onshore teams oversee automated processes and bots, replacing traditional offshore models.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Impact on Talent Within Investment Operations<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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There is a growing expectation that professionals develop AI-related capabilities, with many participants noting that those who do not adapt risk being left behind. While this shift was less pronounced 12 months ago, it is now clearly influencing hiring and workforce planning decisions. Some firms are now assessing AI capability as part of their hiring processes, as well as including it within performance reviews.<\/p>\n

Traditional operational roles are expected to evolve significantly. Purely process-driven, BAU roles are becoming less sustainable, with greater emphasis being placed on adaptability, problem-solving, and vendor management capabilities.<\/p>\n

While large-scale redundancies are not yet evident, teams are becoming more scalable, with organisations aiming to achieve more with fewer resources. Interestingly, some firms indicated a reduced emphasis on technical skills such as Power BI and SQL, in favour of AI literacy and capability.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Looking Ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It will be fascinating to see how this landscape continues to evolve over the coming months, and the extent to which AI reshapes the structure and function of investment operations teams.<\/p>\n

As one executive noted during the sessions, roles within operations have always evolved over time. While certain positions may change or disappear, new roles – many of which may not yet exist – will emerge. The key for both organisations and individuals will be the ability to adapt and stay ahead of this ongoing transformation.<\/p>\n

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Get in Touch<\/h2>\n

Based in Melbourne and Sydney, Kaizen Recruitment specialises in financial services recruitment across funds management, wealth management, superannuation, investment consulting and insurance. If you\u2019d like to discuss candidate career drivers and the current state of the market within the financial services recruitment landscape, feel free to reach out to us with your details below.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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