Manager, Fund Expenses and Reporting

In today's dynamic global environment, effective financial management, strong governance, and robust reporting are essential to maintaining the integrity and success of our asset management operations. As part of GWAM Operations, our team plays a critical role in delivering accurate financial information, ensuring regulatory compliance, and driving continuous improvement across our fund operations.

We are seeking a Manager, Fund Expenses and Reporting to support the Fund Expenses and Reporting function within the Global Fund Services team of Global Wealth & Asset Management (GWAM).

Reporting to the Director, Fund Expenses and Reporting, the Manager will be responsible for overseeing fund expense management and reporting activities for Manulife Canadian Mutual Funds, ETFs, and Pooled Funds, while ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of key financial, operational, and regulatory deliverables.

The successful candidate will work closely with business partners across Operations, Finance, Product, Legal, Compliance, Tax, and Risk Management, as well as external stakeholders including NAV agents, auditors, fund administrators, and service providers.

The Manager is responsible for the overall effectiveness, governance, and delivery of the Fund Expenses and Reporting function. This includes overseeing fund expense management and regulatory reporting activities, maintaining a strong risk and control environment, driving operational improvements, and supporting strategic business initiatives. The role serves as a key subject matter expert and business partner across multiple functions.

Position Responsibilities:

• Lead and oversee fund expense management and reporting activities, ensuring deliverables are completed accurately, timely, and in compliance with regulatory, accounting, and corporate requirements.
• Act as a subject matter expert for fund expenses, management reporting, regulatory disclosures, and operational processes, providing guidance and support to business partners and team members as required.
• Oversee fund expense management activities, including budgeting, forecasting, accruals, invoice processing, expense allocations, accounting entries, expense analysis, and communication with NAV agents and service providers.
• Ensure appropriate governance and oversight of expenses charged to investment funds, including the review of allocation methodologies, expense reasonableness, and compliance with applicable regulatory and corporate requirements.
• Oversee regulatory and operational reporting activities, including Total Cost Reporting (TCR), Management Expense Ratio (MER) calculations, Trading Expense Ratio (TER), HST blended rates, and other regulatory disclosures and filings within the scope of the function.
• Prepare and review management reporting and analysis, providing insights and recommendations regarding fund expenses, reporting activities, operational risks, and business performance.
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders, including Finance, Product, Legal, Compliance, Risk Management, auditors and NAV agents, to support the effective delivery of business objectives and strategic initiatives.
• Maintain a strong risk and control environment through effective governance, audit support, issue management, regulatory compliance, control oversight, and timely remediation of identified gaps.
• Lead process improvement, automation, and change initiatives to enhance efficiency, scalability, data quality, and operational effectiveness.
• Monitor regulatory, accounting, taxation, and industry developments, assess impacts to the business, and support the implementation of required changes.
• Prepare and present analysis, reporting, and recommendations to senior management regarding fund expenses, operational risks, business performance and strategic initiatives.

Required Qualifications:

• University degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related discipline, with 5-7 years of relevant experience in investment fund operations, fund accounting, fund expenses, management reporting, or a related field.
• Strong knowledge of fund expense management, regulatory disclosures, management reporting, investment fund operations and related operational controls.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional accounting designation (CPA) or actively pursuing a CPA designation, with experience in asset management or mutual fund industry.
• Knowledge and understanding of NI 81-106, IFRS, Total Cost Reporting (TCR), and other regulatory disclosure requirements applicable to investment funds.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, lead initiatives, and deliver results in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and inquiry skills, with the ability to assess issues, identify risks, and recommend practical solutions.
• Proven ability to build effective relationships and collaborate with stakeholders across Operations, Finance, Product, Legal, Compliance, Risk Ma