Associate Director – Fund Accounting – Close ended

The Catalyst Group•Atlanta, GA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Catalyst Group is a privately owned, fully independent investment operations and fund administration group founded in 2020. They are seeking an Associate Director for Fund Accounting, specializing in close-ended funds. This senior leadership position is based in the United States and reports to the Chief Operating Officer – Fund Administration. The role involves full accountability for people, operations, client relationships, and strategic direction within the Close Ended NAV function. The Associate Director will ensure the timely and accurate calculation and delivery of Net Asset Values (NAVs) for assigned close-ended funds, collaborating closely with internal teams and supporting client service delivery and implementation initiatives. The company emphasizes innovation, technology, and investing in its people and communities, operating on a unique technology platform and guided by seven core values: Collaboration, Innovation, Reliability & Accountability, Connected Culture, Undivided Attention, Integrity, and Transparency.

Requirements

7 + years of experience in close ended fund administration or a similar financial services role
Strong focus on NAV calculations, investor allocations, financial reporting, and audit coordination
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field
Proven leadership, mentoring, and team-building capability — including across diverse, cross-functional teams
Excellent written and verbal communication skills for senior client, auditor, and internal stakeholder engagement
Strong analytical and problem-solving ability with a track record of identifying process inefficiencies and delivering improvements
Expertise in fund systems: Investran, Bloomberg, eFront, Geneva, Dynamo or equivalent close ended fund administration platforms
Advanced Excel skills — complex financial models, automated templates, pivot tables, XLOOKUP, macros
Strong understanding of closed-ended and open-ended fund structures, capital calls, distributions, IRR, and MOIC
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
Solid grounding in US GAAP, IFRS, and regulatory requirements applicable to close ended funds

Nice To Haves

Professional certification (CFA, CAIA, CPA, or equivalent) is a strong advantage
SQL or other data analysis tools are advantageous
Working knowledge of AI tools such as Claude an advantage

Responsibilities

Direct management of the close ended team, including performance framework adherence, capacity planning, team satisfaction monitoring, coaching, training programmes, and succession planning.
Staff budget ownership in partnership with the COO – Fund Administration.
Product profitability reporting with Finance and Client Relationship teams.
Client fee reviews, invoice approval, and scope change documentation in accordance with Administration Services Agreements.
Oversight of NAV issuance for assigned close ended funds, including expense management, management fee and carried interest calculations, investor allocations, pricing and valuation processes, and comprehensive reconciliation of trades, positions, P&L, and cash.
Close Ended fund structure setup, SLA establishment, and fund-specific procedure implementation.
Cross-departmental collaboration for smooth onboarding and system integration oversight.
Primary escalation point for client NAV and service queries.
Primary liaison for client communications on assigned funds.
Lead coordination of the annual audit process, including preparation of year-end financial statements and timely response to audit queries.
Continuous assessment and refinement of operational processes.
Identification of automation and data integration opportunities.
Product reviews and enhancements.
Alignment of process improvements with the firm’s strategic objectives in partnership with senior leadership.
Operational risk identification and mitigation across NAV production, reconciliation, and pricing.
SOC controls adherence.
Regulatory compliance including AML and data privacy.
Policy development and compliance culture leadership in partnership with the Group’s Head of Compliance and Governance.
Share insights to enable development of new processes and procedures that create business efficiency and support client service excellence.
Maintain awareness of industry, regulatory, jurisdictional, and market trends that could affect the business.
Contribute to the creation, development, and implementation of new products and solutions as the business’s needs evolve.
Collaborate cross-functionally with operations, business users, project, and implementation teams to achieve elegant outcomes.