The posting
Management Level
H
EQ Share Plan Services – Operations
EQ is the UK’s leading employee share plan provider, successfully managing the key events associated with approved and discretionary award- and option-based plans. Our core products include SAYE, SIP, GSPP, Executive and Discretionary plans, and Fund Management.
Employee share plans are recognised by issuers as a force for good, creating shareholder alignment, strengthening employee engagement and generating wealth for all. EQ’s well-established Share Plans Operations team also delivers complementary services that meet participants’ needs, including trading, settlement, nominee services, investment choices such as ISAs, and foreign exchange.
Executive Share Plan
The Premier Services team delivers share plan services to a high-profile customer base, ranging from Executive Board members to senior-level employees. Supporting approximately 69,000 participants with awards valued at around £6 billion, the team serves key decision-makers who expect consistently accurate, timely and high-quality service delivery.
Role Summary
As a Senior Administrator, you will undertake a range of activities to support the delivery of complex, high-profile Executive and Discretionary share plan operations. Working closely with colleagues across the wider Premier team, you will help ensure that all work is completed accurately, on time and in line with client expectations.
Core Duties/Responsibilities
- Prepare trades using established templates, incorporating client-specific requirements and ensuring timely execution in line with policy.
- Prepare and issue accurate post-trade client reports in accordance with each client’s bespoke requirements.
- Support the settlement of Executive and Discretionary trades, including share allocations and payments to clients and participants.
- Liaise with clients, Client Relationship Managers, payroll providers, third-party brokers, registrars, trusts and internal teams to coordinate settlement instructions, monitor progress and resolve queries.
- Manage your workload to meet client SLAs and regulatory requirements, escalating any risk to delivery promptly to the Team Leader.
- Work closely with brokers to ensure stock is delivered accurately and in a controlled manner, recognising the high-value and high-profile nature of transactions.
- Complete complex manual calculations, including tax and liability calculations, accurately and within required timescales.
- Respond professionally and promptly to share plan queries from senior executives.
- Coordinate with internal teams to submit trade instructions, book foreign exchange contracts in EQ Pay and issue contract notes to participants.
- Complete rectification activity across multiple platforms and work with teams including EQX and IT to investigate reconciliation breaks and resolve them within agreed deadlines.
- Prepare and reconcile outgoing files for client payroll and HR teams, ensuring all bespoke processes are followed and related queries are resolved.
- Ensure data transferred between core operating systems is complete, accurate and timely, investigating reconciliation differences and duplicate payments where identified.
- Monitor GBP and foreign-currency tax and proceeds payments to clients and participants, including booking foreign exchange, maintaining beneficiary details in EQ Pay and reconciling dispatched funds.
- Investigate failed or rejected payments, obtain and validate bank details, and arrange onward or manual payments in line with policy.
- Investigate cash and stock reconciliation queries, working with Reconciliations, Custody Cash and CASS Oversight teams to resolve breaks and arrange required funding or stock provisions in line with CASS and COBS requirements.
- Provide timely information to support the reporting of operational losses and breaches, and contribute to corrective and preventive action activity where required.
- Monitor dividend record dates, ensure stock is received by the due date and arrange provisions with internal teams where required.
- Investigate dividend market claims, identify the relevant participant and prepare any required cheque or BACS payments.
- Support the successful onboarding of new clients, processes and services into the team.
- Maintain awareness of the EQ Escalation Policy and escalate risks, issues and incidents through the appropriate channels.
- Undertake other reasonable duties as requested by the leadership team.
Skills, Capabilities and Attributes
- Self-motivated, proactive and able to use initiative while maintaining focus in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands and meet deadlines.
- Confident communicating with internal stakeholders, clients and customers at all levels, with appropriate support and guidance.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong attention to detail and a consistent commitment to accuracy.
- Good numerical skills, with the confidence to complete and check complex calculations.
- Ability to work confidently both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
- A clear understanding of excellent customer service and a commitment to delivering positive customer outcomes.
- Ability to remain calm, focused and delivery-orientated when working under pressure.
- Enthusiasm for learning and a commitment to contributing to a culture of continuous improvement.
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
- Confident using AI and digital tools responsibly to improve efficiency and quality.
Knowledge of share plans and internal systems, including Sirius, Centive, Xanite, Optitrade and EQ Pay, would be advantageous, although full training can be provided
Equal Opportunity Statement
We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.
Please note any offer of employment is subject to satisfactory pre-employment screening checks.
