This review provides an in-depth look at the Product Manager, Agency Securities Lending (ASL) opportunity within Citi's Execution Services team. We aim to guide prospective candidates by highlighting the advantages and key considerations for this role, offering insights into its potential impact on your career path.
Opportunity Overview:
This Product Manager role is a strategic position within Citi's Investment Banking division, focusing on the Agency Securities Lending (ASL) product. If you are seeking a dynamic career move that places you at the core of a global financial institution, this opportunity to shape innovative lending solutions for institutional clients is compelling. The position demands a deep understanding of agency lending, collateral management, and the broader securities financing landscape, coupled with strong analytical, business analysis, and project management acumen.
Key Advantages for Candidates:
- Strategic Impact: You will play a critical role in defining and managing the product roadmap, driving Target Operating Model (TOM) design, and leading large-scale platform transformation projects. This offers a significant opportunity to influence the direction and success of key financial services.
- Cross-Functional Leadership: The role involves acting as a product owner within Agile teams, collaborating closely with technology, operations, trading, risk, compliance, and legal departments. This fosters comprehensive business understanding and enhances your ability to lead complex initiatives.
- Client Engagement: Direct engagement with institutional clients, custodians, and agent lenders provides invaluable market insights and the opportunity to ensure the product remains at the forefront of industry innovation.
- Regulatory Expertise: This position offers hands-on experience in navigating and implementing adjustments for evolving global regulatory frameworks (e.g., SFTR, CSDR, Basel III/IV). This is a crucial area for career development in the financial sector.
- Innovation and Digital Solutions: The role encourages championing innovation in lending models, collateral transformation, and digital tooling, providing a platform to contribute to cutting-edge solutions.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Leveraging data and performance analytics to drive product decisions and identify optimization opportunities will hone your analytical skills and strategic thinking.
- Comprehensive Benefits and Culture: Citi offers a competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, private medical insurance, pension plan, and various other benefits. Furthermore, Citi is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where employees can thrive.
- Hybrid Working Model: Enjoy a hybrid working arrangement with up to 2 days working from home per week, promoting work-life balance.
Key Considerations for Candidates:
- Required Expertise: A strong foundation in Securities Lending, Prime Services, or Collateral Management, with a deep understanding of agency lending dynamics, is essential.
- Proven Experience: Demonstrable experience in Product Management, Business Analysis, or Project Management within capital markets, fintech, or global banking is a prerequisite.
- Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with the securities finance value chain, including trade lifecycle, recall management, and settlement, is vital. Experience with Agile/SAFe environments and writing detailed user stories is also important.
- Analytical Skills: Proficiency in analytical tools such as Excel, Power BI, Tableau, or SQL is necessary for performance analysis and decision-making.
- Stakeholder Management: Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills are critical for influencing senior leaders and leading global, cross-functional teams.
- Regulatory Acumen: A solid understanding of global regulatory frameworks impacting securities lending is required to ensure product compliance.
- Educational Background: While a Bachelor's degree in finance, Economics, Engineering, or a related field is required, an MBA or equivalent advanced degree is considered a strong asset.
Career Path Potential:
This role offers a significant opportunity to deepen your expertise in a specialized and critical area of financial services. Success in this position can lead to further advancement within product management, strategic initiatives, or leadership roles within Citi's broader Investment Banking or Execution Services divisions. The exposure to global markets, complex regulations, and cutting-edge technology positions candidates for continued growth and impact in the financial industry.