Senior Specialist, Market Data Management

Job Profile Description

The Market Data Management team maintains the inventory of market data services and subscriptions utilized across Manulife and ensures the timely administration of licensing, billing, vendor payments, contract renewals, and chargeback activities. The team supports third-party market data providers and works closely with business units, finance, procurement, accounts payable, and global stakeholders to ensure accurate and efficient delivery of market data services.

The Senior Specialist, Market Data Management is responsible for leading complex operational activities related to market data administration while acting as a senior escalation point for operational issues, invoice discrepancies, vendor billing concerns, chargeback inquiries, and stakeholder requests. The role supports operational excellence through process improvement, knowledge sharing, project participation, and continuous enhancement of service delivery.

The incumbent is expected to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and collaborate effectively with stakeholders across multiple regions while maintaining strong operational controls and service standards.

Roles and Responsibilities

I. Operational Leadership and Escalation Management

• •Serve as the primary escalation point for complex market data operational issues, billing discrepancies, payment concerns, and stakeholder inquiries.
• •Provide guidance, coaching, and subject matter expertise to Analysts and Specialists on market data processes, procedures, and best practices.
• •Review complex transactions, operational deliverables, and financial activities for accuracy and completeness before management review.
• •Support knowledge transfer, training, and onboarding activities for team members.
• •Partner with management and business stakeholders to resolve operational challenges and improve service delivery.
• •Promote operational excellence through continuous process review and enhancement.

II. License Administration and Service Management

• •Review and process market data requests including new subscriptions, transfers, relocations, entitlement changes, and terminations.
• •Coordinate market data provisioning activities with internal stakeholders and external service providers.
• •Process Bloomberg exchange enablement and entitlement requests through vendor administration portals.
• •Coordinate trial subscriptions and manage conversion to permanent services where applicable.
• •Support business units by providing guidance on market data products, services, and subscription administration.
• •Ensure timely and accurate fulfillment of market data requests in accordance with established service levels.

III. Invoice Management, Vendor Payments, and Financial Administration

• •Lead the review, reconciliation, and resolution of complex market data invoices.
• •Investigate invoice discrepancies, pricing variances, tax calculation differences, and billing exceptions.
• •Coordinate with vendors, Accounts Payable teams, finance groups, and business stakeholders to facilitate timely invoice processing and payment.
• •Review supporting documentation and approvals for market data expenditures and vendor payments.
• •Monitor outstanding invoices and drive resolution of aged items to meet service level expectations.
• •Recommend improvements to invoice processing and payment workflows to enhance efficiency and accuracy.

IV. Chargeback Administration and Cost Allocation

• •Support the administration and governance of market data chargeback activities across global business units.
• •Review chargeback calculations, allocation methodologies, journal entries, and monthly reporting deliverables.
• •Investigate and resolve complex chargeback inquiries and disputes from stakeholders.
• •Assist in the development and enhancement of chargeback methodologies and cost allocation processes.
• •Identify opportunities to improve transparency, accuracy, and consistency in chargeback reporting and administration.
• •Partner with business stakeholders to ensure market data costs are appropriately allocated and recovered.

V. Inventory Management and Reporting

• •Maintain accurate records of market data subscriptions, users, devices, services, and associated cost centers.
• •Review and update market data inventories to ensure data integrity and accuracy.
• •Generate and analyze operational reports, financial reports, and management reporting packages.
• •Perform data validation and reconciliation activities to support accurate reporting and billing.
• •Respond to information requests from business units, finance teams, auditors, and stakeholders.

VI. Process Improvement and Operational Transformation

• •Lead initiatives focused on automation, operational efficiency, service excellence, and process optimization.
• •Identify opportunities to streamline workflows, eliminate manual activities, and improve operational controls.
• •Participate in operational transformation initiatives, platform onboarding efforts, and system enhancement projects.
• •Support redesign and enhancement of chargeback, billing, invoicing, and reporting processes.
• •Develop and maintain process documentation, procedures, training materials, and operational knowledge repositories.
• •Recommend and implement best practices to improve team performance and operational effectiveness.

VII. Stakeholder Management and Business Partnership

• •Build and maintain strong working relationships with business units, finance teams, procurement partners, Accounts Payable teams, and global stakeholders.
• •Represent the Market Data Management team in meetings, project discussions, and stakeholder engagements.
• •Support market data cost optimization efforts through analysis of subscription usage, billing trends, and service consumption.
• •Collaborate with business partners in North America to support market data service delivery objectives.
• •Communicate operational updates, risks, issues, and recommendations to stakeholders in a clear and professional manner.

Desired Skills and Experience

Required Qualifications

• •Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Economics, or a related discipline.
• •Minimum 5-7 years of relevant experience in Accounts Payable, vendor billing administration, financial operations, market data operations, investment operations, or related functions.
• •Experience supporting invoice reconciliation, vendor payment processing, chargeback administration, or financial operational activities.
• •Strong understanding of operational processes and controls within a corporate or financial services environment.
• •Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including Pivot Tables, Lookup Functions, data analysis, and reporting techniques.
• •Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Teams.
• •Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• •Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• •Ability to independently manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• •Willingness to work a fixed night shift schedule aligned to North American business hours and Canadian business holidays.

Preferred Qualifications

• •Experience supporting market data vendors such as Bloomberg, FactSet, Morningstar, ICE, Refinitiv, or other financial data providers.
• •Experience within investment management, asset management, insurance, banking, capital markets, or financial services organizations.
• •Knowledge of market data licensing, chargeback methodologies, and cost allocation practices.
• •Experience leading process improvement, automation, or operational transformation initiatives.
• •Exposure to Power BI, Power Automate, VBA, Visio, or other process improvement tools.
• •Experience supporting audit requests and operational documentation requirements.

Key Attributes

• •Demonstrated ability to lead and influence without direct managerial authority.
• •Strong operational leadership and subject matter e