Investment Operations Associate

About Sands Capital:

Sands Capital is an active, long-term investor in leading innovative growth businesses, globally. Our approach combines analytical rigor and creative thinking to identify high-quality growth businesses that are creating the future. Through an integrated investment platform spanning alternatives, growth equity and public equity, we provide growth capital solutions to institutions and fund sponsors in more than 30 countries (detailed on our website ).

Sands Capital is seeking a motivated Investment Operations Associate to support the Portfolio Services function within the Investment Operations Team. This role is responsible for supporting cash flow management, daily reconciliations, transaction and position review, exception research, reporting support, performance, portfolio and fund accounting, and operational control activities for separately managed accounts and funds. In this role, you will work closely with team members, custodians, administrators, and internal stakeholders to maintain accurate records, resolve discrepancies, support client and firm reporting, and identify opportunities to improve process efficiency and control quality.

The work location for this role is Sands Capital’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia on a hybrid schedule of three days per week in-office (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday), or more as directed by your manager. The hybrid schedule is subject to change at any time.

• Reconciliation & Exception Management:
  Perform daily and periodic reconciliations of cash, positions, transactions, income, FX activity, corporate actions, and other account-level activity against custodian, administrator, or service-provider records.
• Cash Flow Management:
  Review, process, and monitor client and fund cash flows, including contributions, withdrawals, income, fees, expenses, rebates, management fees, in-kind transactions, and other cash or asset movements.
• Discrepancy Research:
  Research and resolve cash, position, transaction, pricing, income, corporate action, and account-data discrepancies, escalating issues with clear facts, analysis, and recommended next steps.
• Portfolio Recordkeeping:
  Support accurate and timely portfolio recordkeeping by validating account activity, maintaining data integrity, and ensuring operational information is complete and reliable for downstream use.
• Reporting & Audit Support:
  Prepare and review recurring client, firm, audit, financial, and operational reporting deliverables, ensuring information is accurate, complete, and delivered on time.
• Service Provider Coordination:
  Communicate with custodians, administrators, and third-party service providers to research open items, monitor outstanding requests, and support timely issue resolution.
• Cross-Functional Partnership:
  Partner with Portfolio Administration, Trade Settlements, Trading, Compliance, Client Service, Accounting/Finance, Legal, and other internal teams when portfolio services workflows require broader coordination.
• Process Improvement & Projects:
  Participate in cross-functional projects focused on improving team efficiency, strengthening controls, and enhancing operational workflows. Identify recurring manual tasks, process gaps, and control weaknesses, and assist with documentation, data validation, testing, reporting enhancements, and practical technology-enabled solutions.
• Technical:
  Strong technical aptitude and curiosity, with the ability to learn systems quickly, work effectively with data, and contribute to projects that improve reporting, controls, automation, or operational efficiency; prior exposure to data analytics, workflow tools, or investment operations technology is a plus.
• Risk & Control Awareness:
  Follow established procedures, maintain awareness of internal policies and compliance expectations, and contribute to strong operational controls across daily responsibilities.
• Learning & Development:
  Demonstrate curiosity, accountability, and a willingness to learn new systems, products, workflows, and industry practices as the business evolves.
• Performing other position responsibilities, as needed.
• Exhibiting behaviors consistent with Sands Capital’s Mission, Values, and culture.

• Undergraduate degree from an accredited university, preferably in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, Information Systems, or a related field.
• 1-3 years of relevant professional experience in investment operations, fund accounting,…