The operations team’s overarching philosophy is to provide the right set of tools and services to enable the business to deliver solutions to our clients in a high quality, cost efficient, scalable and risk controlled manner. We only undertake operational activities where we believe we can add value or gain competitive advantage. In many cases, where credible alternatives are available, we will work with external partners to deliver core functions, for example, IT applications or administration services.

Information technology (IT)

We have a ‘buy and integrate’ or ‘build’ approach without a philosophical bias to either. Our business application architecture combines market leading applications and internally developed applications.

The priority with ‘buy and integrate’ applications is ensure a smooth and seamless integration into our architecture and managing suppliers and building relationships with them to ensure that the applications continue to operate to our standards and develop with our requirements at the forefront.

Internal development is undertaken where there is a lack of credible solutions in the market place or where we believe we can gain competitive advantage; these applications tend to be in the modelling, OTC derivatives and risk management areas. Each development project is governed by rigorous design and development standards.

A dedicated Projects and Development team is responsible for all implementations, be they third party or internally developed.

The IT Operations team support all business applications and infrastructure services and ensures a high level of systems availability and speedy resolution of issues.

The IT Strategy team is responsible for the technical infrastructure architecture, data and application strategy required to meet Insight’s current and future needs.

Middle office

Insight has successfully executed initiatives to provide an efficient and scalable operations platform made up of some of the market leading providers.

The ‘back office’ functions for our core activities are undertaken by Northern Trust. This wide ranging outsource was successfully completed at the beginning of 2007. Northern Trust is a strategic partner and we enjoy very strong relationships at all levels of both organisations and work with them as they evolve their platform.

Administrative service for our UK based pooled funds is performed by Bank of New York Mellon whilst Northern Trust Dublin and State Street Dublin service off shore pooled funds.

The Middle Office is responsible for managing the services provided by the three main administrators as well as undertaking functions we have decided to retain in-house, such as performance analysis, mandate restriction management and, fund manager and dealer support.

Finance

Made up of two teams, the Finance department is responsible for the maintenance and control of financial and management accounts, management information and business planning.

Financial Analysis and Planning is responsible for constructing the annual Insight Business Plan and providing regular forecasts and analysis of performance against plan. To support and ensure focus across the business, the team provides in depth analysis on flows, revenue and profitability.

Financial Accounting is responsible for the preparation of Insight’s statutory results as well as any associated reporting to external parties such as the FSA and the general public through the preparation of the annual financial statements.

Business change management

Business change management is focused on Insight’s change agenda. It aims to provide a strategic framework for change i.e. what we need to do and how we measure it, and dedicated resources and expertise to lead change initiatives i.e. to make sure it gets done well. The team has a wide mandate covering the capturing of business goals, objectives and measures as well as the necessary expertise to implement legal and operational platforms to support product and business development.