Part of the small subunit (SSU) processome, first precursor of the small eukaryotic ribosomal subunit. During the assembly of the SSU processome in the nucleolus, many ribosome biogenesis factors, an RNA chaperone and ribosomal proteins associate with the nascent pre- rRNA and work in concert to generate RNA folding, modifications, rearrangements and cleavage as well as targeted degradation of pre- ribosomal RNA by the RNA exosome. Involved in nucleolar processing of pre-18S ribosomal RNA. . This is the function of UTP18 (UTP18 small subunit processome component, Ensembl gene identifier ENSG00000011260).