Job Description

LOCATION: Gauteng.R HIGHLY NEGOTIABLE PLUS ANNUAL PERFORMANCE BONUSOur client provides retirement fund administration services for the members of the company. The membership of the company comprises in-service members, deferred pensioners, pensioners and beneficiaries. In-service members join the company as part of the conditions of service of their participating employers and proceed to become deferred pensioners or pensioners during various life stages. The company pays benefits to qualifying beneficiaries in the event of the passing away of an in-service member, pensioner, or deferred pensioner..They now seek an investment risk specialist and quant research expert - to join their team. You will report to the chief investment officer (CIO). BRAND new role - crafted to attract a special, skilled person.JOB DESCRIPTION WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:

• You will be required to support risk management within the investment process through the production of meaningful performance and risk analysis;
• You will be required to support the investment team using quantitative research methodologies to review, analyse and improve the investment process and portfolio;
• Conduct risk analysis and quantitative research:

• You will be required to independently (with minimal oversight and supervision) verify investment performance data using the multi asset class risk system to confirm data integrity and check that there are no outliers in terms of fund, market, benchmark and liability data;
• You will be required to compare data across performance and risk systems to ensure uniformity of data and run analysis on this performance data to produce usable information;
• You will be required to further carry out investigations on any identified outliers, drill down into the data and engage with the investment administration team and our various internal and external portfolio management teams;
• You will be required to conduct performance and risk analysis per portfolio, per asset class, providing interpretations and resolutions of investment issues and flagging points of concern;
• You will be responsible for identification of key risk drivers and attribute performance returns to those attributes with the aim of helping to maximise returns per unit risk;
• You will be required to inform and advise the office of the CIO on emerging trends and important analysis timeously;
• You will be required to build mathematical / statistical (including machine learning) models to support investment decision making and determine impact of investment decisions made;
• You will be required to work closely with or drive the design and implementation of quantitative research projects;
• You will be required to nurture the growth of junior staff in either risk management or quantitative research;
• You will be required to identify and report on investment data, tracking and reporting on investment trends, gathering and synthesizing data for deep analysis / research, identifying performance and risk driver to support or flag concerns to the office of the CIO;
• Manage and monitor the Fund's asset managers in terms of their portfolio mandates:

• You will be required to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the investment decisions and optimisations of investment returns of the fund's asset managers (internal and external);
• You will be required to develop and maintain relationships with investment and banking communities which should enable access to market research, trends and statistics;
• You will be required to perform performance and risk-return analysis and provide recommendations to CIO as and when required;
• You will be required to assess and monitor investment portfolio and fund level risks and performance attributions;
• You will be required to generate reports analysing investment performance;
• You will be required to assess performance against stated benchmarks;
• You will be required to manage and monitor the Fund's asset managers in terms of their portfolio mandates. Make assessments, monitor and report on investment portfolio and fund level risks and performance;
• Manage the risk system:

• You will be required to act as the risk system super-user, ensuring availability of analysis on the system;
• You will be required to verify that the system is up to date;
• You will be required to verify that the scenario testing reports are set up within the system so that the system is adopted within business;
• You will be required to convert investment scenarios into Risk system definitions;
• You will be required to liaise with the risk system provider on all issues, technical and otherwise;
• You will be required to develop customised reports;
• You will be required to manage the risk system ensuring accurate, valid and up to date information is available on the system;
• Conduct ad-hoc research and analysis:

• You will be required to identify and conduct proactive risk analysis and quantitative research;
• You will be required to conduct this proactive analysis and research around changes in the risk profile of the fund, market asset classes return drivers and individual portfolio management (not an exhaustive list);
• You will be required to interpret ad-hoc analysis and research, identifying the need for follow-up analysis and research and then conducting or facilitating that analysis or research;
• You will be required to advise the office of the CIO on the effects of blended decisions (the aggregation of all mandates within an asset class or of all the asset classes within the context of an investment strategy);
• You will be required to provide input into due diligence studies, alongside other stakeholders;
• You will be required to support the CIO with risk identification, performance maximisation within constraints, performance/market analysis and interpretation.

.CORE QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• You have honours degree in mathematics, statistics or actuarial science, engineering or equivalent, including finance, investment or commerce;
• You have a master's level degree - this would be a distinct advantage;
• You have a professional certification or significant progress towards a Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement (CIPM), CFA, Financial Risk Manager (FRM) certification - this would be a distinct advantage;
• You have a minimum of 5 years current, relevant job-related experience;
• You have exposure to asset-liability modelling - this would be a distinct advantage;
• You have in-depth knowledge and understanding of quantitative and risk financial practices, principles and procedures. A proven track record of being able to translate these into practical application;
• You have knowledge of legislation governing investments;
• You have knowledge of legislation governing JSE;
• You have knowledge of CFA Code of Conduct or other body espousing highest professional standards;
• You have knowledge and understanding of portfolio management process;
• You have knowledge and understanding of asset classes and instrument types (including modelling, pricing and trading);
• You have knowledge and understanding asset and liability modelling;
• You have in-depth skills of financial and investment modelling;
• You have skills in programming, database and software management, machine learning - this would be a distinct advantage.

You are razor sharp - great attention to detail and smarts coupled with a stellar work ethic and a passion for doing things right first time! CIO is dynamic and open to ideas and change to improve the business!

Claire Bourquin Recruitment Consultants