Analyst – Fund Solutions recruitment

Role Context

The Standard Life Investments (SLI) Fund Solutions Team provide fund research and analysis on both external third party fund managers and internal (SLI) funds. The team have three core clients who utilise their initial and on-going research. These are; Standard Life Assurance Limited (SLAL); Standard Life Wealth (SLW) and SLI's own multi-manager/fund of fund suite of products via the MyFolio range. All three areas are designed to be well positioned in a post RDR environment and as a testament have attracted significant assets.

Role Purpose

The primary purpose is to identify collective investment schemes that deliver return profiles that meet or, preferably, exceed the expectations required by SLAL, SLW or MyFolio. The philosophy is to use a combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques to ensure that there is deep and clear understanding of the source of a fund manager's returns and performance. A highly disciplined quantitative process is used to ensure that funds are screened appropriately, supported by a detailed qualitative due diligence process. The team are responsible for the ongoing monitoring of performance and will make recommendations when required to remove managers from the approved list. The team focus on regulated collective investment schemes and cover all asset classes.

The team are actively involved in providing clients with regular updates on fund developments (including performance and risk issues) and discussing and supporting the development of new products and propositions. The initial focus of the role is for UK investors but it is possible that this role will become increasingly global in client profile over time and a part of the role.

Key Outcomes

• Be involved alongside the quantitative analyst in reviewing the outputs of the quantitative research process used to screen the fund universe.
• Ensure ongoing delivery of the investment processes for fund selection.
• Follow a fund selection and de-selection process, using the ongoing process.
• Maintain a database of funds and managers and provide ongoing monitoring of existing fund “buy lists”
• Work with the SLW MyFolio portfolio managers to ensure the investment process is fluid.

Key Knowledge/Experience/Qualifications

• Qualifications
• Graduate with a degree in a highly numerate or business subject.
• IMC and working towards or completed CFA.
• Experience
• Experience of traditional and alternative asset classes, with demonstrable experience of covering retail funds.
• Experienced in fund manager selection within a fund of funds, insurance company, consultant or wealth manager.
• Well developed interpersonal skills facilitating communication with a wide range of business units and understanding of fund manager behaviour/motivations.
• Highly numerate and highly literate.
• Systems and technology know-how.

Skills

• Team player, who is able to work as part of a disciplined investment process.
• Good understanding of the role of funds as part of the portfolio construction process.
• Well developed interpersonal skills facilitating communication with a wide range of business units.
• Highly numerate and highly literate.
• Systems and technology know-how.