Director/Associate Director of Investment Research – Credit Strategies recruitment
With approximately $50 billion in platform assets, Fortigent offers capital markets analysis, asset allocation advice, model portfolios, money manager search, selection, and due diligence, and comprehensive technology and performance reporting solutions to banks, trust companies, and registered investment advisors. The firm also sponsors Access Overlay™, a Unified Managed Account program, and Access Alts™, an alternative investment access program.
Fortigent’s research department provides strategic and tactical asset allocation advice, evaluates institutional money management firms and maintains a recommended list of investments for both traditional and alternative investment products.
The 10 person research department has an immediate need for an experienced Director of Credit Strategies Research in our Rockville, Maryland office.
The Credit Strategies Director will be responsible for:
- Maintaining oversight and direct responsibility for the Fortigent credit strategies platform.
- Evaluating current and intermediate term taxable and tax-exempt credit markets, risks, and opportunities and providing actionable outlooks.
- Assisting the CIO with credit allocation decisions. Analyzing new investment strategies and approaches, including asset allocation methodologies. Creating model credit-oriented portfolios.
- Overseeing and assisting with searches for credit-oriented investment management strategies across a variety of access points (ETFs, mutual funds, separately managed accounts, limited partnerships).
- Performing due diligence, monitoring, and risk control on selected investment managers, including the creation and maintenance of comprehensive due diligence reports on approved managers.
- Acting as a resource for consultants and clients on credit-related investment strategies as well as economic analysis and general market outlook.
- Working with internal consultants and Fortigent clients to design and implement credit-related portfolios.
- Assisting the alternative investment team with credit-oriented manager analysis and portfolio construction.
- Creating regular research reports and presentation materials for credit-related investment managers and strategies.
- Producing regular and periodic high quality research “deliverables.”
Successful candidates will possess the following qualities:
- A minimum of 7-10 years of relevant fixed income and credit-related experience, with knowledge and understanding of quantitative and qualitative due diligence, economics, and portfolio management.
- Deep understanding of the risk and performance drivers of a variety of taxable and tax-exempt credit-related investment strategies, including investment grade, high yield, mortgage-backed securities, leveraged loans, convertible bonds, and both US and non-US credit strategies.
- Experience with credit-oriented alternative investments a strong plus (e.g., long/short, distressed, etc.).
- Experience with an open architecture consulting firm a plus, but not required.
- Verifiable ability to formulate and communicate a “market view” from the analysis of fixed income, economic, and credit market data.
- Experience as a credit portfolio manager and/or market strategist a strong plus (ability to recommend strategies or portfolio positioning in response to changing market conditions).
- BS/BA required.
- Post-Graduate degree (MS, MBA) a plus, but not required.
- CFA/CIMA®/CAIA designations (or demonstrated progress toward) a plus, but not required.
- A verifiable network or contacts within the credit market universe a strong plus.
- Excellent writing and presentation skills.
- Strong team orientation combined with an entrepreneurial spirit.
- Advanced Excel spreadsheet and database management skills.
- Strong communication and interpersonal service skills are required.
- Must have initiative and ability to complete tasks with minimal supervision.
- Intellectual curiosity and critical thinking skills are required.
- Thorough knowledge of relevant databases and analytical tools (e.g., Bloomberg) required.
- Detail oriented and thorough in completing projects/tasks.
- A good understanding of asset allocation and modern portfolio theory.
We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package.
Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter, resume and salary requirements via e-mail WORD document(s) to: robin.newman@fortigent.com.