Investment Consultant, RFS – Beijing recruitment
The Investments business provides consulting and advisory services to Pension funds, Sovereign Wealth Funds, Financial Institutions, Endowments, Foundations and Charities across the globe. It has its history steeped in actuarial and pension fund advisory and has grown over the past two decades into one of the most respected financial advisory firms to institutional investors. Our work covers all aspects of the investment function and focuses on better equipping our clients to make good, well researched, well thought through investment decisions. In doing so, we help clients manage investment complexity, establish their risk tolerance and improve governance. We combine innovative thinking with capable execution so our clients can successfully balance risk and return. We aim to act as an extension of the internal investment function (regardless of size, scale, sophistication and complexity), offering tailored and specialist expertise, through global, regional and local research and coverage of investment issues and approaches. Our commitment to innovation and research means our clients gain access to the best investment ideas. We have one of the industry's largest investment strategy teams with backgrounds in investment banking, asset management, finance and actuarial science. We also have one of the industry's largest investment manager research teams covering all asset classes from mainstream to alternative investments, including hedge funds and private equity. With this deep specialist expertise, we turn innovative concepts into practical, independent advice tailored to meet our clients' needs. Our services include: strategic setting of investment objectives, strategic asset allocation, investment management structures, manager selection, performance measurement and evaluation, investment manager monitoring, custodian selection, transition advice, statements of investment policy and global research services. Investment Services, China is focused on growing our investment business in mainland China, and broadening our client base into sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies other financial institutions, and corporate pension funds. The incumbent will have both client facing and research responsibilities. Client facing responsibilities will include working directly with clients on projects and advisory work, the development of reports and working with other team members to build and deliver client deliverables. Research responsibilities will include developing a general working knowledge of TW's proprietary investment strategy and manager research capabilities. This role will involve China's domestic manager research with a slight focus on private equities, and will support interaction and dialogue with managers as required to meet client needs.
Performance Objectives:
Clients
- Act as a business developer in the building of local client base
- Act as a liaison between clients and investment specialists to effectively deliver TW's best investment ideas
- Interface with colleagues from other lines of business and regions on assignments which reflect the client's broader business issues
- Meet project timeline (internal and external) with quality deliverables
- Manage client expectations and raise appropriate issues to Lead Consultants
- Develop a trusted advisor relationship with client contacts through effective communication and efficient, quality execution of projects
Excellence
- Contribute to clients' success through applying technical expertise
- Participate in special projects as needed
- Contribute to the development of new tools and approaches, and Towers Watson's thought leadership and research
- Meet private equity managers in various categories, including both direct and fund of funds managers
- Participate in both internal and external research meetings, and help formulating views on specific managers.
- Build relationships with managers, and act as a point of contact to provide information about the managers to members of the global investment practice.
- Extract and interpret both quantitative and qualitative data to help drive decision-making.
Financial
- Meet billable hour goals as agreed
- Support the generation of new business as part of the broader team
- Develop new business opportunities with Lead Consultants
People
- Develop cooperative internal relationships with other consultants to assure that client investment consulting issues are met
- Build relationships internally and collaborate effectively on cross-functional teams
Requirements:
- A highly motivated professional with the highest level of integrity
- Strong academic performance with advanced degree or relevant professional qualifications (e.g. CFA, CAIA, etc.) desirable
- Minimum of 2 years experience in the investment or relevant area i.e. fund investment, consulting, investment management, actuarial practice, and research.
- 4 or more years of working experience is preferred.
- Some exposure to private equity investment gained in either a consulting or investment environment.
- Must have excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills, and the ability to work effectively at all levels of both Towers Watson's and client organisations
- Knowledge of, and the ability to be conversant about, some investment management topics, including asset allocation, investment strategy, and modern portfolio theory
- The maturity and professional experience necessary to interact and consult effectively with internal professional staff, clients, and other outside parties on an independent basis
- Demonstrate accomplishments and success in working in a collegial professional environment where positive interaction and team working is required to fulfill clients' needs
- A self-starter who can initiate and carry out assignments on an independent basis
- Fluent in both Chinese and English
