Investment Specialist, Quantitative Analyst – Multi-Asset Investment Strategies recruitment

Role Context

Standard Life Investments is a premier asset manager with an expanding global reach. Our wide range of investment solutions is backed by a distinctive investment philosophy, disciplined risk management and shared commitment to a culture of investment excellence.  Standard Life Investments manages circa £150bn on behalf of clients worldwide. Investment capabilities span equities, bonds, real estate, private equity, multi-asset solutions, fund-of-funds and absolute return strategies.  Our investors rank among some of the world's most sophisticated and high-profile institutions. They include corporate pension plans, banks, mutual funds, insurance companies, fund-of-fund managers, endowments, foundations, charities, official institutions, sovereign wealth funds and government authorities.

As part of the Global Client Group (GCG), the Global Investment Specialist (GIS) team utilise their asset class specialism to support the globalisation of the Standard Life Investments business. Whilst being located within GCG, the GIS team is expected to develop strong working relationships with the investment management teams.

The Investment Specialist, Quantitative Analyst – Multi-Asset Investment Strategies role will sit within the GIS team and is specifically targeted at supporting the commercial growth of the SLI GARS product through the provision of high quality and timely data to external parties.

The growth of GARS in terms of AUM and therefore client base has been significant.  The overseas business has grown significantly, and the longer-term potential is also considerable.  This growing international client and distributor base is leading to a variety of very technical data requests.

Role Purpose

The role holder will work in close partnership with our Investment Risk and Multi Asset teams to provide investment data that supports the commercial growth of GARS and subsequent Absolute Return products. The complexity of these data requests will require the extraction and collation of information from various investment and risk systems including proprietary and industry standard data sources that the candidate will ideally already have working experience of:

• Bloomberg
• Datastream
• UBS Delta
• Matlab
• Riskmetrics
• Sunguard APT
• eVest Alliance
• Mercer MPA
• Front Office – a proprietary fund management database

The role holder will therefore either be familiar with, or be expected to quickly and independently develop an understanding of, a very broad range of investment instruments, including derivatives and their related relevant data.

An important aspect of this role will be to, wherever practical, automate the production of regular reports enabling the role-holder to concentrate on ad-hoc requests that often relate to the current economic environment.

Core Outcomes

• Team member supporting the promotion of GARS and other innovative multi asset solutions
• Work in partnership with investment teams to produce portfolio analysis and information in a timely fashion.
• Contribute to the provision of high quality database, RFP, presentation and marketing collateral. 
• Contribute to the support of wholesale distribution agreements though provision of timely reports and data.
• Build and maintain a thorough knowledge of key competition and the competitive environment
• Maintain a good working relationship with the Sales, Client and Asset Class teams
• Provides an exceptional client experience through a focus on client needs at all times in line with the Company's TCF policy and is flexible when trying to meet and exceed client expectations
• Promote Standard Life Investments

Core Knowledge

• Knowledge and experience of investment markets, instruments (including derivatives) and relevant products
• A knowledge of key systems such as those mentioned above
• Detailed understanding of statistical and numerical manipulation tools such as Matlab and Excel
• A working knowledge and experience of working within a multi-asset environment.
• Understand Standard Life Investments' Global Absolute Return Strategy philosophy and process
• Demonstrate an in depth knowledge of business processes and procedures in accordance with the Company's TCF policy as well as the compliance and legislative environment in which we operate

Core Skills

• Excellent communication and numerical skills
• Ability to write reports and give professional presentations
• Ability to build and nurture personal relationships with a diverse range of people/personalities at a variety of different levels
• Sound business and investment knowledge
• Self motivated
• Self Confidence

Typical Qualifications/Experience

• IMC qualification, CFA or appropriate equivalent
• Experience of Absolute return, diversified growth and Fixed Income strategies would be advantageous

Talents

• Team work – is supportive of colleagues and is willing to share ideas and listen to others.
• Information gathering – knows where to get relevant information from and will make use of all available sources.
• Attention to detail – takes thorough and organised approach in solving complex problems and in delivering complex tasks to tight deadlines.
• Planning organising – schedules daily work and does not rely on others to prioritise activities.
• Preference for Action – takes ownership for work and will see things through.
• Client focus – maintains focus on client needs at all times and is flexible when trying to meet and exceed client expectations.
• Communicating influencing – explains things clearly whether verbally or in writing and can present to a wide audience using an appropriate style and tone.
• Responsibility – demonstrates strong work ethic and takes initiative to meet client needs. Looks for opportunities to create value for the client.
• Tenacity – copes well with high volumes of work and thrives in a fast paced work environment.
• Networking- builds a range of contacts both internally and externally and uses their knowledge to gain business advantage.