Manager Research – Real Estate and Private Markets (Sydney) recruitment
The Company
Towers Watson is a leading global professional services company that helps organizations improve performance through effective people, financial and risk management. With 14,000 associates around the world, we offer solutions in the areas of employee benefit programs, talent and reward programs, and risk and capital management.
The Business
Our Investment business is very highly regarded with a strong focus on developing and implementing innovative and customised solutions for our impressive range of “blue chip” institutional investment clients.
Critical to the success of our Investment business is the Manager Research team which assists in driving our clients’ decision making around the selection, monitoring and de-selection of investment managers.
We have one of the largest global manager research teams in the industry spread across 26 markets and integrated through strong technology and proven research methodology. We are now looking to further add to our Australian based capability in both real estate specifically, and private markets more generally.
The team’s ongoing success is due, in large part, to our friendly and supportive atmosphere which fosters career development in an environment that is rich in thought leadership, global capability and individual learning opportunity.
The Role
As a specialist in researching strategies and managers in the real estate, infrastructure and private equity space, you will enjoy the opportunity to deepen, and apply, your knowledge of what it truly takes to be a successful investor in these asset classes.
You will be carrying out detailed research on a range of Australian and global investment managers and strategies, synthesising quantitative, qualitative and implementation perspectives, and presenting your thoughtful recommendations to our clients. You will have extensive interaction and collaboration with our impressive team of Australian and globally-based professionals who collectively comprise one of the strongest capabilities available in the world of private markets research.
Day-to-day tasks will include:
- Conducting rigorous due diligence on investment managers and strategies, incorporating quantitative and qualitative information, through a combination of desk research and face to face meetings.
- Applying and further developing world class investment tools and processes that are integral to the due diligence process.
- Actively debating new ideas and investment opportunities with your global colleagues as an integral part of your research.
- Using your writing skills to summarise concisely your findings and recommendations to our clients, supported with clear and insightful reasoning that is effectively expressed in research note form.
- Contributing to the design, implementation and monitoring of multi-manager portfolios that are customised for client needs.
- Ensuring quality, timeliness and effectiveness of all work delivered to colleagues and clients
- Supporting and enhancing a culture that emphasises Towers Watson’s core values of excellence, innovation, teamwork, independence, integrity and mutual respect.
- Building and maintaining deep relationships across the investment community.
The Requirements
Qualifications and Experience
We are open to considering a wide range of individuals for this role. As a guide, we expect candidates with strong credentials in real estate specifically, and private markets more generally, preferably with the following additional characteristics:
- More than 5 years’ experience in undertaking extensive due diligence in respect of both managers and strategies.
- Outstanding knowledge of the theory and practice of institutional investments in the context of all asset classes, but with a special interest in non-traditional assets classes.
- Deep knowledge of the Australian investment universe for real estate and private markets.
- You are likely to have been working in investment consulting, investment management, of for an institutional fund.
- CFA (or equivalent) qualifications.
Personal Attributes
- Excellent oral and written communication skills with demonstrated ability to summarise complex information concisely and cohesively.
- Superior analytical/problem-solving skills, logical thought processes and strong numeracy.
- Commercially astute self-starter with the confidence and maturity to formulate and articulate recommendations clearly and concisely and in the context of client advice.
- Interest in, and ideally some exposure to, behavioural finance theories and concepts, coupled with an understanding of key drivers of human behaviour.
- Strong project management/organisational skills, with the ability to work on multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team.
- Strong attention to detail and high accuracy in own work.
- Proven skills in building and maintaining relationships.
- Strong initiative, drive and resilience in working in a quick-paced environment and in constant search for excellence.
How to join us
All applications must be submitted online via our careers page. Please visit www.towerswatson.com/careers/ and search for Job ID: 11398 to apply. Kindly complete the online application form and submit a copy of your CV.