Quantitative Research Analyst recruitment

FTSE is a fast growing, high profile independent company owned by the London Stock Exchange Group.  Its mission is to provide investors globally with the best index and benchmarking solutions and decision making support tools.  The strategic intent of the company is to create an index business valued in excess of $3 billion by 2014-15, occupying a leadership position in all major developed and significant emerging markets.

FTSE is a leading provider of index data for institutional investors worldwide with over $3 trillion of assets benchmarked to FTSE indexes. Growing at over 20% each year, and working from a position of market leadership in the UK and Europe, FTSE’s strategy is to increase FTSE brand awareness globally and to continue to grow its business worldwide through acquisitions and partnerships as well as organic growth. 

FTSE is relied upon by financial markets globally, running the FTSE 100, FTSE MIB (Italy), Straits Times (Singapore), FTSE/JSE (South Africa) and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI.  The company is at the forefront of indexes for the emerging market in China, operating the FTSE China A50 which supports the leading A Share ETF in Hong Kong. FTSE also works with the world’s biggest asset owners such as CalPERS, AP2, PGGM, AP3, AP7, ABN Amro, UBS, MPF and the Futures Fund, as well as the world’s largest passive fund managers, including Blackrock, State Street, Vanguard, Legal and General and UBS. 

FTSE operates from three major centres in London, New York and Hong Kong.  The company also has satellite offices in San Francisco, Paris, Milan, Dubai, Tokyo and Sydney.   FTSE also has a presence in China (Shanghai and Beijing) and India (Mumbai) as part of its strategy to establish a leadership position in major emerging markets.

The Business Need

FTSE has established a very strong reputation within the market place for the quality and reliability of its index products and its expertise in dealing with unusual or complex stock events is widely acknowledged.  With a strong presence in the European financial markets, and a rapidly growing presence in the North American and Asian markets the company is now looking to increase its market share globally and become the number one provider of index client solutions globally. 

As a member of the Research Analytics Team, a Research Analyst is at the hub of the business and will assist in the delivery of portfolio performance and risk attribution analytical tools.  The position holder will also be integral to the general development of quantitative investment tools and data sources.  The research analyst will also be expected to assist with ad-hoc research requests.

Key Functions and Responsibilities

Reporting to the Head of Research Analytics within the Research Analytics Department, and working within a team of Research Analysts, the individual will be responsible for delivering performance and risk attribution analytics in addition to assisting in the development of both the qualitative and quantitative requirements of the team.

Key areas of responsibility are:

• Implementation of risk and performance attribution analytics

• Carry out testing and development of analytical tools

• The reconciliation of analytics and data

• Analysis and documentation of the requirement of business users and models developed

• Undertake specific quantitative and qualitative research as required.

Key Aspects of the Position are:

• Undertake programming developments and quantitative investment analysis tasks using SQL and other software

• Liaise with other colleagues to ensure the successful role out of completed modules

• Undertake and aid with the creation of analytical notes and reports

QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE

• Strong academic record

• Excellent quantitative skills

• Demonstrable practical experience of quantitative investment techniques and equity research

• A rigours understanding of modern portfolio theory

• Excellent IT Skills

• Ability to communicate at all levels