Associate Director, Portfolio Construction

AustralianSuper; London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading investment firm is seeking an Associate Director for Portfolio Construction in London. This pivotal role involves developing quantitative models to optimize asset allocation and enhance investment processes. The successful candidate will collaborate with portfolio managers and contribute to strategic decisions, requiring strong analytical and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualifications in finance or investing.
• Significant exposure in multi-asset portfolios.
• Strong quantitative skills in assessing portfolio construction.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement quantitative models for asset allocation.
• Collaborate closely with Portfolio Managers and Strategists.
• Prepare reports for senior management documenting conclusions.

Skills

Financial modeling

Quantitative skills

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Strategic thinking

Education

Postgraduate qualifications in finance or investing (e.g. CFA, CAIA, FIAA or similar)

Tools

Excel

Python

R

Job description

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Job Description

Associate Director | Portfolio Construction | Asset Allocation

• Take on a pivotal newly created seat in our Kings Cross office here in London!
• Play a key role in portfolio construction, delivering to our whole portfolio management & direct investment strategy.

AustralianSuper is the largest pension fund in Australia - the 16th largest in the world by total assets, and the fastest-growing among the top 20.

With more than £180bn in assets under management, and a world-class investment team, AustralianSuper has the appetite and capability to directly invest in large-scale opportunities. The Fund is active investor across global financial markets, real assets, private credit and private equity, with the aim of delivering sustainable, long-term performance for its members

The Role:

The Asset Allocation team is responsible for developing and implementing quantitative models to optimize asset allocation, improve portfolio efficiency, and enhance risk-adjusted returns. Your success will hinge on your ability to collaborate closely with Portfolio Managers, Strategists, and Investment Risk, driving data-driven decision-making and refining our investment processes.

This new seat has been created to undertake research and analysis to drive portfolio construction of the diversified investment options to meet their performance objectives. The appointee will be responsible for developing and implementing quantitative models to optimise asset allocation, improve portfolio efficiency and enhance risk adjusted returns. Critical to your success will be the ability to work closely with Portfolio Managers, Strategists, and Investment Risk to improve our investment processes and drive data-drive decision making, including;

Portfolio Construction and Optimization:

• Develop and implement quantitative models for strategic and tactical asset allocation.
• Support the design of multi-asset & factor-based portfolios aligned with the fund's long-term objectives.
• Optimize portfolio rebalancing strategies, considering liquidity constraints, transaction costs, & risk exposures.
• Conduct analysis to improve total portfolio construction which includes alternative benchmarks, new asset class, portfolio hedges etc

Modelling & Research:

• Enhance existing risk and return forecasting models, incorporating portfolio constraints
• Apply machine learning, Monte Carlo simulations, and stochastic modelling to stress test portfolio outcomes.
• Conduct scenario analysis and factor decomposition to assess portfolio sensitivities.

Asset Allocation:

• Prepare reports as directed for senior management that document conclusions, providing recommendations where necessary.
• Contribute opinions and ideas to assist in setting the asset allocation of the Diversified Options.
• Work closely with the global asset allocation teams (Research, Strategy & Investment Risk) and the broader investment department.

This role is based on-site at London King's Cross Estate, one of the core assets of the Fund's global portfolio, with a hybrid work schedule.

What you will need:

• Postgraduate qualifications in finance or investing (e.g. CFA, CAIA, FIAA or similar).
• Knowledge and capability to undertake financial, economic and econometric modelling.
• Significant exposure in multi-asset portfolios and/or solution type teams
• Strategic self-starting thinker, who can build investment processes, lead research projects and synthesize complex information into concise conclusions.
• Excellent communication skills, often illustrating investment principles, investment strategies and instruments in reports and presentations
• Experience in investing or allocating capital for a multi-asset portfolio.
• Demonstrated strong quantitative skills in assessing and developing portfolio construction, risk modelling.
• Advanced Excel/MS Office product and knowledge of coding, e.g. python, R.

Life at AustralianSuper

At AustralianSuper, we truly care about our colleagues. We know work and life are intertwined. This is why we support the diverse needs of everyone and have policies that enable us all to thrive and be truly flexible. We ensure diversity is celebrated for the opportunity it provides us all to learn and grow, and ultimately to deliver better outcomes for members.

Our London and New York offices are made up of ~240 talented colleagues and is expected to grow three -fold over the next three years meaning when you join you become a key part of building our culture.

As we collaborate with colleagues across multiple time zones flexibility in work hours are both a requirement and opportunity for this role.

We are committed to supporting our diverse workforce in a way that is inclusive and embraces diversity in all its forms. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process or the role, please let our recruitment team know.

What's next: Apply now, if you share our values of Energy, Integrity, Generosity of Spirit, and Excellent Outcomes and would like the opportunity to work in a challenging, growing and rapidly evolving team to deliver outstanding results.

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