Investment Manager Researcher

About Us

Spence & Partners (Spence) provides full pension actuarial, consulting, investment consulting and administration services that offer simply smarter solutions for trustees, employers, and members.

We are excited about the future. The industry in which we operate offers a dynamic and challenging environment, and our excellent reputation is contributing to the growth of our business from an expanding portfolio of clients. With our unique approach to the provision of services, we aspire to continue to extend our client base and deliver truly integrated solutions across our work through the use of our highly innovative software platform, Mantle.

We are defined by our ethos and by our goal:

• Our ethos is an individual and collective commitment achieved through carefully balancing responsibility with freedom and flexibility, all of which is underpinned by a willingness to work interdependently. When we get this balance right, it is how we do our best work.
• Our goal is to provide interesting, worthwhile, and healthy careers for our colleagues; we believe that this emphasis sets us apart from our competitors. We do not pigeonhole colleagues and aim to provide challenging and interesting work which will allow our staff to build rewarding careers. We will support you every step of the way.

Spence is part of the 3173 Group of companies, which also includes Dalriada Trustees Limited, one of the UK’s largest professional pension scheme trustee companies, and Mantle, which reimagines the traditional models of defined benefit pensions administration and actuarial valuation software. Joining us can open up opportunities for you to use your experience to add value across the group.

We have clients throughout the UK, serviced from offices in London, Belfast, Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, and Leeds. More information about what it’s like to work at Spence can be found here.

About You

This is an exciting role in an organisation that embraces innovation and development and would suit someone that has at least 5 years’ experience in a similar role that is looking to add significant value to our Company’s service proposition.

As an Investment Manager Researcher, you will report to our Head of Investment Consulting and work closely with the rest of our team of investment consultants, analysts, and asset transition specialists. You will be expected to be proactive and manage your schedule of manager research – meeting investment managers, writing reports, and presenting them to our investment committee in a way that meets the requirements of our business and our clients, which include the trustees and sponsoring employers of pension schemes, the Pension Protection Fund, and Charity/Not for Profit organisations.

You will be working in a challenging and supportive environment as part of a growing, innovative pension consulting firm and will liaise with colleagues throughout our office locations.

Responsibilities & Criteria

As an integral part of our investment team, your main tasks will include, but are not limited to:

• Presenting fund recommendations to the Investment Committee for final sign off;
• Being responsible for our overall research process, ensuring consistency of our approach and high quality fund recommendations;
• Conducting both quantitative and qualitative manager and asset class research through desk-based research and also manager meetings on a variety of asset classes including but not limited to fixed income, multi-asset, real estate, equity, and alternatives;
• Ensuring clients meet their ESG requirements by integrating ESG into the research process and producing ESG manager ratings;
• Maintaining up to date knowledge of new ESG regulations, themes, and opportunities, and support with ESG related reporting requirements;
• Producing written due diligence report research notes for colleagues and clients;
• Providing support to the wider team on various investment activities such as drafting investment advice reports, manager selection reports, commentary for performance reports, and reviewing implementation statements;
• Operating as a contributor in the Pension Industry, regularly building your professional network and presence in the marketplace particularly with investment managers;
• Representing Spence through thought pieces, briefing notes, and research content;
• Training junior members of the team about ESG and other research matters;
• Assisting with a variety of investment projects;
• Calculating investment performance figures for performance monitoring purposes; and
• Assisting with other ad-hoc investment work.

Essential Criteria

• Significant – at least 5 years’ – and relevant experience in a similar role
• Sound technical investment knowledge, covering a range of asset classes and managers.
• An honours degree at 2:1 level or above in a relevant subject
• A relevant Professional Qualification such as CFA, FIA, or similar, or close to qualifying.
• Excellent IT skills and competent in Microsoft packages, e.g., Word and Excel, with an aptitude for learning other systems
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Desirable Criteria

• Understanding of ESG and the role it plays in the investment process, fund selection, and client reporting requirements is desirable.
• Experience of working proactively and also using your own initiative
• Creative and analytical approach to solving problems.
• Ability to manage projects to deliver on time and on budget.
• The ability to understand what will add value and what will not and the ability to tailor approach as and when required.

Benefits

• Flexible Benefits
• Excellent Remuneration Package (starting salary dependent on experience)
• Support for professional qualifications (if applicable)
• Flexible Annual Leave
• Matched Pension Contribution
• Income Protection and Life Assurance.
• Comprehensive Private Medical, Dental Cover including Employee Assistance Programme
• Flexible Working (Onsite, Hybrid)
• Annual Health Screening
• Car Leasing Scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Annual Season Ticket
• Charity Payroll Giving

Working hours: Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week with additional hours as and when required.

Location: Opportunity is primarily available in London; however, other locations may be considered, particularly Glasgow. The roleholder may be required to travel to other UK locations.

All roles are subject to a six-month probationary period, and all prospective employees are required to complete an Access NI check.

As part of the pre-hire process, the successful candidate will be subject to reference checking security vetting.

3173 is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Applying with a disability or long-term health condition?

As part of our belief that we benefit from the differences among us, we are committed to increasing the representation of disabled colleagues and want to remove any barriers or challenges that get in the way of candidates with a disability or long-term health condition from applying to work with us. As part of this commitment, we guarantee to automatically interview anyone with a disability who meets the minimum criteria.

If there is support or an adjustment that we can provide to enable you to be at your best during the recruitment and selection process, we encourage you to advise us in good time so that we may make suitable arrangements. We understand that being open with us may feel uncomfortable, so please only share with us the information that you are comfortable to share, and rest assured that we will use this only to provide you with the right support. Any information you give us will be treated completely confidentially. To discuss this further, please call 028 9041 2000 and ask to speak to a member of the People & Culture team.