Investment Strategy Analyst/Associate

USS Investment Management Limited; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an Investment Strategy Associate to join their dynamic team in London. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to portfolio strategy while collaborating with experts in the field. You'll be involved in running key models, conducting scenario analysis, and supporting the portfolio construction process. This position promises significant growth potential and the chance to make a meaningful impact within a leading pension scheme. If you're passionate about investment strategies and eager to develop your career, this role is perfect for you.

Benefits

Generous annual leave package

High quality pension scheme

Enhanced occupational sickness pay

Financial contributions for personal development

Private healthcare

Discounted gym membership

Learning and development opportunities

Employee Volunteer Days

Cycle to Work Scheme

Qualifications

• Broad understanding of multi-asset portfolios.
• Excellent analytical and quantitative skills.
• Intellectual curiosity and willingness to investigate.

Responsibilities

• Support delivery of asset allocation solutions.
• Conduct research on asset classes and allocation strategies.
• Produce portfolio analysis for stakeholder insights.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Quantitative Skills

Attention to Detail

Team Collaboration

Investment Knowledge

Tools

Portfolio Management Software (Jacobi)

Job description

Business Area: ISA – Investment Strategy & Advice

Place of Work: London

Contract Type: Permanent

When you join USS, the size and scale of our pension scheme means you will have numerous opportunities to learn and develop your career. Given our size you'll have real autonomy and influence as you collaborate closely with a wide-ranging team of experts.

About the role

As an Investment Strategy Associate, you will make a meaningful and valued contribution from day one.

This is a newly created position within the Total Portfolio Management team, which is part of the Investment Strategy & Advice (ISA) department at USS Investment Management (USSIM) Limited. The role offers a unique opportunity to join a dynamic and influential team focused on portfolio strategy.

In this role, you will primarily support the team in running, maintaining, and enhancing key models used in the Portfolio Strategy team, including the expected return model. Additionally, you will assist with the development and production of detailed analysis to help understand the performance of the portfolios and facilitate informed decision-making. You will also support the portfolio construction process, which includes thematic research, forecasting expected returns, conducting scenario analysis, and optimising portfolio allocation.

The successful applicant will play an integral role in monitoring and supporting the management of implemented portfolios and target allocations across both the Defined Benefit (DB) and Defined Contribution (DC) funds. Over time, there will be significant opportunities to take on increased responsibilities, with high visibility and potential for substantial impact within the team.

What you will be doing

As a trusted part of the ISA – Investment Strategy & Advice you will:

• Support the delivery of DB and DC asset allocation solutions, including portfolio rebalancing and target allocation changes, coordinating with other teams as needed.
• Assist in portfolio construction, including thematic research, forecasting expected returns, scenario analysis, and portfolio optimisation.
• Conduct research on strategic and cyclical aspects of asset classes and asset allocation strategies.
• Develop a strong understanding of forecasting long-term returns to enhance USSIM’s proprietary methodology.
• Improve the quality and robustness of USSIM tools for long-term expected returns and analysis.
• Perform scenario analysis and stress-testing of return assumptions to address model input uncertainty and scenario implications.
• Produce portfolio analysis and help generate insights to improve stakeholder understanding of portfolios.
• Support and advance the scheme’s Portfolio Management Software (Jacobi) and assist with its ongoing development, along with other tools.

About you

We know that sometimes people can be put off applying for a job if they don't tick every box, if you're excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we're looking for, then please apply, regardless of whether you meet all the requirements outlined in this profile.

To be successful in the role you will have:

• Broad understanding of multi-asset portfolios
• Broad understanding and interest in investment matters across multiple asset classes (e.g. LDI, equities, credit and private markets, derivatives) including drivers of risk and return,
• Excellent analytical and quantitative skills – able to pick up new and challenging concepts (quantitative, statistical and qualitative) and able to provide clear solutions
• Intellectual curiosity – willingness and ability to investigate and develop new ideas and investment strategies
• Willingness to work in a close-knit team with a long-term perspective
• Ability to deliver high quality work under constrained timelines
• Attention to detail with the ability to identify issues prior to wider communication

At USS, every individual contributes to building a secure financial future for our members and their families. We strive to create a work environment where everyone can thrive professionally while making a meaningful impact on the lives of others.

We're also committed to helping you build your career by providing opportunities for development. We put a focus on recognising and supporting each individual's unique career path, driving this forward with the support of an engaged and proactive management team.

Here at USS, we want you to thrive in and out of work with a friendly team, flexible culture and excellent range of benefits!

How we will reward you

• Generous annual leave package
• Access to a high quality pension scheme provided through Universities Superannuation Scheme
• Supportive people policies (including enhanced occupational sickness pay and family friendly pay)
• Financial contributions towards your personal development to help you maintain your physical and mental wellbeing
• Access to a range of health and wellbeing services i.e., private healthcare, discounted gym membership
• Learning and development opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and talent
• Employee Volunteer Day’s to support the communities where you work and live
• Cycle to Work Scheme

Our culture and values

Our people are what makes us different. We work together to create a diverse and inclusive culture that embraces individuality, where people are welcomed and feel comfortable in the knowledge that they can be themselves.

Our purpose firmly states the importance of members, putting them ‘front and centre’ of what we do. This is embedded through our values:

• Integrity

About us

Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) was established in 1974 as the principal pension scheme for universities and higher education institutions in the UK.

We work with around 330 employers to help build a secure financial future for more than 528,000 members and their families. We are one of the largest pension schemes in the UK, with total assets of around £75.5bn (at 31 March 2023). To find out more, please visit https://www.uss.co.uk

USSIM is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to ensure our recruitment process is as flexible and inclusive as possible so we can attract diverse candidates and recruit the best talent.

We want all candidates to perform at their best during the recruitment process, so if you need any reasonable adjustments or if there is anything we can do to help support you through your recruitment journey please let us know by contacting [e-mail] .