Investment Risk Analyst

Company 19 - John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.); Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 116,000 - 202,000; Full time

Job summary

Manulife/John Hancock in Boston seeks an experienced IRCS analyst to serve as the primary risk and portfolio construction analyst for an assigned group of portfolios. You will develop a deep understanding of investment philosophy, independently assess risks, and provide actionable quantitative insights to portfolio managers and senior investment stakeholders.

You will build and maintain analytical tools in R and Python, monitor risks, evaluate positioning, and communicate findings clearly.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in quantitative/investment risk or related field.
• Translate complex analysis into investment insights.
• Strong knowledge of markets and instruments.
• Experience with financial data and risk measures.
• Experience communicating with portfolio managers and executives.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary risk and portfolio construction analyst for an assigned group of portfolios, developing a strong understanding of their investment philosophy, process, positioning, and key sources of risk.
• Partner with portfolio managers and investment teams to evaluate portfolio risks, positioning, and portfolio construction decisions.
• Independently monitor portfolios and assess whether they are being managed consistently with their stated investment process, objectives, and risk parameters.
• Conduct quantitative portfolio analysis, including analysis of factor exposures, concentration, liquidity, stress testing, scenario analysis, and other relevant risk measures.
• Identify emerging or unintended risks and determine which issues require further analysis, discussion with portfolio managers, or escalation.
• Present portfolio analysis and risk insights clearly to portfolio managers, investment leadership, and other stakeholders.
• Contribute to the ongoing development and enhancement of the team's risk management and portfolio construction frameworks, analytics, and processes.
• Support the team's regular risk monitoring and reporting activities, while helping improve the efficiency and scalability of these processes.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance analytical tools and workflows using R and Python.
• Work with risk, market, and portfolio data across multiple platforms and contribute to improving the quality and usability of the team's analytical infrastructure.
• Collaborate with global colleagues on cross-asset risk issues, analytical initiatives, and broader team priorities.

Skills

Quantitative analytics

R/Python programming

Stakeholder communication

Investment risk knowledge

Financial markets knowledge

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in quantitative field

Tools

R

Python

Job description

The individual will work across a range of portfolios and asset classes and will serve as the primary IRCS analyst for an assigned group of portfolios. The role requires developing a deep understanding of each team's investment philosophy and process, independently assessing portfolio risks and positioning, and providing actionable quantitative and portfolio construction insights to portfolio managers and senior investment stakeholders. This is an important role within the team, combining independent risk oversight with analytical support to help ensure portfolios are managed consistently with their stated investment process, objectives, and risk parameters. The successful candidate will be expected to develop a strong understanding of portfolio strategies, identify and communicate areas of risk, and provide actionable insights to investment teams and senior stakeholders.

Position Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary risk and portfolio construction analyst for an assigned group of portfolios, developing a strong understanding of their investment philosophy, process, positioning, and key sources of risk.
• Partner with portfolio managers and investment teams to evaluate portfolio risks, positioning, and portfolio construction decisions.
• Independently monitor portfolios and assess whether they are being managed consistently with their stated investment process, objectives, and risk parameters.
• Conduct quantitative portfolio analysis, including analysis of factor exposures, concentration, liquidity, stress testing, scenario analysis, and other relevant risk measures.
• Identify emerging or unintended risks and determine which issues require further analysis, discussion with portfolio managers, or escalation.
• Present portfolio analysis and risk insights clearly to portfolio managers, investment leadership, and other stakeholders.
• Contribute to the ongoing development and enhancement of the team's risk management and portfolio construction frameworks, analytics, and processes.
• Support the team's regular risk monitoring and reporting activities, while helping improve the efficiency and scalability of these processes.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance analytical tools and workflows using R and Python.
• Work with risk, market, and portfolio data across multiple platforms and contribute to improving the quality and usability of the team's analytical infrastructure.
• Collaborate with global colleagues on cross-asset risk issues, analytical initiatives, and broader team priorities.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a quantitative, investment risk, portfolio construction, or related investment field, preferably within an asset manager, bank, or other financial institution.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, with the ability to translate complex analysis into clear investment insights.
• Strong programming skills in R and/or Python, with experience working with financial and portfolio data.
• Bachelor's or master's degree in finance, mathematics, statistics, mathematical finance, financial engineering, economics, computer science, or a related quantitative field.
• Strong understanding of financial markets, investment instruments, and portfolio risk.
• Ability to communicate effectively with portfolio managers, senior investment professionals, and quantitative and non-quantitative stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of portfolio risk and portfolio construction concepts, including factor exposures, concentration, tracking error, volatility, stress testing, scenario analysis, and performance attribution.
• Experience analyzing multiple asset classes, particularly equities and fixed income.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, distinguish material investment risks from less significant issues, and communicate findings clearly.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present quantitative concepts in a practical and accessible manner.
• CFA designation, progress toward the CFA designation, FRM, or another relevant professional qualification is an asset.

When you join our team:

We’ll empower you to learn and grow the career you want. We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words. As part of our global team, we’ll support you in shaping the future you want to see.

The role being advertised is an existing vacancy.

About Manulife and John Hancock Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law. It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact [e-mail].

Referenced Salary Location Boston, Massachusetts

Working Arrangement Hybrid

Salary range is expected to be between $116,000.00 USD - $202,000.00 USD. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance. The actual salary will vary depending on local market conditions, geography and relevant job-related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience, and education/training. If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact [e-mail] for the salary range for your location.

Manulife/John Hancock offers eligible employees a wide array of customizable benefits, including health, dental, mental health, vision, short- and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance coverage, adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits, and employee/family assistance plans.

We also offer eligible employees various retirement savings plans (including pension/401(k) savings plans and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources.

Our generous paid time off program in the U.S. includes up to 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days, 150 hours of vacation, and 40 hours of sick time (or more where required by law) each year, and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence.

We use data and analytics technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and automated processing tools, to analyze and process the information you provide to us or third parties in the application process. For more information, please refer to our personal information collection statement.

Know Your Rights I Family & Medical Leave I Employee Polygraph Protection I Right to Work I E-Verify

Company: John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.)

Our Mission and Values

We’re Manulife. And we’re on a mission to make decisions easier and lives better. Better is what drives us. It’s what inspires us to find new ways to support customers and colleagues in living longer and healthier lives. It’s the reason we’re dedicated to investing in digital innovation and industry-leading AI, and accelerating a sustainable and economically inclusive future. Joining us means you’ll be empowered to learn and grow your career. We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words. And as part of our global team, you’ll help shape the future you want to see – and discover that better can take you anywhere you want to go. We’re proud of our accomplishments and recognition.

Recent awards include:

• 2026 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award Winner
• Manulife Named one of Forbes World’s Best Employers 2025
• Financial Times World’s Best Employers Asia-Pacific 2026
• We’ve been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers 2026
• #1 Life Insurer for AI Maturity by Evident 2026

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