Portfolio Manager - Institutional Investments

CCSI CC Services, Inc.; United States; Hybrid; USD 148,000 - 204,000; Full time

Job summary

COUNTRY Financial, a leading insurer and investment manager, seeks a Portfolio Manager to oversee private placement debt and commercial mortgage investments within institutional portfolios. You will drive research, underwriting, and portfolio strategies, partnering across teams to balance income, liquidity and risk.

The ideal candidate has at least 10 years in relevant investing, CFA designation (or progress), and demonstrated judgment to influence decisions in a team‑oriented investment

Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant experience or a combination of related experience, education and training.
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation or progress towards completion.
• Experience managing private placement or commercial mortgage investments for insurers, pensions, asset managers, or institutional investors.

Responsibilities

• Research and analysis of investment ideas and development of portfolio management strategies.
• Monitor portfolio results and manage credit and portfolio risks.
• Collaborate with investments, actuarial, risk, accounting and legal teams to support liquidity and asset‑liability objectives.
• Focus areas may include private placement debt or commercial mortgage investments and related underwriting.

Skills

Private placement investments

Commercial mortgage investments

Credit analysis

Portfolio management

Communication skills

Education

CFA designation

Job description

Experience more with a career at COUNTRY Financial! We’re excited you’re interested in a career at COUNTRY as we strive toward our vision - to enrich lives in the communities we serve. Our footprint spans coast to coast. But more important than where we operate, is the people who do the work.

About the role COUNTRY Financial is seeking an experienced Portfolio Manager to join our Institutional Investments team and help manage over $20 billion across insurance company and pension portfolios.

As part of a highly collaborative investment organization with broad exposure to public and private markets, this role will have meaningful responsibility for sourcing, underwriting, structuring, negotiating, and monitoring private placement debt or commercial mortgage investments.

The Portfolio Manager will develop investment and relative-value recommendations, manage credit and portfolio risks, and partner with colleagues across investments, actuarial, risk, accounting, and legal to support income, liquidity, capital, and asset‑liability management objectives.

The ideal candidate will bring significant experience managing private placement or commercial mortgage investments for an insurance company, pension plan, asset manager, or other institutional investor, along with the independent judgment and communication skills needed to influence investment decisions and contribute to a disciplined, team‑oriented investment process.

Responsible for research and analysis of investment ideas, development of portfolio management strategies, and monitoring of portfolio results.

The specific focus of the job may range from investment analysis of specific securities, industries and industry sectors to management of investment portfolios within appropriate investment policies. Manages an assigned segment of investments within a variety of insurance company and pension portfolios, specializing in one of the following:

• Fixed Income Investments:
  • Sources, underwrites, negotiates, and manages private placement and Credit Tenant Loan (CTL) investments.
  • Conducts comprehensive credit, structural, and relative‑value analysis across a broad range of privately placed debt opportunities.
  • Monitors market conditions, issuer fundamentals, credit quality, collateral performance, and portfolio exposures to identify investment opportunities and emerging risks.
• Mortgage/Real Estate Investments:
  • Underwrites and negotiates terms and pricing of commercial mortgage investments in a competitive environment, along with monitoring the existing portfolio.
  • Manages workout situations and the real estate owned portfolio to achieve the best possible outcomes for insurance company clients.

How does this role make an impact?

Works in a collaborative team environment that combines security selection, valuation analysis, security trading, portfolio management, performance monitoring, and ongoing evaluation of investment strategies to implement the appropriate investment policies of the organization.

Evaluates new investment technologies, strategies and vehicles for application in investment portfolios.

Provides market insights and contributes to economic outlook for corporate planning purposes.

Collaborates extensively with other employees across the organization on activities such as risk management, income and yield maintenance, asset liability matching, liquidity management, cash flow modeling, or other institutional asset management activities.

Do you have what we're looking for?

Typically requires 10+ years of relevant experience or a combination of related experience, education and training. Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation or progress towards completion. #LI-CORP #LI-Hybrid Base Pay Range: $148,400-$204,050 The base pay range represents the typical range of potential salary offers for candidates hired. Factors used to determine your actual salary include your specific skills, qualifications and experience.

Incentive Pay: In addition to base salary, this position is eligible for a Short-Term Incentive plan.

Why work with us?

Our employees and representatives serve nearly one million households with our diverse range of personal and business insurance products as well as retirement and investment services. We build relationships and work together to create a stronger, more secure future for our clients and our communities. We’re a big company, yet small enough you can make an impact and won’t get lost in the shuffle. You’ll have the opportunity to learn and grow throughout your career, either within this role or by exploring other areas of our business.

You’ll be able to take advantage of our benefits package, which includes insurance benefits (medical, dental, vision, disability, and life), 401(k) with company match.

COUNTRY Financial is committed to providing equal opportunity in all areas of employment, and in providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment.

Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, national origin, disability, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations.

COUNTRY is headquartered in Bloomington, IL and offers hybrid, onsite and remote opportunities.

If you're based at our Bloomington, IL corporate office, you'll enjoy a hybrid work schedule - three days in the office and two days working remotely.

For roles posted as remote, candidates who live more than 50 miles from Bloomington, IL may qualify for a fully remote arrangement.

From the moment you’re hired, we invest in you.

We know job satisfaction fuels your contribution, so we offer competitive benefits and make investments that help you achieve your professional goals:

• Insurance benefits (medical, dental, vision, disability and life)
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off, parental leave, paid company holidays and paid time off to volunteer in your community
• Tuition assistance and industry education certificates and designations
• Employee resource groups to connect with your peers.

Country Financial is a family of affiliated companies (collectively, COUNTRY) located in Bloomington, IL. Learn more about who we are.

Investment management, retirement, trust, and planning services provided by COUNTRY Trust Bank.

The investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of an investment company should be carefully considered before investing.