Investment Risk Analyst

Rory Mackie & Associates; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

Rory Mackie & Associates is seeking an Investment Risk Analyst to join their Performance & Investment Risk team in Cape Town. The successful candidate will utilize their analytical expertise to enhance investment risk management practices and support informed investment decisions.

This position involves collaboration with internal stakeholders and regulatory bodies, ensuring the monitoring of investment performance and risk governance. The candidate should possess strong communication skills, ideally with over 5 years of relevant experience, and a clear understanding of investment frameworks.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of investment risk management or related experience.
• Ability to conduct research into emerging risk topics and methodologies.
• Strong communication skills for presentations.

Responsibilities

• Monitor risk parameters and provide analysis to the Head of Investment Risk.
• Ensure timely completion of daily tasks within SLAs.
• Liaise with regulatory bodies regarding investment risk management.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Risk data management

Regulatory compliance knowledge

Investment risk frameworks knowledge

Quantitative analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance, Accounting, or Economics

Tools

Power BI

SQL

Advanced Excel

Job description

Overview

Our client is one of South Africa's leading investment management businesses, providing a broad range of investment solutions across asset classes for individual, institutional, and intermediary clients. They are seeking an Investment Risk Analyst to join their Performance & Investment Risk team.

The successful candidate will use their analytical expertise to help shape informed investment decisions and strengthen investment risk management practices across the company’s portfolios. They are looking for a detail-oriented and proactive professional who thrives in a dynamic environment, managing critical investment risk data, monitoring investment performance, and supporting robust investment risk governance. This role offers the opportunity to collaborate with internal stakeholders, industry bodies, and regulators while contributing to the ongoing development and enhancement of our investment risk frameworks. If you are passionate about data driven insight, regulatory engagement, and continuous improvement in investment risk management, this is your chance to make a meaningful impact within a leading financial services provider.

Responsibilities

• Ensuring all day-to-day tasks are completed within agreed timeframes and SLAs
• Take responsibility for the daily upload, maintenance and monitoring of Risk data from risk providers
• Be a backup point of contact for the Head of Investment Risk with the regulator pertaining to regulatory changes affecting risk management
• Liaison with industry bodies such as ASISA on technical matters were appropriate
• Liaise with both the local compliance and risk management teams for the escalation issues to the regulator where appropriate
• Monitor risk parameters and statistics to looking at manager deviation from investment objections and changes in manager behaviour. Providing recommendation and analysis to the Head of Investment Risk
• Assist in the setup, maintenance and review of the overall Investment Risk Frameworks and Toolkits
• Conduct Research into different risk ideas/topics of interest
• Reporting and attendance at risk committees

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Economics (Analytical/Quantitative discipline such as Mathematics, Statistics, and Engineering or Sciences would be a strong advantage)
• Willingness to take responsibility for strategic initiatives and the ability to think analytically
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to be credible when presenting to the Investment
• Committee and other significant internal and external constituencies
• 5+ years of investment risk management or related experience or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience

Technical Competencies

Investment Risk Management

• In-depth knowledge of investment risk frameworks, particularly for hedge funds and multi-asset portfolios
• Ability to monitor risk metrics (e.g., volatility, tracking error, drawdowns, VaR) and identify deviations from investment objectives
• Strong understanding of manager behaviour analysis and performance attribution

Regulatory & Compliance Knowledge

• Solid understanding of investment-related regulations (e.g., BN52, BN90, and broader regulatory frameworks)
• Ability to engage with regulators and support regulatory submissions or queries
• Knowledge of industry standards and bodies (e.g., ASISA) and their guidelines

Financial Markets Expertise

• Comprehensive knowledge of financial instruments and markets (equities, fixed income, derivatives, alternatives)
• Understanding of market drivers, risk factors, and portfolio construction principles

Data Management & Risk Systems

• Experience in risk data ingestion, validation, and maintenance from multiple providers
• Ability to ensure data accuracy, completeness, and integrity
• Familiarity with risk systems and operational processes

Quantitative & Analytical Skills

• Advanced analytical skills to interpret large datasets and complex risk scenarios
• Ability to conduct research into emerging risk topics and methodologies
• Strong statistical and quantitative reasoning capabilities

Reporting & Governance

• Ability to develop and present risk reports, dashboards, and committee packs
• Experience supporting risk committees and governance structures
• Skilled in translating technical risk insights into actionable recommendations

Technical Tools & Automation

Proficiency in tools such as:

• Power BI (dashboard development and visualisation)
• SQL (data extraction and manipulation)
• Advanced Excel (modelling and analysis)
• Ability to design and build risk tools or automate reporting processes

Risk Framework Development

• Experience in designing, implementing, and reviewing investment risk frameworks and toolkits
• Ability to align frameworks with business strategy and regulatory expectations

Behavioural Competencies

• Analytical thinking
• Accountability & ownership
• Communication & influencing
• Stakeholder Management
• Attention to detail
• Proactivity & Initiative
• Resilience & adaptability
• Strategic Thinking
• Integrity & Ethical Judgement
• Results oriented