Equity Research - Life Insurance Associate

Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, investment management and wealth management services. The Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments and individuals from more than 1,200 offices in 43 countries. As a market leader, the talent and passion of our people is critical to our success. Together, we share a common set of values rooted in integrity, excellence and strong team ethic. Morgan Stanley can provide a superior foundation for building a professional career - a place for people to learn, to achieve and grow. A philosophy that balances personal lifestyles, perspectives and needs is an important part of our culture.

Research
Morgan Stanley Investment Research is uniquely committed to being an essential part of our clients' investment process. We strive to be the sell-side research provider that best understands the buy side. Through relevant and timely conversations with leading investors, we focus resources on risk-reward essentials: identifying the investor debates, assessing the potential outcomes, and uncovering the evidence our clients need to validate their investment decisions. Our equity analysts cover some 2,900 stocks; our economists, strategists and fixed income analysts cover all major regions and other asset classes around the globe.

Equity Research
The Equity Research department is responsible for researching macroeconomic and microeconomic conditions, along with company fundamentals. It also collects and analyses financial information to make investment recommendations on stocks in specific sectors. Research analysts build financial models to explore alternative scenarios, examine industries and communicate with companies and investors. Equity Research team members discuss their analysis and investment recommendations in research notes. A career in investment research at Morgan Stanley demands a commitment to excellence and a passion for the markets as well as the highest level of integrity.

The firm is searching for an experienced Associate to join our Life Insurance research team.

The Associate's primary responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Creating and maintaining earnings, valuations, and industry models.
- Writing research reports, initiating stock coverage, analyzing data, and tracking earnings results.
- Keeping abreast of industry-related news and analyzing the implications of news/industry developments to companies under coverage.
- Interacting with institutional investors and responding to client requests - e.g. models, data analysis, etc.
- Developing and maintaining relationships with investor relations and management team of companies under coverage.
- Conducting industry due diligence and primary research through surveys, expert conference calls, and channel checks.
- Assisting internal sales and trading teams in the timely analysis of breaking news in the sector.

Qualifications:

Skills Required
- 2-4 years of financial services experience preferred - Accounting, Actuarial, Investment Banking, M&A, Equity Research - and/or 2-4 years of experience in a strategy role at a Life Insurance provider.
- Strong accounting background preferred.
- CPA and/or CFA preferred.
- Advanced Excel proficiency - building and maintaining financial models, etc.
- Professional writing experience - crafting equity research notes, developing industry reports, etc.
- Communicate clearly and concisely with clients and effectively deliver presentations.
- Candidates are expected to be adaptable, work well under pressure, and show persistence.
- Candidates must be comfortable working independently as well as within a team structure.