Investment Operations Specialist (Financial Analyst II)

INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR POSITION MUST APPLY USING THE LINK BELOW

https://capps.taleo.net/careersection/701/jobdetail.ftl?job=00012069&tz=GMT-06%3A00&tzname=America%2FChicago

RESUMES SUBMITTED THROUGH THE CFA INSTITUTE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED

MISSION: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will improve outcomes for all public-school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

POSITION OVERVIEW: This position is in the Permanent School Fund (PSF), a $34 billion perpetual public fund endowment that helps finance the state’s public schools.

The Investment Operations Specialist (Financial Analyst II) performs highly complex (senior-level) financial analysis and regulatory work that requires researching, verifying, compiling, reviewing, analyzing, and evaluating portfolio transactions. This individual will play a critical role in conducting research on portfolio capital changes and preparing portfolio reports timely and accurately. In addition, the Investment Operations Specialist will interact with outside service providers and custodians to validate portfolio valuation data on a daily and monthly basis for financial reporting and will support strategic projects and process reviews. The Investment Operations Specialist is a member of the larger Investment Operations team and reports to the Private Markets Team Lead.

A successful candidate must be honest and ethical in all work; recognize the requirements of confidentiality; and be intellectually curious about investment financial data and reporting. The professional selected for this position will work under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment; and is expected to help the PSF meet its performance goals and support the Texas Education Agency in fulfilling its strategic priorities.

Applicants who are strongly being considered for employment must submit to a national criminal history background check.

Please note that a resume and tailored cover letter are required attachments for applying to this position. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Additionally, please be sure to respond to the short answer prompts found in the supplemental questions. These responses should be added in a separate Word or PDF document in the attachments section of the application.

Relocation assistance is not available for this position.

A skill-based exercise may be administered at the time of interview.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Provide daily operations portfolio support, including monitoring transaction flow, resolving investment data integrity for position and valuation issues, and analyzing/processing cash flows on traditional and alternative investment interests.
• Maintain accurate internal investment records to verify portfolio transactions and monthly performance reporting.
• Reconcile and validate financial data with accuracy and timeliness on a daily, monthly, quarterly and annual basis.
• Research and analyze investment financial data for portfolio managers and senior staff and prepare ad hoc reports as requested.
• Develop proficiency on internal and external applications and support and assist the investment operations team in reporting daily and monthly transactions internally to portfolio managers and senior staff.
• Perform other related work and duties as assigned, included but not limited to, support other alternative asset classes and end of year organizational and administrative tasks.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university; degree in accounting or finance is required.

Experience: At least two (2) years of experience in investment operations, financial analysis or investment accounting; this includes investment operations and controls, general ledger accounting, financial reporting, financial valuation principles, and reconciling financial and/or performance data with weekly, monthly, and semi-annual deadlines.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:

• Advanced Excel skills preferred.

• Knowledge of securities accounting, procedures, market operations, corporate actions, corporate governance, research techniques, statistical concepts/methods and their application to research analysis, various financial data systems, and of macroeconomics.

• Experienced and knowledgeable about investment performance analytics and concepts.

• Adept in mathematics, analytics, and the use of computer software applications, particularly Microsoft Office and Bloomberg.

• Strong financial researcher, able to conduct exhaustive searches and evaluations of vast amounts of data using the Internet and other resources.

• Strong analytical skills with proven ability to evaluate and summarize financial data.

• Comfortable accomplishing repetitive tasks daily, accurately, and timely.

• Able to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, including writing management reports and making public presentations.

• Strong customer-service mindset and the ability to communicate to a diverse group of internal and external customers.

• Maintains effective and professional relationships with a diverse group of internal and external staff.

• Exhibits a strong work ethic, is reliable, and works effectively and collaboratively as part of a team.

• Engages with positive attitude to collaborate in preserving an optimist environment.

• Flexible, organized, and able to manage multiple and shifting priorities while ensuring attention to detail; uses sound, independent judgment to make decisions

• Willing to fill a need, solve a problem, anticipates risks, and demonstrate initiative that strategically advances efforts of the Fund.

• Possesses a desire to self-reflect, give/receive feedback and continuously improve.

• Acts in accordance with the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute code of ethics and standards of professional conduct

As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, or veteran status, unless an applicant is entitled to the veteran’s preference.

Additional Military Crosswalk (occupational specialty code) information can be accessed here.

This position requires the applicant to meet Agency standards and criteria which may include passing a pre-employment criminal background check, prior to being offered employment by the Agency.

No phone calls or emails, please. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls and cannot reply to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted.