Investment Operations Middle Office Analyst-Associate

WHO WE ARE:

With the Investment Management Division (IMD) you will be joining a diverse group of achievers who celebrate the unique value individuals bring to support our shared cause: earning trust and contributing to the financial future of 1.9 million public education employees and retirees throughout Texas. Navigating the current market environment takes innovation and we’re passionate about stewarding the right investments to make an impact both in the lives of our members and all Texans. We invite you to partner with the best financial minds in the business to manage a global portfolio of over $200 billion in public and private investments. Our success starts with you.

The Investment Operations Middle Office Analyst, Senior Analyst or Associate performs highly complex to highly advanced investment-related financial analysis work.  Work involves analyzing and reconciling investment data, preparing reports, and leading or participating in strategic initiatives and process improvement projects.  Works under minimal supervision with considerable latitude for initiative and independent judgment.  This position reports to a Manager of Investment Operations.

 

Compensation: The TRS Investment Management Division offers an attractive compensation package consisting of base salary, annual performance incentive bonus, a defined-benefit pension plan as well as 401(k) and 457 retirement plans, and comprehensive benefits.

 

Depending upon the qualifications of the individual selected and the discretion of the hiring manager the position will be filled at one of three levels (Analyst, Senior Analyst or Associate). Starting salary is commensurate with experience.

 

WHAT YOU WILL DO:  

Data Analysis and Reconciliation

 

• Monitors, verifies, reconciles and reports investment valuations and performance information including exposures, notional values, gains and losses, overlays, collateral balances, cash balances, returns, and trade life cycle events.
• Analyzes market data, pricing, trading information, corporate actions, and other issues that affect portfolio valuation, performance, risk, compliance and regulations.
• Researches the causes of discrepancies on investment book of record data on a daily, monthly, quarterly, and annual basis, including conferring with internal and external investment managers, accounting, custodian, and investment systems and ability to explain these discrepancies.
• Leads transaction communications between front office and trade operations and takes appropriate action to ensure accurate data flow between parties, including internal and external investment systems.
• Understands investment risk management and collaborates with internal investment risk team, custodian and investment systems to ensure proper methodology and flag alerts to the front office for action.
• Has knowledge of compliance rules to ensure accuracy of compliance results and supports the front office in resolution with the ability to verify and explain results.
• Synthesizes and integrates data for investment decision making.  

 

Reporting

 

• Compiles data and prepares detailed periodic and ad hoc reports on data reconciliation, portfolio valuation, holdings, fees, expenses and other investment information using report writing, database, spreadsheet and other software, for use by agency management, Investment's staff, the legislature and vendors, and to provide information requested under the Open Records Act.
• Prepares, generates and analyzes data for investment decision-making including exposures, compliance, portfolio views, performance, risk, liquidity, fees, Management Committee and Board Reporting.  

 

Portfolio Services

 

• Participates on or leads various investment operations related projects to implement strategic initiatives or improve system integration between applications, custodian, internal and external partners, portfolio analytics and other third-party software.
• Actively researches and identifies areas for improvement around operations, reporting and investment systems.
• Updates and maintains operational documentation, policies and procedures.
• Facilitates resolutions cross-organization.  

 

•  Performs related work as assigned

 

WHAT YOU WILL BRING:

Required Education

 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in business administration, finance, accounting, operations research, math, information technology, liberal arts or a related area.
• A Master’s degree in a related area may substitute for a year of the required experience. 

 

Required Experience

Analyst

• One (1) year of full-time investment operations, data management, accounting, financial analysis, trade settlement or related experience requiring compilation, reconciliation, and/or analysis of detailed information.

Senior Analyst

•  Three (3) years of full-time investment operations, data management, accounting, financial analysis, trade settlement or related experience requiring compilation, reconciliation, and/or analysis of detailed information.

Associate

• Five (5) years of full-time investment operations, data management, accounting,  financial analysis, trade settlement or related experience requiring compilation, reconciliation, and/or analysis of detailed information.

Required Registration, Certification, Licensure

• None.

 

Preferred Qualifications

 

• Three (3) years of full-time professional investments experience or other experience involving a high degree of skill in data analysis and evaluation, such as accounting, financial analysis, or statistics.
• Certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and/or Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) or working towards CPA/CFA/CAIA.
• Experience with software languages, database and report writing technology (SQL, SSRS, and PowerBI).
• Basic understanding of capital markets, investment securities (equities, bonds, and derivatives), and/or private markets (real estate or private equity).
• Basic understanding of investment performance measurement. 

Knowledge of

• Investment concepts, terminology, styles, models, strategies and fundamental and quantitative investment factors.

Skill in

• Performing complex financial analysis.
• Verifying and auditing financial data.
• Using a computer in a Windows environment with MS Office word processing, spreadsheet (including advanced Excel functions and macros), and database systems; report writing; and other business software.
• Conducting data searches and evaluations of large amounts of information, performing complex statistical analysis of the data, and preparing concise and accurate reports.
• Communicating complex technical information, verbally and in writing, including presenting analysis.
• Organizing and coordinating work assignments to effectively meet frequent and/or multiple deadlines, in handling multiple tasks simultaneously, and in managing conflicting priorities and demands.

Ability to:

 

• Establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with co-workers, agency staff, and external contacts.
• Thrive in an environment driven by change and improvement, and adapt effectively to changing requirements.
• Work effectively in a professional team environment.