Investment Risk Manager at Alexander Forbes

Alexander Forbes is looking for an Investment Risk Manager to be the custodian of the risk management and portfolio construction framework and to provide the Investment Team with meaningful research to enable them to effectively manage their portfolios.

Requirements...

Experience

• Graduate degree. BSc (Mathematics and Statistics)
• Post graduate degree eg. MSc, CFA, MBA
• MSOffice suite (Advanced excel skills, Word and Power)
• Risk systems such as BARRA, Style Research, etc
• 3 - 5 years’ experience with specific reference to research and risk
• Solid working knowledge of the financial markets and the asset management industry 

Job Specification...

Create a risk management and portfolio construction framework

Portfolio management process – provide/create tools for the PMs to manage their portfolios effectively Research

Communication

• Set, in conjunction with the rest of the Investment Team, risk limits and guidelines for each portfolio
• Risk model for reference portfolio framework
• Portfolio analyses using BARRA One and suggestions on how to improve portfolio risk characteristics
• Find ways to link performance and risk exposures and communicate these to the broader Investment Team
• Collaborate with the broader Investment Team in coming up with new ways of assessing risk and new risk metrics
• Create a spec for a dashboard/tool for the portfolio managers with input from the portfolio managers
• Leading the monthly portfolio review meetings (check and distribute the monthly portfolio review reports and arrange the meetings and discussions)
• Set up value add calculations - measure of the value added by making the right calls on asset managers (MRT) and by making portfolio changes (PMT)
• Monitor the portfolio risk limits and flag any risk limit breaches
• Prepare content for quarterly Investment Risk Committee packs
• Carrying out research on topical issues and presenting this research to the Investment Team. Incorporating this research into the portfolio management process
• Short papers and slide packs to support our investment philosophy and risk framework - make use of portfolio and manager data
• Prepare white papers detailing the risk principles of Alexander Forbes Investments
• Develop insights into the South African investment arena through analysing the data we have available and understanding trends
• Research new ways of assessing risk and new risk metrics
• Teach and guide understanding of risk framework within AF Investments
• Contribute to team debates within the Investment Team
• Provide support to all business areas and new business initiatives where the need for investment risk discussions is identified as a requirement
• Be the focal point for providing investment risk insight in the business
• Communicate new ideas and analytical results clearly, in a concise manner
• Engage on risk commentary and contribute to the risk les 1 2 3 presentations on all portfolios
• Consistent interaction and communication with other parts of the businesses such as client channels is mandatory
• Collaborate with Investment Advisory in sharing ideas around advisory client portfolio risks