Quantitative Developer / Quantitative Investments Analyst at Apex Group

Description

• Extensive use of computer science skills, computer programming skills and /  or data science skills to conduct various projects in quantitative modelling as  well as financial modelling. Tasks will primarily involve the automation of investment decision making signals as well as the automation of client investment reports that cover: economic research, capital markets research, industry trends research, competitor analysis, manager research, portfolio construction, portfolio performance attribution, portfolio performance monitoring, and asset allocation. Tasks will also extend to the gradual building of investment process related databases that will position the employer for real-time, online integration with all of its internal clients (various divisions within the group) as well as external clients. Additionally, it will involve an automated integration of all data vendors that feed into the investment team’s investments decision making processes, as well as investments reporting processes.

Job specification 

Quantitative Research / Analysis : 

• Macroeconomic research.
• Macro regime research / business cycle research.
• Asset class valuations research.
• Investment styles research.
• Geographical fundamentals / Regional fundamentals research.
• Currency markets research.
• Portfolio construction research.
• Portfolio performance attributions research.
• Manager Research.
• Asset Allocation monitoring.
• Industry trends research.
• Competitor analysis research.
• Process automation research

Member of AIC-SA Investment Committee: 

The key role here is to support the fundamental risk-management-process  across AIC-SA’s 7 Pillars of Investments Decisions Making.

• Global macroeconomics risks.
• Global macro-regime /business cycle risks.
• Global asset class valuations risks.
• Global currency risks.
• Global investment styles risks.
• Global geographical / regional risks.
• Global manager selection risks (Active Managers & Rules Based Managers) ​

Client Support:

• Client relationship management
• Member of AIC-SA-Client investment committees and collaborating with clients to profitably combine AIC-SA’s key fundamental risks as noted above.
• Playing a key role in communicating AIC-SA’s key investment strategy thoughts to clients, but in a manner that is highly customised to their specific and varied needs. 
• Ability to translate on-going client queries, concerns, requests etc. into clear feedback to CIO and Investment Team at large, with regards to  positioning the Investment Process to allow it to be more relevant to  clients’ fundamental investment needs.
• Contribution to the preparation of and continual development of client quarterly reports.
• Contribution to the preparation of, and continual development of more frequent client reporting obligations – typically monthly.
• Client presentations, within the boundaries of specified investment mandates. 
• Client investment and non-investment queries within the boundaries of specified investment mandates.
• Client ad-hoc support, within the boundaries of specified investment mandates.
• Investment decision making support functions.
• Full ownership of high-frequency-administration tasks e.g. setting up and maintaining a broad array of spreadsheets which support the investment-decision-making-function, setting up and maintaining a broad array of investment feedback reports, setting up and maintaining a broad array of presentations e.t.c.
• Actively contributing to the setting up and development of processes which make high-frequency roles more efficient, highly repeatable, etc.
• Support Clients in their own business development initiatives from time to time.
• Support Clients in their own client relationship initiatives from time to time.

Manager Support:
Managing Director Support:

• Actively supporting the MD in the day-to-day operational activities that support the AIC-SA Investments Decision Making Framework.
• Actively supporting the MD in the day-to-day operational activities that support the AIC-SA Business Strategy Framework.

CIO Support:

• Actively supporting the CIO in the day-to-day operational activities that support the AIC-SA Investments Decision Making Framework.

Senior Portfolio Manager Support:

• Actively supporting Senior Portfolio Managers in the day-to-day operational activities that support the AIC-SA Investments Decision Making Framework.

Business Development Support:

• Actively supporting the Business Development team in the day-to-day operational activities that respond to client requests and queries.

Business Development:

• Ongoing contributions to the divisions’ business development efforts – building of presentations and marketing brochures, improving existing presentations and marketing brochures, maintaining existing presentations and marketing brochures.
• Actively contribute to the production of content, that communicates and show-cases AIC-SA’s intellectual property and research, across a diversified range of Brand Building / Marketing Platforms.
• Sales / Business Development Team support.
• Marketing team support

Ad-hoc:

• Admin support
• Above-average Ms. Power Point, Ms. Excel and Ms. Word skills.
• Strong quantitative analysis skills.
• Strong financial modelling skills.
• Strong understanding and execution computer programing languages, in particular: strong proficiency in Python, R and SQL.
• Strong process automation skills.
• Strong communication skills – verbal and written. English writing skills. 
• Strong presentation building skills.
• Strong knowledge of a wide range of investment systems: E.g. Bloomberg, FactSet, IRes, Money Mate, MorningStar, 
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Professional conduct.
• Progressive attitude and aptitude.
• Progressive maturity.
• Some exposure to Manager Research an added advantage.
• Some exposure to Data Mining, Data Solutions, Data Management is an added advantage.
• Strong attention to detail.​

Skills Required 

Education:

• Most preferred: B.Sc. Mathematics; B.Sc. Statistics; B.Sc. Actuarial 
• Science; B.Sc.Data Science; B.Sc. Computer Science. 
• B.Sc. Engineering.
• B.Bus.Science.
• Professional qualification or studying towards one e.g. CFA.
• Some quants skills, financial modelling skills, computer programming skills an added advantage.
• Some data mining skills, data solutions management skills is an added advantage.
• Some communication skills, presentation skills, article writing skills an added advantage

Experience Required:

• Computer programming – critical requirement.
• Financial modelling – critical requirement.
• Process automation – critical requirement.
• Data mining – critical requirement.
• Data science – critical requirement.
• Article writing, writing course, presentation course – will be beneficial.
• Experience of the CIS or asset management or Wealth Management industry will be beneficial.
• Experience of LISP platforms will be beneficial.
• At least 3 years' work experience in multi management or similar environment will be beneficial.

Knowledge

• Global macroeconomics knowledge.
• Global business cycle knowledge.
• Understanding of fundamental investments principles – risk, fundamental valuations, mean reversion, e.t.c.
• Understanding of financial services industry.
• Technical knowledge.
• Systems knowledge.
• Process automation.
• Data mining.
• Data management.
• Programming knowledge.
• Financial modeling knowledge.
• Knowledge around LISPS – Linked Investments Services providers.

Personal Attributes

• Team player. Team builder. Team  motivator.
• Keen interest in the profitable  employment of technology into  traditional investment processes.
• Innovative mindset with keen interest  in setting up of highly efficient work  processes.
• Mature and positive attitude.
• Professionalism and integrity 
• Willingness and commitment to work  long hours.
• Willingness and commitment to  travelling, both locally and offshore.
• Dynamic and high driven individual  with big aspirations around their career growth pattern.
• Self-starter.
• Serious go-getter.
• Self-motivated.
• Highly proactive.
• Detail focused.
• Decision making abilities.
• Building relationships.
• Broad analytical skills.
• Insight generation from a broad information web.
• Out of the box thinking skills.
• Confident.
• Ability to multi-task.
• Willingness to constructively question and challenge the norm.