Head of Investment Valuation

Head of Investment Valuation

London- Hybrid

Who are Just?

We’re a FTSE 250 Financial Services company who specialise in retirement solutions and right now, our world is moving pretty quickly. With the defined benefit buy in / buy out space growing each year, Just continues to annually grow its business by over £2bn of assets.

We are a purpose driven company with compelling and credible goals. Quite simply, we help people achieve a better later life. We achieve this by providing competitive and innovative products, services, financial advice and guidance to help our customers achieve security, certainty and provide them with peace of mind in retirement.

That’s who we are. We’re a company on a mission: to become a beacon for the entire retirement industry. Because we believe everyone deserves a fair, secure, and fulfilling retirement.

About the role

We are looking for a Head of Investment Valuation to lead our Investment Valuation team and lead the delivery of asset modelling methodology and systems, short-term liquidity risk modelling and management, and other initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Leads the Investment Valuation team in accordance with Just’s behavioural principles. Drives strategy and proactively shapes outcomes for the team.
• Provides actuarial/technical expertise to support the accurate and appropriate valuation of Just’s investment assets, derivatives and repo.
• Leads asset modelling and governance development required to value new types of assets, driving dialogue with asset managers as required.
• Maintains master list of Just’s requirements for asset managers in respect of asset valuation and reporting.
• Provides technical expertise to own, develop, and maintain the documentation of the Group’s asset, derivatives and repo modelling methodology, including IFRS Level 3 assets and limited-price-indexation (LPI) linked assets valuations and validations.
• Owns the technical development and maintenance of the LPI projection model and other market yield curve infrastructure.
• Owns and maintains a sustainable operating model for illiquid asset valuation and associated independent price verification (“IPV”); Manages the associated asset manager and vendor relationships .
• Analyses and explains the IFRS Level 3 asset valuation differences between Just Group and asset managers or other vendors supplying valuations where applicable.
• Provides actuarial/technical expertise to model short-term liquidity risk.
• Provides technical assistance/actuarial input to other initiatives associated with the Investment Operations function.
• Assesses and communicates to key asset valuation judgment areas for relevant management, executive and Board committees.
• Deputy chairs the Asset Valuation Committee
• Assists with preparing clear and concise material and presentations, internal papers, approvals and management information, where applicable
• Leads dialogue with external auditors regarding asset valuation matters.
• Develops and maintains an appropriate risks and controls framework for asset valuation processes.
• Works closely with internal stakeholders, most notably in the areas of Investments, Finance, Actuarial, and Risk, and in particular, supports the regular Investment Operations processes.

Skills & Experience

• A qualified actuary or equivalent quantitative and professional profile. The ideal candidate would have substantial experience in the Investments, Reporting or Treasury area.
• Track record of developing practical solutions to complex technical issues
• Experience in financial markets, in particular corporate bonds/loans, financial derivatives and repo are highly desirable.
• Excellent knowledge of fixed income assets, derivatives and repo
• Knowledge of Bloomberg and FIS Quantum is desirable
• Excellent knowledge of Excel and VBA and potentially other financial modelling software
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Good understanding of data management and analysis
• Ability to communicate complex ideas and analysis to a less technical audience
• Able to take the initiative to identify and solve issues proactively.

Company Benefits

• A Competitive Salary, Pension Scheme and Life Assurance
• Along with 25 Days Annual Leave plus an Additional Day on us for your Birthday
• Private Medical Cover and Income Protection, just in case
• A generous and highly achievable bonus scheme – paid annually based on individual and company performance against targets
• Opportunity to progress within your career both in-role and within the company
• FREE access to the Headspace App, a 24/7 Employee Assistance Helpline and Trained Physical & Mental Health First Aiders (On-Site)
• A variety of Employee Funded Benefits available to you via our Online Benefits Portal
• Plus, several additional purchase options available for you and your loved ones

Why Just?

We are committed to building a more sustainable business and have publicly committed to reduce our scope 3 emissions to Net Zero by 2050 and our scope 1 and 2 emissions to Net Zero by 2025. We’ve made good progress so far and encourage our people to make small and meaningful changes in their everyday lives, so that we can protect our planet for future generations.

Diversity, Equity and inclusion (DE&I) is a key priority for Just as part of our overall strategy and ensuring all of our people feel proud to work at Just. We have joined a number of initiatives including the Race at Work Charter, designed to improve outcomes for employees from underrepresented backgrounds. We also run a Reciprocal Mentoring scheme for employees from a BAME background, those with a disability and those who identify as LGBTQ+. There are multiple employee network groups, which champion issues including race, gender, social mobility and neurodiversity.

What’s clear about working at Just is that we care. We care about our customers, our purpose, our environment, inclusivity, wellbeing and most importantly - each other.