Investment Managers Assistant (IMA)

London, England, United Kingdom

12/5/2024

At Barings, we are as invested in our associates as we are in our clients. We recognize those who work diligently for us and reward them for personal and professional integrity, communication skills, distinct competencies and expertise in specific strategies, ability to collaborate as a team member and true dedication to the interests of our clients.

We thank you for your interest in joining the Barings team, and invite you to explore our current employment opportunities.

Job Title: Investment Managers Assistant (IMA)

Business Title: Senior Associate

Location: London

Overall Purpose of Role

The primary role is to provide an operational capability to support investment managers (IM) and Trader during the order generation process within the Investment Team. This will require commitment and accountability for the success of the following key tasks, such as supporting order generation, managing asset allocation changes and implementations, maintaining account events, and overseeing systems, procedures, and controls. The role demands regular interactions, as well as responsiveness and strong communication with investment managers and traders within a fast-paced environment. Additionally, it will necessitate effective liaison with business partners across Barings to leverage expertise and meet expectations and deadlines.

Job Summary

The Barings’ Global Public Delivery Operations team has an opening for a motivated individual who would like to join our innovative team of financial professionals.

Primary Responsibilities

The primary role is to support the Fixed Income Investment teams as outlined below.

Order Generation

• Upon instructions received from IMs, generate orders within Aladdin within the Fixed Income asset class.
• Ensuring that instructions are accurately valued by referencing external data sources and specifying the required settlement dates.
• IM instructed orders are generated on day of instruction or the due date, or they follow a pre-agreed deal implementation timetable. Ensure timely action and reporting to IM on the implementation progress.
• Investigate pre trade compliance restriction fails and notify IM of findings.
• Monitor all accounts daily to review cash projections, corporate actions, future cash payments / fees and Bond maturities.
• Evaluating proposed allocation changes and communicating these effectively to the relevant impacted teams.
• Overseeing the preparation and management of asset allocation investment instructions and deal order issuance to dealers, which includes handling the release of cash contingent instructions and meeting specific settlement date requirements.
• Facilitate creating and maintaining paper portfolios and ensure any allocation changes are reflected in timely manner.
  
  
  

Other

• Assist with updating regular investment meeting packs / research papers and any ad hoc reporting requirements.
• Analysis and correction of any holding/exposure errors.
• Administrative support for investment team such as preparation of material for sales, queries, ad hoc request, and client presentations.
• Reviewing cash and stock breaks, conducting necessary investigations, resolving issues, and escalating as needed.
• Incidents and errors are reported and documented in accordance with Barings policy and procedures.
• Ensure that all necessary investment tasks, including portfolio restructure, in-specie asset transfers, benchmark changes, new client onboarding, and client terminations, are executed in accordance with client instructions and agreed internal procedures and timelines. This involves effective collaboration with other Barings departments, as needed, including the Investment Management (IM) and Transition teams, as well as the Client Services team.
• Oversee and coordination of any Corporate Action events, proxy voting responses impacting the team accounts.
• Consistently maintain effective communication with other Investment Management Assistants (IMA’s) to address back-up responsibilities and tackle trade implementation bottlenecks.
• Agile mentality for learning and providing holiday cover for other IMA’s from other investment teams.
  
  
  

Secondary Responsibilities

Systems and Operational process improvement:

• Conduct regular reviews of existing processes and tasks with the goal of enhancing controls, reducing risk, and minimizing manual intervention through system improvements.
• Regular review and amendments of team procedures to account for any workflow changes and enhancements.
• Maintaining any agreed audit recommendations and records without delay.
• System changes request, whether due to identified errors or required enhancements, are documented, discussed with managers, and logged with the IT helpdesk.
• System projects and testing undertaken in accordance with agreed project timescales. Test Scripts with all relevant evidence documented.
• Recommendations made to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of all systems, processes, and procedures, documented and reported to Head of Portfolio Management Support.
  
  
  

Additional Tasks

• Fulfil additional, relevant, tasks appropriate to the role and business requirements.
  
  
  

Professional Development

• Keep technical, regulatory and personal skills and knowledge up to date by completing Barings mandatory continuing professional development hours and maintaining records in Workday to evidence achievement.
  
  
  

Regulatory Responsibilities

• Abide by the FCA Conduct Rules and other applicable FCA rules and regulations.
• Abide by Barings rules and regulations.
• Complete all mandatory compliance training within the required timescales.
• Complete all F&P assessments and performance appraisals within required the timescales.
  
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, or equivalent, in Finance, or related business field preferred.
• Experience in an Investment support role is preferred.
• Investment Management Certificate or equivalent preferred.
• Experience using spreadsheet and database personal computer applications is preferred.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and troubleshooting skills with the ability to effectively summarize findings, both verbally and in writing, in a clear and concise manner.
• Fast learner and ability to perform accurately under pressure.
• Detail-oriented and highly motivated.
• Aladdin and PowerBI experienced preferred.
  
  
  

Barings is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer; Minority/Female/Age/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Individual with Disability/Protected Veteran. We welcome all persons to apply.