Investment Officer - Fixed Income

State of Washington•Thurston County – Olympia, WA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington State Investment Board (WSIB) is seeking a qualified candidate to join their Fixed Income team as an Investment Officer (IO). This role reports to the Assistant Senior Investment Officer (ASIO) and is an opportunity to join a globally recognized investment management organization. The primary objective of the IO – Fixed Income is the prudent and productive management of entrusted funds allocated to Fixed Income, in a manner consistent with statutes, regulations, Board policies, and the highest standard of professional conduct for the exclusive benefit of fund beneficiaries. The ideal candidate will possess strong credit analysis skills, sound judgment, and a disciplined investment mindset. They should be intellectually curious, comfortable forming independent views, able to communicate those views clearly, and work well independently. Additionally, they should be collaborative, team-oriented, and demonstrate integrity in all decisions. The WSIB operates in a hybrid work environment, with this position anticipating approximately 60% of their time in the Olympia office.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, business, or a related field.
Four years of fixed income investment experience in areas such as corporate credit analysis, company analysis, industry analysis, portfolio management, or economic analysis.
Experience analyzing corporate credit issuers in the finance sector.
Understand industry drivers and integrate market and regulatory developments into company evaluations.
Evaluate corporate fundamentals and relative values across issuers and sectors.
Analyze companies in emerging markets.
Demonstrated strong analytical and research skills including financial statement analysis, cash flow modeling, covenant review, capital structure assessment, and qualitative analysis to form independent and successful investment recommendations.
Demonstrated ability to evaluate complex investment grade, emerging market, and high yield credit instruments.
An understanding of fixed income markets and fixed income portfolio management.
Ability to communicate verbally and in written form complex information and investment views.
Ability to collaborate skillfully, including having the ability to work closely with the SIO and ASIO.
Demonstrated proficiency using Bloomberg, Excel, Word, and Artificial Intelligence tools to support analysis and recommendations.
A proven track record of managing competing priorities and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

A relevant Master’s degree or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation may substitute for up to two years of required experience.
Deep expertise in the finance sector, including knowledge of industry drivers, regulatory considerations, and company-specific risk factors.
Experience evaluating investment grade, emerging market, and high yield credit instruments across market cycles.
Demonstrated ability to independently generate high-quality investment recommendations supported by rigorous analysis.
A CFA charter or relevant graduate degree.
A proven track record of producing clear and concise reports, and actionable investment recommendations that contribute to the portfolios’ total returns.

Responsibilities

Perform in-depth credit analysis and make buy, hold, or sell recommendations on companies in the finance sector (banking, brokerage, finance, and insurance companies) across investment grade, high yield, and emerging markets asset classes.
Analyze and evaluate primary issuance daily and make timely recommendations from fundamental and relative value perspectives.
Evaluate secondary opportunities to add value to the portfolios.
Monitor the credit quality of existing holdings; identify companies that have improving, stable or deteriorating fundamentals, and communicate these views to the Senior Investment Officer (SIO) and ASIO on a timely basis.
Monitor, analyze, and evaluate company and industry developments, credit risks, and opportunities affecting the finance sector.
Analyze macro and microeconomic factors affecting the finance sector.
Utilize resources including Bloomberg, the internet, investment banks, news outlets, independent sources, rating agencies, issuers, and conference calls for research.
Prepare and deliver written and verbal analyses to support investment views and communicate complex information clearly to the SIO and ASIO on a timely basis.
Collaborate with the SIO and ASIO while also working independently to meet deadlines and manage priorities.
Keep abreast of changes in fixed income and overall capital markets, and developments in investment principles and methods.
Perform additional duties as required to support the fixed income team and broader WSIB objectives.