Investment Operations Analyst

Financial Counselors, Inc•Overland Park, KS

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Investment Operations Analyst provides portfolio accounting, reconciliation, investment data, and operational support for the firm's investment management platform. The Analyst is responsible for reconciling assigned portfolios, researching and resolving discrepancies, maintaining accurate investment data, developing operational reports and queries, and supporting projects and daily investment operations. Working within an SEC-registered investment adviser environment, the position serves as an important component of the firm's operational control framework by helping ensure that positions, transactions, cash, cost basis, and other portfolio information are complete, accurate, and appropriately reconciled across portfolio accounting, trading, custodial, and related investment systems. The Analyst works closely with the Director of Trading & Investment Operations, senior analysts, Portfolio Management, Trading, Investment Services, Technology, Compliance, custodians, and other business partners. The position provides an opportunity to develop increasingly sophisticated expertise in portfolio accounting, trading operations, investment systems, reconciliation, data analysis, and operational risk management.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or related discipline, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Basic knowledge of investments, securities, financial markets, or portfolio accounting.
Demonstrated analytical and quantitative aptitude.
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.
Ability to work accurately with detailed financial and investment data.
Working knowledge of investments and financial markets with the ability to develop more advanced expertise.
Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
Ability to investigate discrepancies systematically and follow issues through resolution.
Ability to learn sophisticated investment systems and understand relationships among data sources.
Strong organizational and time-management skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and recurring deadlines.
Effective written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work independently within established parameters and collaboratively within a team.
Intellectual curiosity and willingness to develop deeper technical and investment expertise.

Nice To Haves

1–3 years of experience in investment operations, asset management, wealth management, trust, custody, brokerage, fund accounting, portfolio accounting, or financial services.
Experience performing financial or investment reconciliations.
Exposure to Advent/APX or comparable portfolio accounting platforms.
Exposure to Moxy, Genesis, Eze, Bloomberg, FactSet, custodial systems, or similar investment technology.
Experience developing queries, reports, or analytical tools.
Experience working within an SEC-registered investment adviser or other regulated financial-services environment.

Responsibilities

Perform daily and periodic reconciliation of assigned investment portfolios.
Reconcile portfolio: Positions and holdings, Transactions and trade activity, Cash balances and activity, Cost basis and tax lots, Income and corporate actions, Security and other applicable investment data.
Compare information across portfolio accounting, custodial, trading, and other investment systems.
Identify reconciliation breaks and research the underlying cause.
Resolve routine discrepancies independently and escalate more complex exceptions appropriately.
Coordinate with custodians and internal business partners to resolve outstanding items.
Ensure adjustments and corrections are accurately processed and appropriately documented.
Monitor unresolved exceptions through completion.
Support daily investment-operating processes associated with trading, settlement, portfolio accounting, and reconciliation.
Research transaction, settlement, position, and cash discrepancies.
Assist with investigation and documentation of trade-related exceptions.
Support validation of investment activity between order-management, execution, custodial, and portfolio accounting systems.
Assist senior team members with operational reviews and exception management.
Provide timely operational support to Trading and Portfolio Management.
Develop an understanding of the complete investment lifecycle from portfolio decision through execution, settlement, accounting, and reconciliation.
Maintain and validate investment and portfolio data within applicable systems.
Develop proficiency with the firm's investment technology environment, which may include: Advent/APX, Moxy, Genesis, Eze/ESE, Bloomberg, FactSet, Custodial platforms and interfaces, Reconciliation and reporting applications.
Research system and data-feed discrepancies.
Assist with validation of information transmitted among investment systems.
Escalate system issues, unusual data conditions, and recurring exceptions.
Support testing associated with system upgrades, implementations, conversions, and enhancements.
Create and maintain queries and reports supporting investment operations.
Develop exception reports and analytical tools designed to identify discrepancies and improve controls.
Use Excel and other analytical tools to reconcile, organize, validate, and analyze investment data.
Assist in developing management and operational reporting.
Identify opportunities to automate recurring reports and manual processes.
Ensure reports and analyses are complete, accurate, and delivered within established deadlines.
Participate in investment operations, technology, data, and process-improvement projects.
Complete assigned project responsibilities in accordance with established milestones and deadlines.
Work with senior analysts and the Director of Trading & Investment Operations regarding project priorities and assignments.
Assist with documentation, data analysis, testing, validation, and implementation activities.
Identify opportunities to improve accuracy, efficiency, controls, and workflow.
Assist in developing and maintaining procedures, process documentation, and operational controls.
Communicate project status and potential issues proactively.
Perform assigned responsibilities in accordance with established operating procedures and controls.
Maintain accurate documentation and audit trails supporting reconciliation and operational activity.
Identify and promptly escalate unusual transactions, unresolved exceptions, errors, or potential control deficiencies.
Assist with root-cause analysis of recurring operational issues.
Support efforts to reduce manual processing, errors, and operational risk.
Maintain appropriate segregation of duties within assigned processes.
Perform responsibilities consistent with the firm's fiduciary obligations, policies, procedures, and applicable SEC/RIA requirements.
Maintain complete and accurate records within assigned areas.
Support Compliance reviews, internal audits, regulatory examinations, and information requests as appropriate.
Promptly escalate potential compliance or operational concerns.
Maintain confidentiality and appropriate security of client, portfolio, and investment information.
Provide responsive daily support to Trading, Portfolio Management, Investment Services, and other internal business partners.
Research and respond to operational questions within the Analyst's area of responsibility.
Communicate the status of open items, exceptions, and resolution efforts clearly and proactively.
Develop productive working relationships across the investment organization.
Provide accurate and timely information to internal stakeholders.