Investment Operations Middle Office Analyst - Associate

Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)•Austin, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

With the Investment Management Division (IMD) you will be joining a diverse group of achievers who celebrate the unique value individuals bring to support our shared cause: earning trust and contributing to the financial future of 2 million public education employees and retirees throughout Texas. Navigating the current market environment takes innovation and we’re passionate about stewarding the right investments to make an impact both in the lives of our members and all Texans. We invite you to partner with the best financial minds in the business to manage a global portfolio of over $200 billion in public and private investments. Our success starts with you. The Investment Operations Middle Office Analyst-Associate is responsible for performing investment-related financial analysis work. The incumbent will perform analysis and reconciliation of investment data, manage workflows, prepare reports, and participate in or lead strategic initiatives and process improvement projects. This position will proactively work with the Middle Office team, IMD staff, and agency employees. This position reports to a Manager of Investment Operations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in business administration, finance, accounting, operations, math, information technology, liberal arts or a related area.
A Master’s degree in a related area may substitute for a year of the required experience.
Five (5) years of full-time investment operations, data management, accounting, financial analysis, trade settlement or related experience requiring compilation, reconciliation, and/or analysis of detailed information (Associate).
Three (3) years of full-time investment operations, data management, accounting, financial analysis, trade settlement or related experience requiring compilation, reconciliation, and/or analysis of detailed information (Sr Analyst).
One (1) year of full-time investment operations, data management, accounting, financial analysis, trade settlement or related experience requiring compilation, reconciliation, and/or analysis of detailed information (Analyst).
None
Knowledge of investment concepts, terminology, styles, models, strategies and fundamental and quantitative investment factors.
Performing complex financial analysis.
Verifying and auditing financial data.
Using a computer in a Windows environment with MS Office word processing, spreadsheet (including advanced Excel functions and macros), and database systems; report writing; and other business software.
Conducting data searches and evaluations of large amounts of information, performing complex statistical analysis of the data, and preparing concise and accurate reports.
Communicating complex technical information, verbally and in writing, including presenting analysis.
Organizing and coordinating work assignments to effectively meet frequent and/or multiple deadlines, in handling multiple tasks simultaneously, and in managing conflicting priorities and demands.
Establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with co-workers, agency staff, and external contacts.
Thrive in an environment driven by change and improvement, and adapt effectively to changing requirements.
Work effectively in a professional team environment.

Nice To Haves

One (1)-Seven (7) years of full-time investment operations, data management, accounting, financial analysis, trade settlement or related experience requiring compilation, reconciliation, or analysis of detailed information.
Experience with SimCorp Dimension, SimCorp One, SimCorp GAIN, Bloomberg, and LSEG DataScope
Certification as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and/or Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) or working towards CFA/CPA/CAIA.
Experience with software languages, database, report writing, and data visualization technology (SQL, SSRS, and PowerBI).
Basic understanding of capital markets, investment securities (equities, bonds, and derivatives), and private markets (real estate or private equity).
Basic understanding of investment tax accounting and investment performance measurement.

Responsibilities

Monitors, verifies, reconciles, and reports investment master data, valuations, and performance information including account master, security master, prices, reference data, holdings, exposures, notional values, gains and losses, collateral balances, cash balances, returns, and trade life cycle events using systems including but not limited to internal applications, SQL databases, Excel and PowerBI, and platforms including SimCorp, GAIN, My State Street, Bloomberg, and LSEG DataScope.
Analyzes market data, pricing, trading information, corporate actions, and other issues that affect portfolio valuation, performance, risk, compliance, and regulations.
Researches and explains the causes of discrepancies on investment data on a daily, monthly, quarterly, and annual basis, including conferring with internal and external investment managers, accounting, and custodian.
Engages in investment communications between front office and trade operations and takes appropriate action to ensure accurate data flow between parties, including internal and external investment systems.
Understands investment risk management.
Has knowledge of compliance rules and data governance.
Manages data quality control, synthesizes data, and integrates analytics for investment decision making.
Analyzes, assesses, and facilitates data acquisition for account, legal, and market documentation related to financial investment, including derivatives and physically settled securities.
Liaises between custodian bank, external counterparties, and internal and external investment managers to ensure appropriate exchange of information and data.
Participates in data modernization and transformation related projects to implement investment platforms or improve system integration between internal and external applications.
Actively researches and identifies areas for improvement and automation for data quality control, workflows, business processes, operations, reporting and investment systems.
Updates and maintains operational documentation, policies, and procedures.
Facilitates resolutions cross-organization.
Compiles detailed periodic and ad hoc reports on data reconciliation, portfolio valuation, holdings, fees, expenses, and other investment information using report writing, database, spreadsheet, and other software, for use by agency management, Investment's staff, the legislature and vendors, and to provide information requested under the Open Records Act.
Prepares, generates, and analyzes data for investment decision- making including master data, reference data, exposures, compliance, portfolio views, performance, risk, liquidity, fees, Management Committee and Board Reporting.
Performs related work as assigned.