Private Investment Operations Portfolio Associate

PPM America • Chicago, IL

4d • $95,000 - $105,000

About The Position

Working at PPM America, Inc. PPM is a US-based institutional asset manager. Established in Chicago in 1990, PPM exists to consistently support institutional clients in achieving their long-term value goals. We take a hard work, straight talk, full transparency and humility approach to our work. Our success is supported by a team-based culture that encourages debate, collaboration and consistency. At the center of our belief is the fact that our best ideas to date have and can come from any team member anywhere in our firm. We believe the success of our investment culture is best demonstrated by the strong retention of our clients and investment professionals. PPM was again named one of the Best Places to Work in Money Management by Pensions & Investments in 2024. We attract professionals who exhibit humbleness, directness, and dedication. PPM’s values guide our internal conduct and help define the type of relationships we share with our investors, affiliates, and other valued partners. Above all, PPM is passionate about giving back to our clients, to each other, and to our community. We understand that community and purpose are just as important as the job description when finding your next career. The Portfolio Services Department is a dynamic, fast-paced team that provides a broad spectrum of operational support to PPM and a fiduciary oversight of its clients’ investments and assets. The Department supports nearly all asset management activities in the trade lifecycle, including portfolio management, trade execution, and client reporting. Functionally oriented teams include Public & Private Investment Operations, Derivatives Administration, Performance Analytics, Data Management and Business & Product Reporting. A high level of collaboration coupled with extensive cross-training promotes flexibility, scalability and professional development across the department. Portfolio Services is centrally positioned to engage with all of PPM’s investment and administrative teams to meet the firm’s strategic objectives. The department maxim is to be indispensable to our clients through timely, complete and accurate execution of roles and responsibilities. The Private Investment Operations Portfolio Associate role executes various operational activities related to private investments and syndicated bank loans, with a high degree of timeliness and accuracy. This role demands critical attention to detail as it is responsible for trade settlement, cash reconciliation, and position maintenance across various client investment portfolios. This role involves regular interaction with internal parties (trading, investment and operational teams, etc.), as well as external parties (clients, trustees, agent banks, counterparties, custodians, and auditors). The Private Investment Operations Portfolio Associate participates in a team that handles a diverse range of functions and disciplines and will have the opportunity to engage in other operational activities, as the broader Portfolio Services team regularly seeks opportunities to cross train across various asset types and processes in an effort to develop and deepen the skill set of team members.

Requirements

• Ability to prioritize and independently manage multiple deadlines and clientele.
• Experience in preparing accurate and timely work.
• Advanced proficiency with the entire Microsoft Office Suite, with an emphasis on Excel (including advanced formulas such as VLOOKUP and pivot tables) Word, and PowerPoint.
• Unquestionable professional integrity.
• Keen eye for detail.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and communications skills.
• Strong client and teamwork based approach to work and collective activities.
• Critical thinking, analysis, and troubleshooting expertise
• Bachelor's Degree , preferably in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Marketing, or a related discipline, required.
• 3+ years of relevant experience required.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of syndicated loan settlement documentation (LSTA Trade Confirms, Assignment Agreement, Funding Memo)
• Working knowledge of S&P Syndicated Loan tools (ClearPar, Wall Street Office (WSO) Administrator and Reporting)
• Understanding/ proficiency navigating Moody’s and S&P’s loan related ratings
• Working knowledge of BlackRock’s Aladdin tool
• Experience in trade settlement or reconciliation
• Experience is cash reconciliation.
• Strong knowledge of investment client reporting.
• Proficiency in tools that promote data analysis, task automation, and/or visualization (i.e. Python, Power BI, JIRA, etc.).

Responsibilities

• Coordinates trade and settlement activity of syndicated loan trades. Monitors and resolves outstanding items.
• Performs daily reconciliations of cash/ holdings of assigned portfolios.
• Produces available cash details to portfolio managers.
• Produces portfolio level reports.
• Manages the full lifecycle of syndicated bank loans, including contract rollovers, posting interest and principal activity, processing adjustments and coordinating with agent banks.
• Processes loan refinance and restructuring activities.
• Responds to internal and external inquiries in a timely, complete, and accurate manner.
• Effectively and efficiently coordinates new project/ activity related work.
• Promotes continual processes improvement.
• Works collaboratively with other Private Investment Operations team members by participating in cross-training activities and providing additional operational support where and when needed.
• Performs other duties and/or projects as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and bonus
• Medical, dental and vision coverage
• 401k retirement plan with dollar-for-dollar matching contributions (up to 6% of salary)
• Tuition and professional certification reimbursement
• Paid parental leave
• Adoption assistance
• Holidays and paid time off
• Paid time off to volunteer

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees