Investment Associate

Overview

Provides direct and primary operational support for all Fort Washington departments. Position handles client account maintenance and may also perform operational aspects of the Private Equity Funds of Funds. Position prepares reports for weekly and monthly internal Finance Committee meetings. Interacts regularly with bank and broker personnel regarding client accounts. Works with some supervision and is responsible for making a minimal range of decisions, escalating to manager when appropriate and updating manager on a regular basis.

Responsibilities

What you will do:

• Institutional Product Line Functions: Processes purchases and sales of fixed income and equity securities via trading to accounting software. Understands purpose and processing requirements of complex transactions such as dollar rolls, repurchase agreements and auction rate preferred securities. Verifies maturities, interest, dividends and pay down transactions are accurate and timely. Reconciles client transaction and holding data with custodians daily and/or monthly, and resolves any issues or discrepancies that arise in a timely manner. Performs setup of all newly acquired securities, including complex securities such as auction rate preferred securities, dollar rolls, mortgage-backed securities and preferred stocks. Performs daily and monthly pricing for securities. Communicates to Portfolio Managers any issues encountered within their accounts and resolves any problems that arise. Processes corporate action transactions for all institutional client accounts. Establishes new client accounts. Reconciles holdings on accounting system with those on trading system and resolves any differences. Obtains working knowledge of trading system to retrieve security indicative data necessary to properly set up securities and process trades. Runs and analyzes various audit-type reports to detect errors and omissions. Works with manager to resolve issues. Works with settlement desk to ensure timely settlement of transactions within client accounts. Works closely with FWIA performance department to understand impact of transactions on performance and assist them with resolving issues. Works with departments outside FWIA on Western & Southern accounts and transactions, including Investment Records & Accounting, Treasury, Compensation and Benefits. Prepares weekly and monthly reports for Western & Southern Finance Committee. Responds to ad hoc inquiries for data and/or reports from Portfolio Managers, Marketing and Analysts. Develops and documents detailed processes and procedures for FWIA Operations as needed. Assists Operations Analyst in testing service packs and releases.
• Private Client Product Line Functions: Processes purchases and sales of fixed income and equity securities front-end trading system to accounting software. Verifies maturities, interest, dividends and pay down transactions are accurate and timely. Reconciles client transaction and holding data with custodians daily and/or monthly, and resolves any issues or discrepancies that arise in a timely manner. Performs setup of all newly acquired securities. Performs daily and monthly pricing for securities. Ensures timely settlement of all trades for Private Client accounts. Prepares monthly/quarterly client appraisals, billing and assets under management for all Private Client accounts. Communicates to Portfolio Managers any issues encountered within their accounts, and works with them to resolve any problems that arise. Processes corporate action transactions for all Private Client Group client accounts. Responds to ad hoc inquiries for data and/or reports from Portfolio Managers, Marketing and Analysts. Develops and documents detailed processes and procedures for FWIA Operations as needed.
• Private Equity Product Line Functions: Processes all transactions relating to FWCP Funds, including capital calls, valuations and distributions from investments, capital calls and distributions to investors and direct investment transactions. Processes all transactions and valuations relating to the underlying investments of the Funds that FWCP invests in from their quarterly statements. Reconciles the carrying value and funded status of FWCP Funds between Private I and capital account statement received from investments. Prepares cash forecasting report for each FWCP Fund. Monitors and maintains electronic mailbox shared by Private Equity staff. Prepares quarterly reporting package distributed to Private Equity investors.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Complies with all policies and standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree In Business Administration or pursuing a degree with commensurate industry experience - Required
• Proven experience coordinating multiple projects/assignments simultaneously, and completing assigned tasks accurately and on a timely basis. - Required
• Must provide examples from experience of going above and beyond the call of duty to assist team members. - Required
• Must demonstrate strong attention to detail with excellent organizational skills. Expected to cite examples of organization and time management methods used to manage or prioritize workload demands. -
• Basic knowledge of fixed income and equity securities with demonstrated ability to articulate each. -
• Demonstrated business knowledge in accounting, operations, customer service and computer systems. -
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills with ability to convey information, verbally and in writing, to internal and external customers in a clear, accurate, focused and concise manner. Demonstrated ability to document procedures and activities in a manner that is understandable to others and prepared using a prescribed format. Verbal and written communications are to conform to proper rules of punctuation, grammar, diction and style. -
• Proven strong analytical skills, including demonstrated experience identifying, defining and resolving problems and collecting or interpreting data to establish facts and draw valid conclusions. Must be able to cite examples of self-motivation and experience prioritizing workflow while working independently. -
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information. -
• Must be able to cite examples of good decision-making skills when dealing with multiple alternatives or priorities. -
• Demonstrated ability in customer service or client management. This would include identifying client problems/issues, providing and initiating effective resolutions. -
• Working knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet applications. -

Work Setting/Position Demands:

• Works in an office setting and remains in a stationary position for long periods of time while working at a desk, on a computer or with other standard office equipment, or while in meetings.
• Requires the ability to verbally communicate and exchange accurate information to customers and associates on a regular basis.
• Requires visual acuity to read and interpret a variety of correspondence, procedures, reports and forms via paper and electronic documents, visual inspection involving small defects; small parts, and/or operation of machinery (including inspection); using measurement devices continuously. Visual acuity is required to determine accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of work assigned.
• Requires the ability to prepare written correspondence, reports and forms using prescribed formats and conforming to rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style on a regular basis.
• Requires the ability to apply principles of logical thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions
• Performs substantial movement of wrists, hands, and fingers for continuous computer work.
• Extended hours required during peak workloads or special projects/events.

Travel Requirements:

• None