Investment Analyst

Investment Analyst – Due Diligence & Fund Selection

The Company

Fineco Asset Management DAC (‘FAM’) is the Dublin based asset management subsidiary of FinecoBank S.p.A. (“FinecoBank”). FinecoBank (“Fineco”) is a leading European bank with a 20-year history and a fully digital DNA with a branchless approach since the start. Fineco is one of the banks with the widest products range available. Fineco have developed a truly one-stop-solution which includes trading, investment, and payment services. Fineco have developed a 100% proprietary platform for trading and investment which covers all customer needs from trading listed and OTC product to investment product such as mutual funds and ETF. In addition to this they also offer banking and payment solution for domestic and international demand.

FAM, which started its operations in May 2018, is authorized by the Central Bank of Ireland as a UCITS Management Company and it currently has approximately €40bn in assets under management. FAM is a competence centre specialised in the management of fund-of-funds and single strategy funds (both managed internally and externally by 18 of the world’s most renowned investment managers). In addition to portfolio management activities, all key supporting and controlling functions, such as Compliance, Risk, Finance and Legal are performed locally. FAM started with 5 employees and has grown rapidly since inception with over 90 employees today.

The Role

Reporting to the Head of Fund Solutions, you will join an analytical, curious and collaborative investment team responsible for the selection, due diligence and ongoing oversight of the third-party funds and investment managers used across FAM’s fund of funds range and its externally delegated mandates. The core of this role is manager research: identifying, assessing and monitoring external funds and managers so that the team can build and maintain high-conviction portfolios for the benefit of clients. You will contribute to the continued development of FAM’s due diligence framework and will be able to track your recommendations and their impact on client portfolios through the company’s data analytics. You will need to be a self-starter who enjoys building positive working relationships and is looking to make a difference in a busy but flexible and supportive working environment. We operate a long-term hybrid working style, with the potential to work from home for a percentage of the time.

• Lead investment due diligence on prospective and existing third-party funds and managers, covering philosophy, process, team, risk management, performance and fees.
• Run quantitative screening and peer group analysis to identify candidate funds and managers for the fund of funds range and delegated mandates.
• Issue and assess investment due diligence questionnaires, alongside the operational due diligence process, to form a complete view of each manager.
• Conduct manager meetings and produce clear, well-evidenced research notes and recommendations for the Investment Committee.
• Monitor approved funds and delegated managers – performance, risk, positioning, style drift and team changes – escalating concerns and contributing to the delegate challenge process.
• Work with portfolio managers in the day-to-day management of the fund of funds, including fund selection inputs, portfolio construction and the planning and implementation of trades.
• Support regular reporting (positioning, performance) and the preparation of papers for Investment Committees, Board meetings and fund launches.
• Help develop the due diligence process and tools, contribute to projects and committees, and build relationships with external managers and across the firm.

Key Requirements

• Approximately 3 years’ experience in fund research, manager selection, due diligence or a related investment analysis role, ideally gained within a fund of funds, multi-manager, investment consultant or wealth/private bank platform.
• Working knowledge of investment due diligence, including the assessment of a manager’s philosophy, process, people, risk management and performance, and an awareness of operational due diligence considerations.
• Strong quantitative skills and comfort with performance and risk attribution, peer group analysis and style/factor analysis.
• Good understanding of the active and passive fund landscape across equities, fixed income and alternatives, and of UCITS and the Irish fund environment.
• Experience researching or analysing fixed income funds and managers is preferred.
• Working knowledge of Morningstar Direct, FactSet and/or Bloomberg.
• Advanced Excel; Python or other programming skills an advantage.
• Clear written and verbal communication, with the ability to produce concise, well-structured research notes.
• Someone who is passionate and curious about financial markets and investments.
• A self-starter who is able to take initiative and operate on an independent basis, while being a committed team player.
• High attention to detail.
• Educated to university level; CFA (or progress towards it) and/or CAIA desirable.

Fineco Asset Management DAC is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer:

We are committed to enforcing non-discrimination of candidates based on their religion, race, ethnicity, age, gender (including pregnancy and gender identity) disability, sexual orientation, civil or family status, or for being a member of the Traveller community. We embrace and celebrate diversity in our workforce, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all of our employees.

Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) Statement:

The Fineco Group is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating a working environment that is safe and inclusive, based on mutual respect and valuing every kind of diversity, offering equal work opportunities.