Investment Analyst, Investment Office

Job Description

Boston University is the 4th largest private, not-for-profit, residential, research university in the US, with over 35,000 students and annual gross revenue in excess of $3 billion. The $4+ billion Boston University Endowment Portfolio is diversified across a variety of asset classes and investment strategies. Formed in 2007, The Boston University Investment Office, along with the Investment Committee of the University’s Board of Trustees, is charged with managing the University’s pooled long-term endowment assets for the current and future support of operations and with preserving the long-term purchasing power of the Endowment. It currently supports approximately 4% of the University’s operating budget. For additional information, please refer to https://www.bu.edu/investments/.

Position Summary

The University seeks to add a thoughtful and bright Investment Analyst to join its collegial, twelve-person Investment Office and report to the Chief Investment Officer. The position offers broad exposure across asset classes and the opportunity to develop investment knowledge and skills in an intellectually demanding and collaborative environment.

The Investment Analyst’s primary responsibilities include: (a) analyzing investment performance and portfolio positioning, (b) assisting with due diligence of prospective investments, ongoing monitoring of existing investments, and preparation of investment recommendations and presentations for the Investment Team and Investment Committee, and (c) participating in weekly asset allocation and investment manager discussions.

In concert with colleagues, the Investment Analyst enhances and maintains the Investment Office’s
models and analytical tools using them to monitor portfolio performance, exposures, cash flow and liquidity. Other duties include assisting in portfolio operations, administration, and performance reporting, as well as maintaining a database of key manager information and a comments-sharing database for relevant updates.

Specific Responsibilities Include:

• Gather, synthesize and analyze data to develop discussion materials and actionable recommendations across a wide array of endowment investing topics; then highlight material findings for the team and the Investment Committee of the University’s Board of Trustees.
• Support the team by assisting with analytically and qualitatively rigorous manager due diligence and investment portfolio monitoring.
• Regularly engage with colleagues to discuss, evaluate, and present material on completed analytics and existing and prospective investments.
• Prepare and present materials for Trustee Investment Committee meetings.
• Build relationships with current and prospective investment managers, other LP investors, and analytics providers.
• Represent Boston University at Annual Meetings, conferences, and industry events.
• Workstreams include Gather qualitative and quantitative data, complete analytics, evaluate results, prepare various materials (portfolio updates, investment recommendations, Executive Committee and Investment Committee books, look-through exposures, and quarterly performance reports for Privates, Hedge Funds and Equity) and communicate key take-aways and/or material changes, write memos and PPT presentations, work on due diligence, make presentations, quality control monthly endowment performance reports, and assist with transactions (futures, margin, and capital calls and distributions), as needed.

Required Skills

• Bachelor's degree with demonstrated strong academic performance required; preference for Finance, Economics or quantitative field and/or its equivalent, but not required.
• Preference for 2 – 4 years of investment-related work experience.
• This is a pre-MBA position (no MBAs please).
• Intellectually curious and inquisitive, particularly with respect to financial markets, investment portfolio strategy, and endowment management.
• Strong analytical and quantitative capabilities; comfortable gathering, organizing, and working with data, using a range of software tools and databases (e.g. complex Excel formulas, Word, PPT, FactSet, eVestment and Private-I).
• Team-oriented with ability to work independently and collaboratively in an organized fashion to produce highly accurate work products while multi-tasking, managing competing deadlines, and working with different colleagues simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, especially for long-form diligence memos and presentation development and delivery during both internal and Investment Committee meetings.
• High ethical standards and personal integrity.

Hybrid – option to work remotely two days per week following an initial training period

Start date is flexible

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

#LI-Hybrid

Required Experience

• Bachelor's degree with demonstrated strong academic performance required; preference for Finance, Economics or quantitative field and/or its equivalent, but not required.
• Preference for 2 – 4 years of investment-related work experience.
• This is a pre-MBA position (no MBAs please).
• Intellectually curious and inquisitive, particularly with respect to financial markets, investment portfolio strategy, and endowment management.
• Strong analytical and quantitative capabilities; comfortable gathering, organizing, and working with data, using a range of software tools and databases (e.g. complex Excel formulas, Word, PPT, FactSet, eVestment and Private-I).
• Team-oriented with ability to work independently and collaboratively in an organized fashion to produce highly accurate work products while multi-tasking, managing competing deadlines, and working with different colleagues simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, especially for long-form diligence memos and presentation development and delivery during both internal and Investment Committee meetings.
• High ethical standards and personal integrity.

Hybrid – option to work remotely two days per week following an initial training period

Start date is flexible

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

#LI-Hybrid