Pricing Associate, Investment Operations

Description

Ares is looking for an Associate to join the Los Angeles Investment Operations team. The Investment Operations team works closely with business stakeholders in three lines of business (Credit, Private Equity and Real Estate) as well as various corporate functions.

The Associate will be responsible for partnering with the Associate Vice President and ownership around Pricing tasks. The team primarily works out of the Los Angeles office in partnership with the team in India.

The ideal candidate would have experience leveraging third party resources while being thoughtful about strategic planning around pricing with an ability to anticipate and respond to future business needs.

The role requires a dynamic, adaptive, experienced hands-on professional to ensure best practices in a fast-paced rapidly growing environment.

Reporting relationships

Reports to : AVP, Investment Operations (Pricing)

Primary functions and essential responsibilities

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to :

Pricing

• Work with key partners in all business lines to assist with data management including but not limited to : security reference, credit data, investor data, portfolio setup and pricing data
• Interact with all market data vendors including but not limited to : pricing (IDC, Markit, JPM Pricing Direct)
• Serve as a key partner to the firm’s portfolio managers in delivering timely and accurate investment information
• Interfacing with New Accounts Group, Fund Accounting, Performance and Compliance
• Ownership of daily pricing responsibilities and resolve discrepancies with trustees, agencies, and brokers across all securities of the firm including loans, bonds, equities, derivatives, and private securities
• Monitor and evaluate security price uploads from vendors and ensure accuracy and completeness of information
• Review daily pricing for significant variances and stale pricing
• Verify pricing history and current valuations on restructured assets and new securities
• Assist in pricing for various business groups
• Partner with the investment team on valuations to ensure there is appropriate support and analysis in accordance with auditing standards and GAAP (in accordance with FAS 157)
• Assist with audit inquiries for quarterly and annual financial statement audits related to valuation
• Creating scalable, automated operating platforms to support the growing business while leveraging industry best practices
• Engage with the business stakeholders to evaluate their needs and problems, clarify and document requirements, and help design solutions with the Technology team by translating business requirements into functional requirements
• Act as a Subject Matter Expert supporting Pricing tasks; provide best-practice guidance to the business stakeholders and internal development partners.

Identify opportunities to improve business processes and operational efficiencies

Lead the product rollout process by driving decisions, tracking issues, and assisting with a timely resolution in support of the initiative;

provide post-rollout and day to day product support as needed

Establish strong working relationships with the business and Technology teams to facilitate application support and adoption

Qualifications

Education :

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance or other business related discipline
• MBA, CFA and / or CPA preferred

Experience Required :

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in high quality, global capital markets or investment management firms with expertise in Operations
• Experience in Investment Operations, Fund Accounting, Information Technology or Software Development life cycle preferred
• Prior experience with an alternative asset manager preferred, broader asset management experience preferred
• Understanding of bank loans preferred
• Strong fixed-income product knowledge, Credit Facilities, CLO’s, CDO’s variable rates securities, and fixed income securities
• Understanding of basis accounting theories
• Hedge fund, Credit or Private Equity experience is a plus

General Requirements :

• Sound understanding of financial data and diverse investment vehicles (such as Institutional Separate Accounts, SMA / Limited Partnerships, Open-End Mutual Funds, Closed-End Funds, UCITs, etc.)
• Familiarity with institutional asset management research, trading workflows, and associated systems. Solid understanding of the data points associated with different asset classes
• Ability to extract meaningful information from extensive research and analysis to effectively present facts and findings in a digestible format;

a keen eye for attention to detail

• Experience managing internal and external stakeholders and leading project prioritization discussions to drive product vision and roadmap.
• A self-directed individual with a can-do attitude, willing to work in an energetic, collaborative and fast-paced environment, proactive in nature, and a proven ability to resolve issues with minimal supervision
• Proven outstanding communication (written and verbal), presentation, documentation, and interpersonal skills
• Expert with Excel for data analysis, including modeling and complex lookups
• A hands-on approach and ability to synthesize business operations and talent needs
• Ability to successfully manage multiple priorities and competing demands
• High accuracy and detail orientation
• Good judgment in terms of escalating issues vs. solving problems independently
• A solutions-oriented, self-starter and ability to see the big picture
• Comfort in dealing with ambiguity and uncertainty in a dynamic and fast-paced environment
• Ability to be flexible in terms of hours in order to coordinate with team members across various time zones
• An analytical mind and a passion / interest in bringing new ideas to increase efficiency of existing processes
• Dependable, great attitude, highly motivated and a team player

Reporting Relationships

Compensation

The anticipated base salary range for this position is listed below. Total compensation may also include a discretionary performance-based bonus.

Note, the range takes into account a broad spectrum of qualifications, including, but not limited to, years of relevant work experience, education, and other relevant qualifications specific to the role.

$120,000

• The firm also offers robust Benefits offerings. Ares U.S. Core Benefits include Comprehensive Medical / Rx, Dental and Vision plans;
• 401(k) program with company match; Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA); Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) with company contribution;

Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance; Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance; Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and Commuter Benefits plan for parking and transit.

Ares offers a number of additional benefits including access to a world-class medical advisory team, a mental health app that includes coaching, therapy and psychiatry, a mindfulness and wellbeing app, financial wellness benefit that includes access to a financial advisor, new parent leave, reproductive and adoption assistance, emergency backup care, matching gift program, education sponsorship program, and much more.

There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.