Who we're looking for
As a Solution Analyst you will support the Pension Solutions Lead in all aspects of the delivery of our clients’ investment solutions in Germany and potentially other European countries.
The role requires you to be curious and questioning. You need to have the desire and ability to help us improve our products, process and materials, so we can give each client even better outcomes. In most cases the role also requires very strong mathematical and computing skills along with good knowledge of financial theory with a particular focus on bonds and interest rate hedging. Actuarial qualifications or experience will be useful but not essential.
You need to collaborate with the other Solution Analysts and Managers and a range of teams across Investment desks and Client Group to help deliver the best solutions for our clients.
The team
Your role involves working in the International Solutions Team, responsible for the design and delivery of tailored cross product solutions for our clients globally. This team leads engagements with a range of clients across the globe, bringing deep investment knowledge and investment strategy insights to our client relationships.
What you'll do
You have particular responsibility for the delivery of solutions to German Pension Funds with a focus on Cashflow Driven Investment (CDI) and Liability Driven Investment (LDI) solutions although with a wider remit to cover other (non insurance) opportunities both in Germany and wider Europe.
This includes assisting the Pension Solutions Lead in:
- Working closely with the Client Group in Germany to identify and develop opportunities
- Working collaboratively with the investment teams within Schroders Solutions to develop and implement bespoke solutions
- Identifying and developing opportunities to include the wider investment capabilities of Schroders as part of any solution design and management and working collaboratively with the relevant Investment desks
- Designing, modelling, analysing and presenting investment solutions to clients and prospects. This includes in particular helping clients develop an understanding of how asset-liability based solutions can improve outcomes
- Managing specific existing OCIO and LDI solutions mandates in Germany including ongoing tailored reporting and performance analytics and close liaison with our partners in the German pension fund buy out market
- Tailoring Schroders solutions capabilities to the unique requirements of German prospects
- Developing and enhancing the local profile of Schroders Solutions through thought pieces, conferences and presentations
In addition, your wider role within international Solutions will include:
- Helping the wider team when additional resources are required, especially in relation to modelling and analytics
- Helping the wider team to automate processes and meet compliance requirements for tools created
The knowledge, experience and qualifications you need
- Bachelor or Masters degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics
- Excellent PowerPoint and Excel skills
- Working knowledge of coding languages (ideally Python and/or MatLab)
- Advanced knowledge of portfolio theory, financial mathematics (especially in relation to bonds and interest rate and credit derivatives) and asset and/or liability modelling
- Understanding of a broad range of asset classes, investment products and strategies in addition to specific advanced knowledge referenced above
The knowledge, experience and qualifications that will help
- Actuarial qualifications or knowledge (mortality assumptions, valuation methods and techniques etc)
- Extensive knowledge of both IFRS and HGB accounting for German corporates and the influence of local regulation on Solution design and implementation for German clients
- Previous experience in asset management, investment banking, actuarial/investment consultancy or within an insurance company or in house pension team
- Fluent German speaker comfortable with both technical and relationship building conversations with clients and prospects
What you'll be like
- Flexible, highly curious and willing to learn
- Critical and creative thinking and the ability to look at things from different angles
- Ability to work under pressure, on several priorities at once, with tight deadlines
- Self-motivated and enthusiastic, keen to improve what we do for our clients and how we do it
- Able to work co-operatively and deliver agreed projects on time
- Careful and diligent in completing accurate analysis
We recognise potential, whoever you are
Our purpose is to provide excellent investment performance to clients through active management. Diversity of thought facilitated by an inclusive culture will allow us to make better decisions and better achieve our purpose. This is why inclusion and diversity are a strategic priority for us and why we are an equal opportunities employer: you are welcome here regardless of your age, disability, gender identity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, socio-economic background or any other protected characteristics.
