Investment Consulting: currently 133 jobs.The latest job was posted on 16 Nov 18.
Investment Consulting
Investment Consultants are responsible for advising pension fund trustees on the investment opportunities available to maximise the value of the funds they are responsible for, and provide the return required to fulfil their pay-out requirements.
These funds can be corporate or public retirement funds, including foundations, charities, university endowments or healthcare systems.
The Role of the Investment Consultant
As trustees are not necessarily financial experts, they depend on the support provided from those in investment consultancy jobs to help them make the right decisions.
Traditionally it was the role of the investment consultant to understand the investment goals of the individual fund, and incorporate this understanding into a strategic recommendation that offers an acceptable level of risk and return.
However in more recent times, those in investment consultancy jobs are also required to actually implement the suggested strategy, creating a very strong cross over between this role and that of an investment manager.
Opportunities within Investment Consultancy
The two key investment consultancy jobs are within asset allocation and fund selection.
In asset allocation the consultant will be responsible for advising the trustee on the type of asset to invest in and how to structure the overall fund. Successful applicants will usually have an actuarial qualification and a proven track record in statistical modelling and forecasting.
Alternatively, within fund selection, investment consultants look at the performance of individual asset managers, reporting back on both the strengths and weaknesses of the performance.
This role is usually for the more senior investment consultants. It requires extensive relationship development with an entire portfolio of clients, as well as close liaison with fund research analysts and other support staff.
A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) qualification is often preferable for fund selection jobs, or a very similar equivalent, rather than an actuarial qualification.