Investment Performance Analyst (Chicago)

Summary

At First Trust Capital Management we offer a curated spectrum of alternative investments across private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, real estate, and private credit. The Investment and Performance Analyst will be actively involved in First Trust Capital Management’s business development initiatives with an emphasis on investment, attribution, and data analysis rooted in a fundamental understanding of investment opportunities. The role will interface across business units as well as externally with portfolio managers, business development representatives, and other investment professionals. The ideal candidate will have a broad knowledge of investment offerings in both traditional asset classes and alternative investments, have a working knowledge of investment structures such as ‘40-act mutual funds, interval funds, tender offer funds, private funds, and direct investments. Most importantly, the ideal candidate must have the ambition to work in a fast paced environment at a rapidly growing firm.

Responsibilities

• Master and refine data analysis tools available to systemize how FTCS answers complex questions (both quantitively and qualitatively) on a regular cadence
• Balance the completion of assigned reoccurring responsibilities, while meeting ad-hoc project request deliverables
• Maintain a key focus on process management, output codification, and quality control
• Conduct attribution, exposure, and other analyses to assess investment performance and provide actionable insights across public and private offerings
• Manage performance and attribution analysis efficiently to complete ad-hoc data requests from outside sales team
• Develop expertise on all current and future FTCS investment products and lines of business
• Assist in providing unified sales messaging through providing regular data points and marketing support to the distribution team on portfolio positioning, asset class themes, and key selling points
• Support development of product launch strategies and all aspects of generating ongoing product marketing collateral
• Participate in meetings with internal and external stakeholders to share fund expertise and speak to the merits of investments and value proposition
• Assist marketing and business development with other duties and special projects as needed
• Maintain accurate data with and manage third-party vendor relationships as needed

Requirements

• Wide knowledge of quantitative and qualitative concepts pertaining to all aspects of the broad investable universe
• A desire to support the sales team and to help an already fast-growing business unit continue to expand without sacrificing quality or data integrity
• Basic knowledge of asset management distribution model and channels
• Ability to prioritize tasks, work on multiple assignments, and manage ambiguity
• Aptitude for problem solving, ideal candidate must be resourceful and able to work both independently and as part of a team
• Strong writing, communication, and presentation skills
• Must be proficient in Microsoft applications (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint)
• Advanced experience or progress towards learning (e.g., VBA, Macros) in Excel preferred
• A keen understanding of utilizing systems to assist in performing portfolio attribution (Bloomberg, Morningstar, Lightkeeper)
• Comfort and familiarity with large data sets, relational databases, reporting and query tools
• Basic knowledge or a proficiency with SQL/Cognos or a programming language is a plus
• Working knowledge of CRM programs (HubSpot, Salesforce) is a plus
• Pursuit or progress towards a CFA, CAIA, CIPM and/or CIMA strongly preferred
• 0-2 years of relevant work experience, salary commensurate with experience