Director of Investment Optimization & Risk

Company: EDWARD JONES
Location: Saint Louis
Posted on: January 25, 2023

Job Description:

At Edward Jones, we help clients achieve their serious, long-term financial goals by understanding their needs and implementing tailored solutions. To ensure a personal client experience, we have located our 15,000+ branch offices where our more than 7 million clients live and work.

In a typical branch office, a financial advisor meets with clients and receives branch office support, so they can focus on building deep relationships with clients. Headquarters associates in St. Louis, Tempe and Mississauga provide support and expertise to help U.S. and Canada branch teams deliver an ideal client experience. We continue to grow to meet the needs of long-term individual investors.

• Lead strategic direction of investment optimization capabilities which deliver personalized, tax-efficient, multi-asset portfolios to clients at scale.
• Enhance existing and build new capabilities consistent with firm strategy.
• Responsible for team of optimization and investment risk managers.
• Direct and conduct active research and portfolio optimization design including objective functions, risk constraints, reference benchmarks, and investment universe to align dynamic advisory accounts to investment goals and client preferences.
• Research and enhance portfolio optimization configuration to ensure alignment of dynamic advisory accounts to client objectives and investment parameters.
• Analyze and enhance batch optimization study research and process to ensure best-in-class optimization configuration and design.
• Prepare and present optimization configuration strategy recommendations to senior leadership for approval.
• Collaborate and contribute to internal departments, committees, and firm-wide strategic initiatives in making better informed decisions consistent with the firm's long-term strategy.
• Deliver effective written and verbal communication of portfolio optimization guidance and batch optimization analysis to key stakeholders and leadership.
• Implement and enhance framework for portfolio optimization review and monitoring of dynamic advisory accounts using Aladdin Wealth platform, as needed.
• Contribute to division and firm initiatives as necessary.Decision Making:
  High level of authority. Analysis requires gathering all relevant facts, analysis of the information, and judgment to make optimization strategy recommendations. Investment optimization leader is responsible and account for the team's ability to make complex portfolio optimization and risk decisions that impact client accounts and the investment advisory platforms. These decisions are presented to and discussed with other key stakeholders, including senior leadership.
  
  Span of Influence:
  High span of influence. Investment optimization leader is responsble for guiding the team of investment optimization and risk managers to identify and assess various configurations and inputs into the portfolio optimization process including configuring risk constraints, analyzing optimization output, and recommending optimization strategies to leadership and key stakeholders. Incorrectly designing portfolio optimization configuration or failing to identify risk could have significantly adverse effects on client outcomes and firm performance. This individual is also responsible for shaping the strategic direction of the optimization capability which is a key feature of the firm's investment advisory business.
  
  Qualifications Required in the Job:
  Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Mathematics, Engineering, or other quantitative subjects. Graduate degree in quantitative discipline or MBA preferred.Demonstrated strong interest in investment risk, portfolio optimization and portfolio construction.Achieved or actively pursuing FRM or CFA designation(s).Series 7/66 required or attainable within six months of hire.Proficiency in spreadsheets, databases, programming, and investment risk platforms (Microsoft Office, R, Python, Tableau, FactSet, Aladdin Risk, MSCI BarraOne, Axioma, Bloomberg, etc.)
  Minimum Years of Experience Required

  • Minimum of 10 years' experience in portfolio construction, portfolio optimization, investment management, or investment risk management
    Depth of knowledge of principles and practices
    Strong knowledge of various types of investments, asset classes, and capital markets.Strong understanding of and ability to manage multi-asset portfolio investment risk and/or optimization platform on a day-to-day basis.Experience with multi-factor risk models i.e. Aladdin, MSCI, Axioma, etc.Strong knowledge of portfolio construction, portfolio optimization, and/or portfolio risk management.Experience with portfolio optimization platforms i.e. Axioma, MSCI, Aladdin, etc.Strong knowledge of measurement and evaluation techniques for a broad array of investment risks, including market, multi-factor, liquidity, and concentration risks.Experience with Aladdin Wealth and/or client account management platform.Proficiency in spreadsheets, coding (Python), optimization (Axioma, etc.), and/or investment risk management systems (Aladdin Risk, MSCI Barra One, etc.)Strong analytical skills and service focus.Understanding of Edward Jones investment philosophy, business model and culture.Strong interpersonal skills are necessary to communicate ideas and research to investment stakeholders, internal departments, and other areas of the firm.
    Problem Solving:

    • Strong critical thinking skills required. Ability to solve complex, non-routine problems.
    • Strong thought leadership and strategic thinking.
    • Strong ability to communicate complex concepts in simple terms and to link quantitative insight with business logic and intuition.
    • Strong people leadership including attracting, engaging, and developing talent.
      • 100 Best Workplaces for Millennials in 2022, published Fortune July 2022, Great Places to Work - data as of March 2022. Compensation provided for using, not obtaining, the rating.
        • Edward Jones was recognized as one of the Best Workplaces for Millennials by Great Places to Work - and Fortune - magazine. The privately held firm ranked No. 2 overall, in its fourth appearance on the list.2022 Fortune Best Workplaces for Women, published September 2022, research by Great Places to Work -, data as of August 2021. Compensation provided for using, not obtaining, the rating.
          Edward Jones has been named to the 2022 Best Workplaces for Women list by Great Places to Work - and Fortune - magazine, ranking No. 45.2022 Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For, published April 2022, research by Great Place to Work -, data as of August 2021. Compensation provided for using, not obtaining, the rating.

          For the 23rd time, Edward Jones has earned a spot on the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For - ranking by Great Places to Work - and Fortune - magazine. Edward Jones ranked No. 35 on the prestigious 2022 list.2022 Best Places to Work For LGBTQ+ Equality, Great Place to Work - in partnership with Human Rights Campaign Foundation, published Equity Magazine January 2022, data as of July 2021. Compensation provided for using, not obtaining, the rating.

          Edward Jones scored 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2022 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) the nation's foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. The ranking designated Jones as one of the best places to work for LGBTQ+Equality.Edward Jones does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy, veteran status, genetic information or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.At Edward Jones, we value and respect our associates and their contributions, and we recognize individual efforts through a rewards program that promotes a long-term career, financial security and well-being. to learn more about our total compensation approach, which in addition to base salary, typically includes benefits, bonuses and profit sharing. The salary range for this role is based on national data and actual pay is based on skills, experience, education, and other relevant factors for a potential new associate:
          Salary: $153959 - $262147
          Category: Headquarters

Keywords: EDWARD JONES, St. Louis , Director of Investment Optimization & Risk, Executive , Saint Louis, Missouri