Client Reporting – Investment Analyst

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Company

Willis Towers Watson is a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company that helps clients around the world turn risk into a path for growth. With roots dating to 1828, Willis Towers Watson has 40,000 employees serving more than 140 countries. We design and deliver solutions that manage risk, optimize benefits, cultivate talent, and expand the power of capital to protect and strengthen institutions and individuals. Our unique perspective allows us to see the critical intersections between talent, assets and ideas – the dynamic formula that drives business performance. Together, we unlock potential. Learn more at willistowerswatson.com.

The Business

Willis Towers Watson’s investment consulting business aims to change investment for the better for the benefit of its clients. To achieve this, we look to hire and retain the best people, provide opportunities for them to continue to develop their skills and then empower them to make a difference. Our client base of leading investment institutions (including many of the world’s largest pension funds, insurance companies and sovereign wealth funds) demand excellence and creative solutions to the investment challenges they face. As a result, we look to bring people with a variety of backgrounds and skills to work collaboratively on cutting edge assignments.

The Role

Reporting and Data is a team within the Investments line of business dedicated to internal and external reporting, post-trade compliance, and data management. The Client Reporting function is responsible for the monitoring reports referred to below.

As an Analyst in Client Reporting you will learn to produce analytical reports for our clients to monitor various aspects of their portfolios. Our portfolio managers, client teams and clients use these to make key decisions and recommendations about the investment of client assets. You will source information and data concerning our clients’ investment portfolios from external companies such as custodians and fund managers, as well as from colleagues within WTW. With this data you will produce professional reports of excellent technical and editorial standard, predominantly using Excel, PowerPoint and in-house systems.

As you gain experience, you will build a sound understanding of your clients’ portfolios and reporting needs, while working with a diverse mix of investment professionals of different backgrounds and experience levels, across a range of teams and functions.

In the early part of your career you will learn to:


·  Collate and manage data; using both in-house and external tools and databases
·  Become highly proficient in Excel, PowerPoint and WTW’s reporting and data systems
·  Use your interpersonal skills and keen eye for detail to collaborate with teams across the business to create high-quality reports of excellent technical and editorial standard
·  Use appropriate tools to produce regular and ad hoc monitoring reports, papers and analyses
·  Develop your skills as a reporting specialist and gain a detailed understanding of the pensions and investment industries, as well as WTW’s Investments business
·  Produce material that is generic in nature and may feature in many clients’ reports, such as our market summaries
·  Provide support and technical assistance within out market data email service
·  Take ongoing ownership of internal and external monitoring for a variety of clients
·  Support other work requirements, not limited to ad hoc administration and projects
·  Enjoy opportunities to broaden skills and knowledge through training, development and project work
As you develop and your career progresses you will gain the opportunity to:

·  Deploy your skills to review work produced by others to ensure it meets WTW’s high professional standards
·  Provide technical expertise to colleagues of all seniorities in other teams in Investments
·  Lead work streams and/or teams within the team
·  Take a lead role in projects within the function, team or wider business
·  Assist in the development of new business or service lines

The successful candidate will be expected to work within the existing risk management and audit framework of the team and business, which includes checklists and review processes, branded ‘Professional Excellence’. All team members are encouraged to contribute ideas for process improvements.
Investment can be a vast and complex field; clients seek out expert advice such as that provided by WTW to help them navigate this complexity and improve the chances of achieving their goals. Client reports (also called monitoring) are a crucial aspect of our ongoing relationships with clients and are part of our portfolio management process. Managing a portfolio without monitoring can be likened to navigating a maze in the pitch dark – without knowing what has happened in the portfolio and the wider markets, informed decisions about the direction of the portfolio cannot be made, reducing the quality of outcomes (or destination) achieved.

The Requirements

The wide range of skills needed for this role mean that people from a number of educational backgrounds and different levels of experience could be successful in this position. The nature of work requires the successful candidate to be very organised, have a good proficiency in MS Office applications, a keen eye for detail, and have a willingness to work within the framework set out above.

The analyst structure in the team has several levels and we are able to vary the level hired at based on qualifications and experience. We are open to a range of applicants, including those with or without experience in investment; those with relevant experience in another industry; as well as recent graduates or those who have pursued a different educational path.

Willis Towers Watson is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on any basis. We support flexible working and this role will be considered on a flexible basis.