Position: Senior Analyst, Compliance

Our client is a leading portfolio management firm, responsible for managing hundreds of billions of dollars in AUM

The Compliance team works in collaboration with portfolio managers and management to ensure that activities comply with securities legislation, internal policies and procedures, and industry practices.

Reporting to the Senior Compliance Officer, Team Lead, your role will be to actively participate in enforcing the elements of the compliance program. More specifically, you will be called upon to:

• Coordinate the monitoring of employee activities on social media in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements;
• Review and approve advertising materials in accordance with regulatory requirements in the investment sector;
• Participate in the process of handling employees' personal transactions while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements regarding conflicts of interest;
• Participate in the development and mastery of the personal transaction and conflict of interest management tool;
• Collaborate as needed and periodically monitor portfolios to ensure compliance with investment policies and follow-up on breaches on a pre-trade and end-of-day basis;
• Complete and submit various reports to internal and regulatory authorities;
• Contribute to the writing and deployment of new compliance policies and procedures;
• Participate in the development of compliance training content;
• Write analyses, notes, and reports submitted to management;
• Contribute to the completion of compliance projects in collaboration with different teams (portfolio management, trading, and systems);
• Participate in the development and execution of various compliance tests and controls.

   Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, law, or another related field;
• At least 5+ years of relevant experience in a similar position;
• CSI courses or other courses in the financial field, an asset;
• Knowledge of Bloomberg and compliance modules or any other similar system, an asset;
• Mastery or interest in learning programming languages (Python or others);
• Strong interest in the financial field, products, and understanding of the role of different actors in the field (broker, portfolio manager, investment fund manager, custodian);
• Good knowledge of securities regulation, particularly Regulations 31-103 and 81-102, as well as legislation on money laundering and terrorist financing;
• Strong comfort with computer tools and software;
• Bilingual - English & French
• Exceptional attention to detail and analytical skills to ensure the accuracy of deliverables;
• Motivated, autonomous, and proactive, both in managing workload and professional development;
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to interact professionally with all levels;
• Process improvement skills and creativity in finding innovative solutions;
• Team spirit and motivated to help the team meet deadlines;
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize work and meet multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Position:       Financial Operations Analyst

Location:      Montreal / Hybrid

OUR CLIENT

Our client is a portfolio management based in Montreal. Our client is at the crossroads of many disciplines such as wealth management, financial and tax planning, law, and philanthropy, to name a few. Their ambition is to provide their clients with personalized and global support within a unique and independent structure.

Our client is currently seeking a “Financial Operations Analyst” to support their investment teams. 

Responsibilities:

• Open bank and/or custodian accounts
• Ensure client file compliance (IPS, service agreements, communications, etc.)
• Process and follow operational instructions related to financial transactions and their settlement
• Verify the accuracy of information from custodians
• Interpret and apply data mapping principles between internal systems and external platforms
• Reconcile custodian data with internal investment accounting system and resolve discrepancies
• Enter transactions into the internal investment accounting system in a timely manner
• Liaise with external counterparties to resolve reconciliation issues
• Maintain communication with service providers, including custodians
• Prepare subscription and redemption documents for funds
• Verify NAV (Net Asset Value) of funds managed
• Document and update department procedures
• Prepare various back-office and investment-related reports
• Assist in the preparation and distribution of client reports
• Perform any other related tasks as required

Required Qualifications:

• B.B.A. or related field.
• Understanding of interactions between portfolio management firms and their intermediaries.
• Good knowledge of financial products (including private investment funds, equities, ETFs, mutual funds), various settlement and clearing platforms, and securities operations.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office and Excel, as well as portfolio management systems (Harmony is an asset).
• Excellent attention to detail (diligence and precision).
• Strong organizational skills.
• Self-motivated and capable of taking initiatives, identifying and solving problems, and making improvements.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively independently and with colleagues in a team environment.
• Versatile and open-minded.

Our client Offers:

• Competitive salary.
• Comprehensive benefits package from the start.
• A flexible and stimulating work environment (partially remote) offering daily challenges and the opportunity to showcase your talents.

Our client is a family office which has been managing an inter-generational investment portfolio for a over 15 years. It has, over the years, developed a disciplined and structured approach to investing, working from a policy-based asset allocation. Our client, which is based in Montreal, operates independently of the operating businesses with its own location, management, and administrative team. The Family Office reports to a Board comprised of family and independent members that meet regularly and interact with the Family Office in a well-structured manner.

Reporting to the Manager, Investment Reporting, the Analyst, Finance & Operations role is primarily responsible for the integrity of information collected and circulated to various business partners. Specifically, he/she will assess and take appropriate action relating to office treasury, portfolio management operations and supporting performance measurement. In addition, the analyst will assist the Office in maintaining budget modelling processes. Finally, the analyst will participate in activities to deploy capital to public markets, Private Equity investments, data integration projects and system upgrades.

RESPONSABILITIES

• Support finance and accounting teams with daily cash management forecasting and reconciliation between capital calls, distributions, and planned disbursements
• Process scheduled/periodic exception reports to take corrective actions on out-of-compliance elements such as unreconciled transactions between clearing brokers/external managers and internal book of record, securities classification, ratings, etc
• Assist in the implementation of a multipurpose quantitative analytics core (pricing, exposure, risk, back testing)
• Assist with periodic portfolio rebalancing trading and solve all transactions settlement problems
• Support quarterly investment performance reporting efforts and ad hoc reports with quality control for various committees and board meetings
• Provide assistance with private equity investments subscriptions and financial institution compliance requirements
• Monitor service fees with brokers, custodians and private equity managers
• Document new processes and assist in maintaining existing procedures
• Provide assistance in daily activities of the team

KEY REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Undergraduate degree in Finance, Business Administration or related field; high academic achievement
• Enrolment in a professional certification program (CFA, FRM, CAIA etc.), an asset
• 1-3 years experience in asset management, banking or transactions
• Knowledge of securities industry and capital markets instruments (fixed income, equities, money market, FX’s, derivative products, private equity)
• Good understanding of investment performance measurement principles (Time Weighted vs. Money Weighted, etc.)
• Programming skills and familiarity with SQL/VBA
• Knowledge of market data collection systems (Bloomberg, Eikon, etc.), an asset
• Ability to quickly achieve proficiency in a variety of computer systems
• Ability to navigate a fast-paced environment with a high level of autonomy
• Excellent focus on detail, good organizational and priority-management skills
• Effective communications skills, both written and spoken

Position: Senior Analyst, Absolute Return

Current Opportunity

Reporting to the Portfolio Manager, Absolute Return, the Senior Analyst will be responsible for conducting thorough assessments and evaluations of potential hedge fund investments. You will specifically focus on analyzing the operational aspects of external managers to identify potential risks, opportunities, and areas for improvement. This role requires a combination of financial analysis skills, operational expertise, and strong due diligence capabilities.

The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of the hedge fund industry, strong analytical skills, excellent communication skills, and a track record of delivering superior results in a fast-paced, challenging environment.

Primary Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive due diligence on prospective and existing hedge fund and other external fund investments at the division, with a specific focus on operational aspects such as operational infrastructure, processes, and systems to assess their efficiency, scalability, and risk management practices
• Analyze financial statements, regulatory filings, and other relevant documents to gain insights into the financial health and stability of potential investments
• Identify potential risks, operational weaknesses, and areas of improvement that could impact investment performance
• Assess the effectiveness of operational controls, governance structures, and compliance frameworks
• Collaborate with investment teams to provide insights and recommendations based on operational due diligence findings
• Prepare and present recommendations to senior management. This may include preparing written reports, creating visual aids, and delivering verbal presentations to present due diligence reports, answer questions, and address concerns related to operational aspects.
• Provide ongoing monitoring and updates on external managers’ operational performance to support investment decision-making and risk management
• Stay up to date with industry best practices and regulatory requirements related to operational risk management
• Review and analyze a variety of legal documents, including investment agreements, offering memorandums, private placement memorandums, side letters, fund structures, contracts, and other documents to ensure accuracy, compliance, and alignment with firm objectives
• Support the due diligence process by reviewing legal documents and performing background checks on potential investment opportunities, legal counterparts, and service providers. Work closely with the external legal counsel to review, draft, and negotiate terms of agreements, ensuring that all legal aspects align with the Fund’s strategy and interests.
• Collaborate with the investment, operations, and compliance teams to ensure that legal and contractual obligations are understood and properly executed
• Contribute to the teams’ capabilities and expertise by building a strong internal network with various investment and non-investment teams
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal teams, external service providers, and industry contacts to gather relevant information and industry insights

Professional Requirements

• Minimum of 10 years of relevant capital markets-related experience, with a significant portion of experience in an operational due diligence role in absolute return strategy
• Solid understanding of hedge fund operations, financial markets, and investment strategies
• Familiarity with operational risk management frameworks and best practices
• Detail-oriented with exceptional research and due diligence capabilities
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Ability to work effectively with colleagues from a range of backgrounds and disciplines, and to be able to communicate concepts and ideas in a clear and concise manner
• Professional designations (CFA, FRM/PRM, or CAIA, obtained or in progress) are preferred
• Excellent French and English language communication skills (spoken and written)
• Availability to travel

Desirable Skills and Aptitudes

• Disciplined with intellectual curiosity; strong analytical, research, and organizational skills
• Team player with a desire to work in a collegiate collaborative environment
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and relationship management skills to interface with fund managers and internal team members are required; must be able to articulate complex issues clearly, concisely, and convincingly
• Strong qualitative judgement and decision-making skills