Senior Manager– Investments (Operational Due Diligence)

Mercer is seeking candidates for the following position based in the Mumbai / Pune office:

Senior Manager– Investments (Operational Due Diligence)

What can you expect?

Mercer Wealth is a leading global provider of investment consulting services. We offer customized advice at every stage of the investment decision, risk management and investment monitoring process. In addition to core consulting, we have developed a number of specialist teams; the Financial Strategy Group, Mercer Sentinel, Manager Research, Responsible Investment and Fiduciary Management, thereby ensuring we offer a full range of services to our clients. We have been dedicated to meeting the needs of clients for more than 30 years.

Due to increasing client demand we are continuing to build a specialist team focused on ODD exercises and consulting projects. We are looking to employ talented colleagues who understand the financial services industry and the operational functions of investment managers.

The job holder will work as part of a team of ODD specialist and client consultants. Through the Mercer structured development program and on-the-job training, the applicant will be supported, coached and developed in their role.

What is in it for you?

• Employee friendly policies
• Health care and insurance for you and your dependents
• Healthy Work life balance
• A great working environment
• Future career opportunities across a global organization

We will count on you to:

• Work as an extension of the US team to conduct operational due diligence risk assessments of investment managers using Mercer Sentinel’s framework incorporating house views as appropriate
• Understanding of investment manager middle and back office operations, fund administration, portfolio accounting, custody, regulatory compliance and other relevant industry experience
• Maintaining knowledge of operational risk frameworks across the Mercer universe of asset classes, including equity and fixed income, hedge funds, private equity, private debt, real estate and infrastructure
• Liaise with investment managers to collate information, coordinate on-site visits and schedules
• Review responses and documentation provided by investment managers for the risk assessment and author research notes in advance of the meeting of the onsite team to support the onshore team
• Support virtual investment manager “on-site” visits through the preparation of pre-meeting notes, note taking in the meeting and producing high quality draft written reports after the meeting
• Challenging and improving operational processes for Mercer’s ODD framework
• Contribute to Mercer Sentinel’s intellectual capital through market research and process innovation
• Contribute towards Mercer Sentinel’s other products including but not limited to Surveys and Operational Reviews; support onshore team’s efforts towards key projects or activities including business development among others.
• Update and maintain pertinent tools/database with relevant information including research publications and coordinate with asset managers for requisite data and for scheduling research calls; prepare and distribute Ratings Committee (RC) minutes from the weekly RC call.

What you need to have:

• A bachelor's degree in economics, finance or other business-related areas with a high level of written content
• Professional qualification (Actuarial, ACA, ACCA, CFA or equivalent) – preferential requisite
• Two years plus of experience in a similar operational due diligence role preferred
• Experience with investment management, operations, fund management or investment consulting
• Previous experience in operational risk analysis, fund administration, and or financial / portfolio accounting would be beneficial
• Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Takes ownership for work, always ensuring standards and deadlines are met and keeping others informed and up-to-date
• Works well under pressure, with the ability to priorities and manage multiple tasks, stakeholders and deliverables simultaneously; candidate may be expected to attend calls with US based asset managers couple days in a week; responsibilities may stretch to taking calls with asset managers in other geographies including Pacific, UK, Europe, Middle East and Asia depending on the business requirements.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Openly shares information and own expertise with colleagues
• Possess excellent team working skills in a global/remote working environment

What makes you stand out?

• Demonstrates excellent oral and written communication skills
• Self-motivated with an eagerness to learn and a positive work ethic
• Challenges existing practices and conventional thinking
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Excel and other core Microsoft Office products (Word, PowerPoint, etc.)

Mercer believes in building brighter futures by redefining the world of work, reshaping retirement and investment outcomes, and unlocking real health and well-being. Mercer’s approximately 25,000 employees are based in 43 countries and the firm operates in over 130 countries. Mercer is a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), the world’s leading professional services firm in the areas of risk, strategy and people, with 85,000 colleagues and annual revenue of over $20 billion. Through its market-leading businesses including Marsh, Guy Carpenter and Oliver Wyman, Marsh McLennan helps clients navigate an increasingly dynamic and complex environment. For more information, visit mercer.com. Follow Mercer on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Marsh McLennan is committed to embracing a diverse, inclusive and flexible work environment. We aim to attract and retain the best people regardless of their sex/gender, marital or parental status, ethnic origin, nationality, age, background, disability, sexual orientation, caste, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Marsh McLennan is committed to hybrid work, which includes the flexibility of working remotely and the collaboration, connections and professional development benefits of working together in the office. All Marsh McLennan colleagues are expected to be in their local office or working onsite with clients at least three days per week. Office-based teams will identify at least one “anchor day” per week on which their full team will be together in person.