Fixed Income Specialist

Duties and Responsibilities include:

Portfolio Idea Generation & Research

Conducting macroeconomic research and keeping track of trends that affect the performance of various types of investments. Studying trends in the economy and business, such as interest rates, exchange rates and equity prices, which will positively or negatively affect the value of the Fund's investments. Considering global fiscal & monetary conditions in relation to regional economic growth & inflation projections. Analyzing and evaluating the potential impact of macroeconomic and market activity on the portfolio under various scenarios. Contributing to the development of investment strategy, asset class-specific strategies, market/sector analysis, and annual planning documents. Acting as a key contributor to the investment team's strategy formulation, investment recommendations and publications with a focus on expected return and risk management. Providing key useful input to the research and analysis of investment proposals submitted to the Fund.

Model Building and Data Analysis

Gathering and analyzing large datasets needed to support portfolio decisions and communicating findings to investment professionals and team members. Developing a wide range of financial models for conducting portfolio performance analysis. Applying mathematical and statistical methods to analyzing the Fundâs investment and risk management problems. Contributing towards various studies for understanding global changes in investment strategies and portfolio risk and analysis frameworks.

Performance Analysis:

Generating reports regarding investment values, performances and trends and presenting this material to investment professionals and management committees on a regular basis. Developing and updating models used in valuing various unquoted investment securities classes. Analyzing portfolio exposures, communicating with portfolio management, researching investment ideas, and recommending actions that help align portfolio positioning to strategy objectives. Analyzing historical and projected investment performance. Performing portfolio attribution, performance analysis and position monitoring. Developing and monitoring a wide range of reports and analyses of the Fundâs investment portfolio including investment performance trends and comparisons to investment policy and legal and regulatory requirements.

Asset Liability Management (ALM)

Regularly analyzing changes in the structure of the membersâ fund, providing useful insights such as changes in the liability structure, impact of proposed benefits products and impact of the economy's performance on the Fundâs growth and liability structure. Conducting ALM analysis to contribute to insight, transparency and responsibility to the investment processes and consequences to the investment policy statement (IPS). Performing stress tests, scenario analysis and simulations on existing and proposed portfolios and their impact on membersâ fund.

Administration and Reporting:

Contributing towards various studies required as critical inputs for the Investment Committee's assessment of key developments in financial markets. Preparing and delivering presentations that convey complex investment concepts in more accessible terms for NSSF members and the public. Developing a feedback loop through relationships with external stakeholders to make recommendations and improvements to the Fundâs investment strategy.

Education Requirements:

A degree in Finance, Mathematics, Statistics or Economics with professional qualifications such as CFA and FRM.

Related Job Experience:

Proven experience in data analysis and analytical tools such as Excel VBA, SQL Server/Access databases, and any statistical/mathematical programming language, such as R, Python, or MATLAB. Knowledge of investment markets and institutional investors (Pension Plans, Endowments and Foundations) Minimum of 3 years of experience with an asset management business. Experience in working with ALM tools and pension risk systems is a significant plus. Experience in regional markets is an added advantage.

Additional skills:

Demonstrate initiative and work independently; aptitude to self-direct and set priorities in a fast-paced environment. Highly organized, meets deadlines, with a strong attention to detail. Strong communication skills: verbal, written and presentation; ability to effectively communicate recommendations and rationale to internal parties and clients as well as demonstrated ability to influence outcomes. Self-motivated individual with intellectual curiosity, high energy level, strong work ethic and demonstrated personal and professional integrity. Strong quantitative and problem-solving skills, with the ability to pull together, organize, and analyse large quantities of data and to check the output for accuracy and reasonableness. Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively with internal and external business partners.