Senior Analyst, Operational Due Diligence

THE ROLE

This an excellent opportunity to join a highly motivated team, responsible for assessing the operational capabilities and infrastructure of UPP’s investment partners. 

Reporting to the Manager, Operational Due Diligence, the Senior Analyst, Operational Due Diligence will work closely with both Public and Private Markets Investment teams, Responsible Investing (RI), Compliance and other business partners to perform initial and on-going non-investment operational risk assessments of external managers.  The Senior Analyst will contribute to the team by participating in operational due diligence reviews, preparing assessments for review by the Manager ODD, and sharing findings and recommendations with internal stakeholders.   

This dynamic role will provide opportunities to engage with senior leaders on operational risk and controls discussions, investment strategies, compliance program, quality of personnel and provide exposure and insight into a variety of asset classes, fund strategies and operating models. This is an exceptional opportunity to join a team of high performing professionals and make an impact!

The role is based in downtown Toronto with Work-From-Home flexibility. UPP currently requires 2 days in the office.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Analyze key offering documents, DDQs, audited financial information and investment manager policies and identify areas for further investigation and discussion with the fund manager.
• Schedule ongoing operational due diligence (ODD) review meetings of existing fund managers including hedge, public market and private fund managers.
• Engage with fund managers on ODD related topics. Prepare detailed agenda topics and discussion points for operational due diligence meetings with fund managers.
• Attend operational due diligence review meetings and contribute with operational questions. Document meetings in a clear and concise manner.
• Engage with operational due diligence consultants for new investment reviews and analyze manager assessment reports provided by them to form an operational risk rating opinion
• Identify and assess observed deficiencies / areas of concern, as a result of discussions with the fund manager and document as part of the risk rating report.
• Detail appropriate recommendations for the fund manager as part of risk rating report, to be approved by the Manager, ODD, and present to internal teams and executive leaders.
• Stay current on industry standards and help to facilitate knowledge transfer within the ODD group and the organization.
• Conduct research through ongoing media monitoring on fund managers, assessing potential reputational and investment risk to UPP.
• Establish and maintain effective and collegial working relationships with internal stakeholders and external fund managers.
• Be willing and able to undertake travel, for onsite ODD visits subject to current COVID-restrictions.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• 2+ years of relevant work experience performing due diligence or internal controls reviews within the finance industry
• An understanding of the due diligence review processes for newly proposed funds and ongoing fund reviews
• Knowledgeable in the processes of some of the following areas - fund operations, fund administration, prime brokerage, audit, legal compliance, technology, and information security
• Knowledgeable in a range of financial instruments and alternative investment strategies such as hedge funds, private equity and credit, real estate, and infrastructure, as well as more traditional equity and fixed income strategies
• An undergraduate or advanced degree in business, finance, accounting, economics or a related field
• Candidates with CPA, CFA, CAIA designations not required, but preferred

ATTRIBUTES

• Excellent communication and relationship building skills
• Strong attention to detail, highly organized and ability to prioritize workload
• Demonstrates initiative and is comfortable managing deadlines
• Ability to work independently or collaboratively within a team, as required
• Ability to build and leverage professional relationships with investment managers, counterparties, vendors and internal/external partners
• Willingness to adapt to change and to remain resilient
• Excellent business / report writing and presentation skills
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.

PERSONALITY TRAITS: 

• Self-driven
• Humility
• Transparency
• Integrity
• Strong work ethic
• Empathetic
• Collaborative
• Authentic
• Personable

LIFE AT UPP

Do work that matters.We are duty-bound to serve our members’ interests, and it’s a responsibility we don’t take lightly. That’s why we’ve ingrained sustainability in our work from day one—to ensure our members have a resilient future to retire into, both today and for generations to come.

Stronger together. Collaboration is how UPP was born, and it’s how we work with each other and our partners day in, day out. No one at UPP is just a number (even if they are excellent at math) and every win is a shared win.

Grow every day. You’ll have the opportunity to work on unique, once-in-a-career projects that maximize your skill set and probably teach you some new ones—at any stage in your career.

Prioritize wellness. At UPP, wellness takes many forms. Ultimately, it’s about ensuring our people are cared for in the ways that matter to them. Check out some highlights of our inclusive employee-focused benefits program including:

• Defined benefit pension plan
• Flexible hybrid work model
• Work from abroad up to eight weeks/year
• Comprehensive group benefits including medical, dental, vision etc.
• Extended paramedical and mental health service coverage
• Health care and lifestyle spending accounts
• Fertility treatments, paid parental leave, and gender affirmation coverage
• Education Assistance program

UPP enthusiastically welcomes applications from all qualified applicants and especially invites people with lived experience as an Indigenous person, a person with a disability or as a member of another Human Rights Code protected group that faces barriers to employment to apply. Our goal is to create a barrier-free experience for every candidate throughout the recruitment process, so if you require accommodation at any point during the process, please let us know so that we can make the appropriate arrangements.  It would be our honor to work with you to adapt our processes to ensure that you can meaningfully participate.