Investment Officer

Description

Investment Officer

The Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho (PERSI)is a public pension fund headquartered in Boise, with approximately $27 billion in assets.Our mission is to provide a secure retirement for PERSI members and beneficiaries. Our vision is to be the premier public retirement system, respected by customers, peers, and the community, and known for professional service, technological advancement, and fund stability.

Thisis a ‘generalist’ position for a senior investment professional who will play an integral role on PERSI’s investment team. You will report directly to the Chief Investment Officer and cover a broad range of responsibilities across all funds (Defined Benefit, Defined Contribution, Sick Leave) and asset classes (public and private). This role offers significant exposure to the administrative and operational components (legal, accounting) of fund management, which requires a curious, detail-oriented and collaborative professional.

The Investment Officer will assist with the oversight and management of PERSI’s investment portfolio, focusing on the administrative and operational components of Fund management. This includes aspects of manager due diligence and reviews, searches, transitions, rebalancing, cash and custody operations, custodial reporting and analytics, corporate governance activities, participating in actuarial and capital markets discussions, learning and understanding industry trends, coordinating with internal staff and external providers, and interacting with industry peers. This position will provide overall support and assistance to the Chief Investment Officer and Deputy Chief Investment Officer in all activities, as requested.

SPECIAL NOTIFICATION:This position is exempt from classified state service and the rules of the Division of Human Resources and the Idaho Personnel Commission. This position is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Chief Investment Officer.

Example Of Duties

Typical responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Researching market trends
• Assisting in ongoing monitoring of investment managers
• Participating in manager searches and transitions
• Creating and preparing investment related reports and presentations
• Working with consultants, advisors, internal/external legal counsel, and other professional service providers (i.e. record keepers, actuaries, etc.)
• Reviewing and revising policies and guidelines
• Interacting with PERSI’s accounting operations team and custodian regarding portfolio accounting, to include private portfolios (real estate and private equity – distributions, capital calls, fees), the DC plan, and sick leave fund
• Reviewing and ensuring appropriate processes, controls, and systems are in place
• Utilizing the custodial reporting system and other systems available to us to enhance reports
• Coordinating and interacting with the Administrative Assistant, internal/external legal counsel, IT team, and Communications Officers in responding to public records act requests and updating website reports
• Working with staff and utilizing custodial reporting system to automate, generate, and reply to periodic survey and Public Records Act Requests
• Learning and understanding industry trends and peers
• Assisting and supporting the investment team with data, analysis, research, or special projects as assigned by Chief Investment Officer or Deputy Chief Investment Officer.
  
  

This position may involve travel, varying from 0-20% of the time, subject to change, depending on experience, interest, and need. Travel may include, but is not limited to, pension industry conferences, investment industry related meetings/conferences, and educational or training opportunities.

We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented team member with a passion for institutional investing. The ideal candidate has exceptional analytical skills, an aptitude for complex problem-solving, and a strong commitment to fiduciary principles and ethical conduct.

Minimum Qualifications

• Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college
  
  

AND Possess The Following

• Five (5) years of institutional investing experience at a pension plan, foundation, endowment, family office, OR investment consulting, asset management experience
• Seven (7) years of experience at a public pension plan
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, OR a master’s degree in finance/economics/business administration or related field, OR a JD
  
  

AND

• General knowledge of investment securities, investment operations, industry standards
• General knowledge of and familiarity with the public pension plan and/or investment industry
• General knowledge of investment performance measurement and reporting
• Proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat
• Ability to prepare and present written reports
• Ability to read, interpret, and explain policies, laws, and regulations
• Aptitude and interest in learning investment concepts, tools, vehicles, and strategies
• Exceptional work ethic, critical thinker, attention to detail, and a strong commitment to teamwork
  
  

Preferred Qualifications Include

• Degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Accounting, or Law
• Five (5) years or more of experience as an investment officer at a public pension plan or conducting public pension plan and/or investment fund related work
• Broad knowledge of investment concepts, terminology, and vehicles
• Good knowledge of statistics and financial analysis, portfolio, reporting systems, and/or risk analytics and evaluation tools
• Experience using Bloomberg analytics and performance
• Knowledgeable of and familiarity with the pension plan industry, portfolio theory, performance measurement, actuarial valuations, and asset/liability studies
• Knowledgeable of and familiarity with portfolio design and construction, asset allocation, risk management, due diligence, and financial analysis
• Knowledgeable of and familiarity with custodians and custodial reporting platforms
• Knowledgeable of and familiarity with fiduciary principles and ethics
• Ability to communicate, manage, and resolve issues independently and collectively
• Ability to take on multiple tasks at a time
• Ability to analyze and interpret portfolio reports
  
  

Candidates who reach the final hiring stage will be required to participate in a criminal background check. Having a criminal record will not automatically eliminate applicants from consideration but may be considered as part of the hiring process.

Application Process

To be considered for this position, please submit a cover letter and resume demonstrating how you meet the qualifications outlined above. We are accepting applications until a sufficient number of candidates have been received. This position will remain open until filled.

Benefits

This position is eligible for our comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Excellent low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous vacation and sick leave accrual beginning as soon as you start
• Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• Paid parental leave
• Eleven paid holidays per year
• PERSI retirement, one of the nation's best state retirement systems
• Multiple savings plans
• Life insurance
• A healthy work/life balance
• Wellness programs; ongoing training opportunities; and more
  
  

For additional information related to benefits and/or State programs, please visit https://dhr.idaho.gov/StateEmployees/Benefits.html.*

EEO/ADA/Veteran

The State of Idaho is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, political affiliation or belief, sex, national origin, genetics, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.

The State of Idaho is committed to access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, auxiliary aids and services are available upon request. If you require an accommodation at any step in our recruitment process, you are encouraged to contact (208) 334-2263 (TTY/TTD: 711), or email [email protected].