Investment Analyst, Alternatives

Description:

LGT Crestone was formed around a clear and uncompromising vision – to bring global best practice in building institutional quality investment portfolios to Australian clients.

With a shared passion for building an uncompromised business – we created something new from the ground up. A chance to leave behind the things that weren’t working, while enhancing the things that were. Our authentic and personalised client-first commitment. Our entrepreneurial spirit. Our focus in best-in-class advice. And our intimate understanding of the Australian private wealth landscape.

In 2022 we became a part of the LGT Group, who shared our entrepreneurial spirit, long-term approach and private-ownership model. Today, with the global expertise, stability, and capability of LGT behind us, we can work without being reliant on markets or margins, with a singular focus on giving our clients the advice and deep expertise they need for generations to come.

Your Responsibilities

• Private markets and broader alternative assets are more diverse than traditional asset classes and typically come with added complexities beyond research and governance.
• To that effect, your responsibilities will fall within four verticals depicted below, with a primary focus on both investment research and governance, and execution and implementation.
• All team members participate across all core verticals including Education, Sales and Content Management; Investment research and governance; Product development and Relationship management and Execution and Implementation.

Education, sales and content management

• Express the LGT Crestone recommended list view in written and verbal form through a variety of channels, including weekly investment meetings (presentation to advisors and associates) and client-friendly (branded) materials utilised by advisors in the context of personal advice.
• Produce actionable ideas consistent with the CIO view to support improved portfolio construction and growth of preferred alternative investment strategies.
• Work with Private Markets and broader Traditional Funds and Sustainable Investment teams to co-ordinate regular fund manager updates and briefings to Investment Advisors and Associates.
• Support ongoing Investment Advisor education/training utilising external fund manager relationships where appropriate.
• Partake in direct sales activities with active and prospective clients in conjunction with the Investment Advisers, and ensure content utilises and presented is in accordance with appropriate compliance in relation to managed investments.
• Consistently bring LGT Crestone expertise and content to advisers / clients through a regular flow of relevant market and product updates.
• Work with internal (including Advisory and Marketing) and external stakeholders to support successful event and media strategy relating to existing and new alternative investment strategies, supporting Investment Advisor sales and growth of the alternative investment platform, and to maintain and improve LGT Crestone brand awareness across the market.

Investment research and governance

• Support the research and governance process for LGT Crestone’s recommended and broader accessible managed investments across private markets and broader alternative assets classes.
• Support the ongoing development of a credible and robust framework for the selection, maintenance, and removal of managed funds to/from LGT Crestone’s APL.
• Leverage external research consultants and fund manager relationships (where appropriate) within the research process
• Prepare and present investment analyses and recommendations for consideration by the LGT Crestone Investment Committee, through analysis and engagement with fund managers and product across a broad range of asset classes
• Construct, monitor and utilise performance benchmarks and peer groups for each sub-asset class across open- and closed-end products and utilise internal and external resources (e.g. Cobalt) to best present findings to the Investment Committee and broader business.
• Work with other investment team members to incorporate applicable views and insights into investment analyses (e.g. sustainable investments team to ensure investments meet required sustainability standards)
• Compile and distribute meeting notes following due diligence and update meetings, incorporating relevant information from standardised fund manager reporting and presentation materials.
• Keep informed on alternative asset class developments to both support research and product development efforts and provide guidance and content to Investment Advisors in addition to investment specific updates.

• Identify potential risks (and opportunities) in fund positions and/or business and act accordingly to re-mediate or raise awareness.
• Attending industry conferences and select fund manager engagements to obtain knowledge to share with IPS and the broader business.

Product Development and Relationship Management

• Maintain strong working relationships with the external funds management community including those firms not currently invested with LGT Crestone.
• Engage with existing and prospective investment partners to support development of best-in-class investment product designed for private clients, and to encourage best practice within the funds management community.
• Support necessary pre-raise structuring of closed-end funds, either with direct fund managers or third-party feeders, to cater for LGT Crestone’s operating model and inherent risks.
• Work with IPS and Advisory colleagues to identify gaps in LGT Crestone’s investment, product and service offerings (within alternatives) that may also exist across the local wealth management market and identify prospective short- to long-term opportunities that may arise as a result.
• Position LGT Crestone’s leadership position within alternative asset classes and where appropriate, consider strategic investment opportunities and partnerships that can accrue both short-term and long-term benefits to current and future LGT Crestone clients.
• Support broader IPS team in product and relationship matters, in particular, the traditional and sustainable investment funds teams, the capital markets (relating to select single asset private markets opportunities originated through the alternatives platform) and LGT Crestone’s discretionary offering (Multi-Asset Portfolio Solutions, or MAPS).

Execution and Implementation

• Be accountable for the execution and implementation of both open-end and closed-end investment products (i.e. the non-investment components).
• Actively participate, as a subject matter expert ( SME ) in projects targeted at improving execution and implementation efficiency of alternative product, and where appropriate, propose and implement improvements to existing processes.
• Support IPS and non-IPS stakeholders, and external stakeholders, as an SME, in addressing applicable questions, issues and other challenges related to the day-to-day management of the alternatives platform.
• Support advisor and associate advisors during closed-end fund raises to ensure high quality outcomes for all internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with both internal and external stakeholders to put in place appropriate agreements required to facilitate and/or optimise alternative investment solutions. This can include, but is not limited to: non-disclosure agreements, AML/KYC side letters, distribution agreements, enhanced commercial terms (eg fee reductions) and other side letter arrangements to cater for LGT Crestone operational processes.

Qualifications

• Degree qualified in Commerce, Finance or Business
• RG146 accreditation, equivalent, or willingness to undertake
• CFA or CAIA qualification seen as an advantage

Skills and Experience

• A minimum of 5 years relevant work experience in private markets or broader alternative investments research
• Extensive investment experience in similar or related roles, ideally with portfolio / funds management, wealth management and/or a research house
• Strong analytical skills, with experience evaluating funds, co-investments, and direct investments.
• Multi asset class experience preferred
• Strong interpersonal skills - ability to build and maintain relationships and navigate both internal and external stakeholders
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex ideas to develop and support review and marketing processes.
• Strong PC presentation skills —Microsoft applications
• Experience in developing marketing materials and supporting a marketing process
• Experience in understanding wealth management-specific needs relating to alternatives investments preferred

LGT Crestone is committed to the ongoing development of their employees. Your development will be managed and tailored to your role and future career path.

LGT Crestone is an equal opportunity employer committed to embracing a diverse and inclusive work environment. We aim to attract and retain the best people regardless of their gender, marital/parental status, ethnic origin, nationality, age, background, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.