Investment Manager job at Spica Financial Group

Position Details

Department Investment Management Reports To Chief Investment Officer Direct Reports Investment Analysts and Dealers, as the team develops Employment Type Full time, Permanent

Job Purpose

We are looking for a self-driven, adaptable professional who is eager to learn, takes initiative and thrives in a fast-paced start-up environment.

The Investment Manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of the investment portfolios of the Company’s collective investment schemes and discretionary client mandates, within approved objectives, parameters and limits. The role integrates research, portfolio construction, trade execution, performance monitoring and risk management to deliver mandate-consistent returns and safeguard investors. The Investment Manager operates under the Chief Investment Officer and the Investment Committee, and works closely with the finance, operations and compliance teams.

Key Responsibilities

Portfolio Management

Manage, construct and rebalance portfolios within approved objectives, asset allocation and risk parameters; implement Investment Committee strategic and tactical allocation decisions; monitor positioning and mandated limits daily and manage liquidity for subscriptions, redemptions and other obligations.

Investment Research and Analysis

Research eligible asset classes including government securities, money market instruments, fixed deposits, corporate bonds and, where mandated, listed equities; analyse macroeconomic conditions, interest rates, credit quality and market developments; present evidence-based recommendations to the CIO and Investment Committee and maintain the approved issuer/counterparty list, including credit assessment.

Trade Execution and Best Execution

Execute transactions in investors’ best interests, considering price, cost, speed and execution/settlement likelihood; allocate multi-portfolio trades fairly under the Conflicts of Interest Policy; maintain complete trade records, coordinate timely settlement and identify, record and promptly correct trade errors, with any resulting loss borne by the Company rather than the client.

Investment Risk and Limit Compliance

Monitor interest-rate, concentration, credit and liquidity risk; ensure compliance with asset allocation, issuer/concentration, duration and liquidity limits; record, escalate and promptly remedy breaches through the CIO, Investment Committee and Compliance Officer and support stress testing and scenario analysis.

Valuation and Performance Monitoring

Support independent asset valuation and scheme NAV calculation with finance and the fund administrator; monitor performance against benchmarks/objectives, risk-adjusted returns and attribution and investigate and escalate mandate-inconsistent performance.

Governance, Compliance and Reporting

Comply with the investment governance framework, each Investment Policy Statement, Investment Management Agreement and applicable regulation; prepare reports for the Investment Committee, Board and clients on positioning, performance, limit utilisation and breaches; support AML/KYC requirements and contribute to investment commentary, market outlooks and client communications.

Client and Investor Engagement

Participate as required in institutional and high-net-worth client meetings on strategy and performance and support business development and new investment product design, ensuring suitability, sound construction and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Actuarial Science, Statistics or a related field.
• Progress toward or completion of a relevant professional qualification such as the Chartered Financial Analyst designation is strongly preferred.
• At least five years’ relevant experience in investment management, portfolio management or investment research, preferably in regulated financial services.
• Sound knowledge of fixed income, money market instruments and Ugandan capital markets.
• Strong analytical and quantitative capability, including spreadsheets and financial analysis tools.

Desirable

• Familiarity with the CMA framework for fund managers and collective investment schemes; experience in portfolio construction, asset allocation and performance attribution and understanding of NAV calculation, custody and fund administration.

Key Competencies and Attributes

Strong analytical, quantitative and decision-making skills; sound judgement under uncertainty and disciplined risk management; high integrity and fiduciary responsibility; clear communication of complex investment matters to clients, the Investment Committee and Board and a collaborative approach suited to a small, growing team.

Reporting and Key Relationships

Reports to the Chief Investment Officer and operates under the Investment Committee. Works closely with Finance and Operations, Compliance, the custodian, trustee and fund administrator and, where required, brokers, counterparties and clients.

Key Performance Indicators

Risk-adjusted portfolio returns against benchmarks/objectives; adherence to mandate limits and breach profile; quality and timeliness of research/recommendations; mandate-consistent AUM growth; client retention and satisfaction and accurate, timely investment reporting.

Fit and Proper Requirements

The post holder must continuously meet CMA fit-and-proper criteria, including honesty, integrity, good reputation, competence/capability and financial soundness and promptly disclose any matter affecting that standing, including criminal charge/conviction, bankruptcy/insolvency, regulatory action or disqualification. Where required, the role is subject to CMA approval/notification and relevant representative or approved-person status.

Authority and Limitations

Investment discretion is limited to the objectives, asset classes and limits in each scheme’s Investment Policy Statement, each client’s Investment Management Agreement and Investment Committee parameters. The post holder may not deal outside mandates, exceed limits or act contrary to investors’ interests. Any departure requires prior Investment Committee approval and any breach must be escalated and promptly remedied in investors’ best interests.

General

This JD states the principal duties and is not exhaustive. Responsibilities may be updated for evolving Company needs or regulatory changes and the post holder may undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the role.

• Manage, construct and rebalance portfolios within approved objectives, asset allocation and risk parameters; implement Investment Committee strategic and tactical allocation decisions; monitor positioning and mandated limits daily and manage liquidity for subscriptions, redemptions and other obligations.
• Research eligible asset classes including government securities, money market instruments, fixed deposits, corporate bonds and, where mandated, listed equities; analyse macroeconomic conditions, interest rates, credit quality and market developments; present evidence-based recommendations to the CIO and Investment Committee and maintain the approved issuer/counterparty list, including credit assessment.
• Execute transactions in investors’ best interests, considering price, cost, speed and execution/settlement likelihood; allocate multi-portfolio trades fairly under the Conflicts of Interest Policy; maintain complete trade records, coordinate timely settlement and identify, record and promptly correct trade errors, with any resulting loss borne by the Company rather than the client.
• Monitor interest-rate, concentration, credit and liquidity risk; ensure compliance with asset allocation, issuer/concentration, duration and liquidity limits; record, escalate and promptly remedy breaches through the CIO, Investment Committee and Compliance Officer and support stress testing and scenario analysis.
• Support independent asset valuation and scheme NAV calculation with finance and the fund administrator; monitor performance against benchmarks/objectives, risk-adjusted returns and attribution and investigate and escalate mandate-inconsistent performance.
• Comply with the investment governance framework, each Investment Policy Statement, Investment Management Agreement and applicable regulation; prepare reports for the Investment Committee, Board and clients on positioning, performance, limit utilisation and breaches; support AML/KYC requirements and contribute to investment commentary, market outlooks and client communications.
• Participate as required in institutional and high-net-worth client meetings on strategy and performance and support business development and new investment product design, ensuring suitability, sound construction and regulatory compliance.

• Strong analytical and quantitative capability, including spreadsheets and financial analysis tools.
• Sound knowledge of fixed income, money market instruments and Ugandan capital markets.
• Strong analytical, quantitative and decision-making skills
• Sound judgement under uncertainty
• Disciplined risk management
• High integrity and fiduciary responsibility
• Clear communication of complex investment matters
• Collaborative approach

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Actuarial Science, Statistics or a related field.
• Progress toward or completion of a relevant professional qualification such as the Chartered Financial Analyst designation is strongly preferred.
• At least five years’ relevant experience in investment management, portfolio management or investment research, preferably in regulated financial services.
• Familiarity with the CMA framework for fund managers and collective investment schemes; experience in portfolio construction, asset allocation and performance attribution and understanding of NAV calculation, custody and fund administration.