Associate Portfolio Manager, Systematic Strategies

The Associate Portfolio Manager, Systematic Strategies, reports to the Chief Investment Officer, Asia Pacific, and the Global Head of Systematic Strategies. This role involves being the on-the-ground owner and primary spokesperson for systematic equity strategies in Australia. Key responsibilities include collaborating on research, development, and management of systematic equity strategies, idea generation, portfolio construction, risk management, and ensuring compliance. The role requires strong quantitative research capabilities and experience in managing systematic equity strategies daily.

Must Have

• Collaborate on building and enhancing systematic strategies across all steps of the investment process.
• Discover, evaluate, and use alternative/new data sources to build novel systematic strategies.
• Collaborate with developers, operations, and trading team for the implementation of systematic strategies.
• Manage daily cash flows and corporate actions.
• Communicate systematic strategies performance and attribution, market environment and outlook to clients and stakeholders.
• 5+ years of progressive hands-on experience in quantitative investing, research, and portfolio management (equities focus).
• Ability to effectively communicate complex topics by simplifying them for various audiences.
• Significant experience in statistical modelling of large data sets and understanding of multi-factor models, portfolio construction, optimization, backtesting, and scenario analysis.
• Strong quantitative skills with solid understanding of statistics, fundamental analysis, and accounting.
• Familiarity with equity databases (e.g., FactSet) and optimization software (e.g., Axioma).
• Proficiency in programming language(s) (Python, R) and database management software (e.g., SQL).
• Bachelors’ degree in a quantitative discipline.

Good to Have

• CFA charter
• Master’s degree
• Ph.D.

Perks & Benefits

• Hybrid work environment (four days in-office each week in most locations)
• Range of other benefits to enhance flexibility as needs change
• Tools and resources to engage meaningfully with global colleagues

Position: Associate Portfolio Manager Systematic Strategies

The Area: The Investment Management group is a global team guided by Morningstar’s investment principles focused on delivering great long-term investment results to help end-investors reach their financial goals. We use our expertise in asset allocation, investment selection and portfolio construction to create world-class investment strategies leveraging the full resources of Morningstar. The group specializes in multi-asset investing, using building blocks in equities, fixed income and alternative investments to construct robust portfolios. Through our investment offerings, we serve financial advisers and institutions, and the investors that they serve.

The Role:

The Associate Portfolio Manager reports to the Chief Investment Officer, Asia Pacific, with a matrix reporting line to the Global Head of Systematic Strategies. The role serves as the on-the-ground owner of the systematic equity strategies used by the Australian investment management team and will act as their primary spokesperson to Australian-based clients and other regional stakeholders.

The role requires strong organisational and prioritisation skills, as the majority of work will involve collaborating with the global systematic team on the research, development, and management of systematic equity strategies. Responsibilities include idea generation, portfolio construction, risk management, cash flow and corporate actions management, and meeting compliance obligations. The Associate Portfolio Manager will work closely with other members of the systematic equities team and engage with multi-asset portfolio managers and senior management, to deliver suitable portfolio strategies which draw upon their demonstrated quantitative research capabilities and experience in the daily management of systematic equity strategies.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate alongside other members of the systematic equities team, multi-asset portfolio managers and senior management to build and enhance systematic strategies across all steps of the investment process, including idea generation, portfolio construction and implementation.
• Discover, evaluate, use alternative/new data sources to build novel systematic strategies.
• Collaborate with developers, operations, and trading team for the implementation of systematic strategies including trading, compliance, managing of daily cash flows and corporate actions.
• Communicate systematic strategies performance and attribution, market environment and outlook to clients, research houses and internal stakeholders.

Requirements:

• 5+ years of progressive hands-on experience in quantitative investing including research and portfolio management, preferably with a focus on equities.
• Ability to effectively communicate complex topics by simplifying them to explain portfolio outcomes at an appropriate level for various audiences.
• Significant experience in statistical modelling of large data sets and solid understanding of multi-factor models, portfolio construction, optimization, backtesting and scenario analysis.
• Strong quantitative skills with solid understanding of statistics (e.g., panel data analysis, machine-learning), fundamental analysis, and accounting. Familiarity with equity databases (e.g., FactSet), and optimization software product (e.g. Axioma).
• Proficiency in programming language(s) (Python, R) and database management software (e.g., SQL).
• Bachelors’ degree in a quantitative discipline. CFA charter, Masters’ degree and/or Ph.D. is a plus but not essential.

Morningstar's hybrid work environment gives you the opportunity to collaborate in-person each week as we've found that we're at our best when we're purposely together on a regular basis. In most of our locations, our hybrid work model is four days in-office each week. A range of other benefits are also available to enhance flexibility as needs change. No matter where you are, you'll have tools and resources to engage meaningfully with your global colleagues.