Operational Due Diligence, AVP

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a range of wealth management products and services for affluent individuals, businesses, and institutions. The Services include brokerage and investment advisory, financial and wealth planning, credit and lending, cash management, annuities and insurance, retirement and trust.

Position Summary

Global Investment Manager Analysis (GIMA), a unit within Wealth Management Investment Solutions (IS), provides comprehensive manager research on a wide range of investment strategies, including separately managed accounts, mutual funds, UCITs, exchange-traded funds and private vehicles in the equity, fixed income and alternative investments spaces. The GIMA team engages with a broad array of investment managers to identify high quality strategies for portfolios.

The GIMA Operational Due Diligence Analyst will perform operational due diligence on alternative investment funds and managers (fund-of-funds, hedge funds, private equity, real estate, alternative mutual funds, UCITS, etc.) for new perspective managers and as part of the ongoing monitoring process for existing relationships. Additionally, the GIMA Operational Due Diligence Analyst will perform operational due diligence on co-investments and direct investments as opportunities arise.

Core functions:

• Operational assessments will consist of either onsite meetings with senior professionals at the investment manager or a desk review of a review of DDQs/various manager documents. Additionally, meetings/calls with key service providers such as administrators, valuation agents, auditors, etc. are conducted as necessary.
• Areas of focus for the review process include: Organizational Structure & Staffing, Fund Structure, Internal Operations & Controls, Valuation, Service Providers & External Oversight, Legal & Compliance, Information Technology & BCP, etc.
• Assess operational infrastructure and identify key risks, documenting findings in a written report.
• Work with managers to find solutions to correct any operational deficiencies identified during the operational due diligence process.
• Present findings and results to internal product approval committees, as necessary.

Ongoing activities include:

• Interact with internal teams as appropriate, including Investment Due Diligence, Product Management, Legal, Operations, Risk, Investor Relations, and Sales as needed.
• Support a team atmosphere including idea sharing, learning, and back-up.
• Remain abreast of industry trends, regulatory matters, and market events affecting funds, managers, clients, and the industry.
• Perform project work or other responsibilities as directed by the Head of Operational Due Diligence, including financial statements review, media monitoring, and oversight of vendor relationships.

Skills required:

• 5+ years of total work experience including 5+ years of direct operational due diligence experience across various types of alternative investment products and managers (alternative mutual funds, fund-of-funds, hedge funds, real estate funds, and/or private equity).
• Looking for candidate that has a solid knowledge of operational due diligence and the desire to expand their skill set into other product areas within a growing team of experienced operational due diligence professionals.
• Some experience performing due diligence on co-investments and direct investment opportunities strongly desired, but not required.
• Undergraduate degree required with an advanced degree preferred.
• CFA, CPA, and/or CAIA not required but viewed favorably.
• FINRA Series 7 and 66 (or Series 63/65) licenses required or the willingness to obtain within 90 days of hire