Investment Analyst

The World Bank is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries working in more than 100 developing economies with the twin goals of ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. For each client, the World Bank uses financial resources and extensive experience to help our client countries to reduce poverty, increase economic growth, and improve quality of life.  The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development is the original member of the World Bank Group and is owned by 189 member countries whose views and interests are represented by a Board of Governors and a Washington, DC-based Board of Directors.  There are five World Bank Group institutions, each of which specializes in different aspects of development: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

The Pension and Endowments Department (PEN) is responsible for the financial management and administration of the World Bank Group’s funded benefit plans, including the retirement scheme – the Staff Retirement Plan, the retiree medical and life insurance programs – the Retired Staff Benefits Plan, and other ancillary benefits.  Financial management includes asset management responsibilities and actuarial support.  PEN manages approximately US$37 billion invested across a range of asset classes, including fixed income, public equities, private equity, real assets, private credit, and absolute return strategies.  The Pension Finance Committee, appointed by the Bank Group President and chaired by the Chief Financial Officer, has oversight responsibility for the financial management of the plans.  PEN’s responsibilities also include the delivery of technical assistance on multi-asset class investment management to pension plans, endowments, and funds for the future, and the management of the Pension Administration function. PEN identifies, selects, evaluates, and monitors investments, mainly through outside managers, on a global basis.

Investment Analysts in PEN are assigned to a particular team upon entry and may be reassigned to other investment teams at the discretion of the Director of PEN in response to business priorities. This position is intended at this stage for the Emerging Markets Equity and Fixed Income (EM-FI) team.

The Investment Analyst’s responsibilities, as a member of the EM-FI teams, will include, among others, portfolio construction, manager selection, and assessing tactical allocations within developing equity markets as well as monitoring the portfolio of existing managers.  The roles and responsibilities are outlined below.

Roles & Responsibilities

The Investment Analyst’s specific duties will be, but are not limited to, the following:

• Conduct market research on EM equity;
• Assist and perform quantitative and qualitative analysis on managers in EM equity;
• Assist in monitoring and improving the existing EM portfolios performance, and analyzing risk and performance attributions;
• Assist in enhancing tools for the quantitative analysis of manager selection and manager monitoring, including risk management;
• Assist in the development and testing of financial models (e.g., models for extreme scenarios and methods for hedging);
• Develop, enhance, and manage existing manager databases in the various spaces, and
• Assist in projects as needed within PEN.

Selection Criteria

• Advanced degree (Master’s degree preferred) preferably in finance, mathematics or engineering and two years relevant work experience in finance and investments, focusing on EM equity, or appropriate combination of education and relevant experience.
• Experience in EM equity long-only or long-short strategies preferred.
• Solid econometric, statistical, and mathematical skills with a focus on finance or financial economics.
• Proven quantitative and qualitative analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Excel and Excel macros, Word and PowerPoint required. Familiarity with other quantitative analytical packages such as Python, R, and Matlab, is desirable.
• Creative thinker, and quick learner, with initiative, drive, and attention to details.
• Proven capacity to multi-task, deliver results and respond quickly and effectively to requests. Ability to work under pressure.
• Excellent communication — both verbal and written — skills are required. Experience giving presentations and trainings is desirable.
• Good team player with strong interpersonal skills, and commitment to work in a team-oriented, multi-cultural environment.
• Highest ethical standards.

Source: https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?id=27290&site=1