Analyst, Operational Due Diligence

THE ROLE:
This an excellent opportunity to join a highly motivated team, responsible for assessing the operational capabilities and infrastructure of UPP’s investment partners.  

Reporting to the Director/Manager, Operational Due Diligence, the Analyst, Operational Due Diligence will work closely with both Public and Private Markets Investment teams, Responsible Investing (RI), Compliance and other business partners to perform initial and on-going non-investment operational risk assessments of external managers.  The Analyst will contribute to the team by participating in operational due diligence reviews, preparing assessments for review by the Director/Manager ODD, and sharing findings and recommendations with internal stakeholders.      

This dynamic role will provide opportunities to engage with senior leaders on operational risk and controls discussions, investment strategies, compliance program, quality of personnel and provide exposure and insight into a variety of asset classes, fund strategies and operating models. This is an exceptional opportunity to join a team of high performing professionals and make an impact!

This role is based in downtown Toronto under a hybrid work policy, allowing employees the flexibility to work remotely and in-office (approximately two days per week in-office).

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Schedule ongoing operational due diligence (ODD) review meetings of existing fund managers including hedge, public market and private fund managers.
• Liaise with fund managers with respect to ODD inquiries.
• Engage with operational due diligence consultants for new investment reviews and analyze manager assessment reports provided.
• Request, collect and review key offering documents, policies, DDQs, audited financial information and investment manager policies.
• Attend onsite and virtual operational due diligence review meetings with investment managers and document meetings in a clear and concise manner.
• Assist the ODD Director/Manager in identifying and assessing observed deficiencies / areas of concern
• Stay current on industry standards and help to facilitate knowledge transfer within the ODD group and the organization.
• Monitor online media articles for positive and adverse news and disseminating to internal stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain effective and collegial working relationships with internal stakeholders and external fund managers
• Be willing and able to undertake travel, for onsite ODD visits subject to current COVID-restrictions.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

• Candidates should have at least 1 year experience working in the financial industry  
• A working knowledge of financial instruments and alternative investment strategies such as hedge funds, private equity and credit, real estate, and infrastructure, as well as more traditional equity and fixed income strategies
• Familiarity with some of the following is considered an asset - fund operations, fund administration, prime brokerage, audit, legal, compliance and IT.
• An undergraduate or advanced degree in business, finance, accounting, economics or a related field
• Candidates working towards CPA, CFA or CAIA designation not required, but an asset

ATTRIBUTES:

• Excellent communication and relationship building skills
• Strong attention to detail, highly organized and ability to prioritize workload
• Demonstrates initiative and is comfortable managing deadlines
• Ability to work independently or collaboratively within a team, as required
• Willingness to adapt to change and to remain resilient
• Excellent business / report writing and presentation skills
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, Teams)

PERSONALITY TRAITS:

• Self-driven
• Humility
• Transparency
• Integrity
• Strong work ethic
• Empathetic
• Collaborative
• Authentic
• Personable

LIFE AT UPP

Do work that matters.We are duty-bound to serve our members’ interests, and it’s a responsibility we don’t take lightly. That’s why we’ve ingrained sustainability in our work from day one—to ensure our members have a resilient future to retire into, both today and for generations to come.

Stronger together. Collaboration is how UPP was born, and it’s how we work with each other and our partners day in, day out. No one at UPP is just a number (even if they are excellent at math) and every win is a shared win.

Grow every day. You’ll have the opportunity to work on unique, once-in-a-career projects that maximize your skill set and probably teach you some new ones—at any stage in your career.

Prioritize wellness. At UPP, wellness takes many forms. Ultimately, it’s about ensuring our people are cared for in the ways that matter to them. Check out some highlights of our inclusive employee-focused benefits program including:

• Defined benefit pension plan
• Flexible hybrid work model
• Work from abroad up to eight weeks/year
• Comprehensive group benefits including medical, dental, vision etc.
• Extended paramedical and mental health service coverage
• Health care and lifestyle spending accounts
• Fertility treatments, paid parental leave, and gender affirmation coverage
• Education Assistance program

UPP enthusiastically welcomes applications from all qualified applicants and especially invites people with lived experience as an Indigenous person, a person with a disability or as a member of another Human Rights Code protected group that faces barriers to employment to apply. Our goal is to create a barrier-free experience for every candidate throughout the recruitment process, so if you require accommodation at any point during the process, please let us know so that we can make the appropriate arrangements.  It would be our honor to work with you to adapt our processes to ensure that you can meaningfully participate.