Data Analyst
Ariel Investments is a premier, boutique, asset management firm. Our primary goal is to drive exceptional investment returns by bringing diverse perspectives together. The only way to beat a benchmark is to not look like one. As value investors, our thinking is deliberate and unconventional. We offer an independent, patient investing approach and aim to deliver excellence in any environment. We uphold our fiduciary responsibility to every shareholder, no matter how big or small.
At Ariel, we strongly believe that teamwork yields results—which is why we have Co-CEOs. John Rogers and Mellody Hobson share a desire to cultivate leaders who are curious, focused and disciplined. We are nimble and efficient. Our drive is fanatical and intentional. Everyone plays their position, and each contribution is critical to our firm’s success. We seek subject matter experts who are unapologetically themselves. We encourage our employees to reach their full potential and we give them the runway to do so.
After four decades of active investing, we remain committed to our clients, our teammates and our community. We strive to be best-in-class investors and pioneer a path for those who entrust us with their financial future.
Position Summary
The Data Analyst prepares comprehensive data analytics on the firm’s existing portfolios. This individual is responsible for modeling and analyzing performance trends, factor exposures, portfolio characteristics and fundamentals. The Analyst also creates detailed holdings-based, returns-based and transaction-based analysis to assist the business: Portfolio Managers, Client Service and Sales, as well as to support the external marketing efforts in areas such as databases and our web presence. Through the use of critical thinking, problem solving, technical skills, and strong fundamental and factor-based skills, the Data Analyst seeks to continuously build upon and improve existing processes, reporting, data frames, and models. The Data Analyst works to articulate a story, find key insights, and summarize our products through data integration from upstream departments and transforming the data set into actionable deliverables to downstream stakeholders.
Responsibilities
- Calculate, analyze and report portfolio, security and benchmark performance, risk and exposures.
- Prepare performance and risk attribution analysis for client/prospect meetings: Serve as a subject matter expert in portfolio attribution (specifically Brinson-Fachler model) and ensure the timely delivery of reports for internal and external use.
- Maintain account attributes (benchmark, inception date, etc.), security classifications, as well as reports within FactSet’s Portfolio Analysis (holdings-based) and SPAR (returns-based) systems.
- Measure, monitor and track portfolio characteristics on behalf of the firm. Responsible for preparing characteristics reporting and insights to the Data Committee on a monthly basis, as well as leading efforts in alternative characteristics and methodologies to present to the team.
- Develops and provides risk model reporting utilizing Axioma and Barra. Responsible for producing factor attribution, stress testing and additional ex-ante measures for both internal and external stakeholders.
- Supports performance management and trading teams by providing detailed dispersion analysis for account specific performance relative to the Rep/Model account and the Composite.
- Responsible for providing data for any RFP/RFI/DDQ request across the firm. This includes but is not limited to holdings-based, returns based and transaction based analytics, AUM, flows, peer analysis, etc.
- Responsible for maintaining Ariel’s Mutual Fund Shareholder information within Broadridge SalesVision and querying data to be visualized in Power BI for client service/sales consumption. Create and maintain tailored reports to surface the most important information, as well as provide insights on notable AUM drivers to assist with mutual fund board reporting.
- Responsible for developing and maintaining the data flow for quantitative elements in third-party and consultant databases via Omni, as well as assist in troubleshooting when validation issues occur.
- Maintain relationships with data vendors and platform providers: Broadridge, FactSet, MSCI, Russell, eVestment, Assette, Morningstar
- Partners with cross functional groups to enhance existing workflows and implement new processes
- Respond to ad hoc requests from Portfolio Managers, Research, Sales, Client Service, Marketing, Communications, Operations, Trading and other key stakeholders.
- Responsible for ensuring data architecture (attribution, characteristics, statistics, etc.) in our client reporting vendor Assette is correct and pulling through Pitchbooks, Client Statements, Fact Sheets and Client Briefs correctly.
- Understands how to navigate Eagle to query portfolio accounting data from the system for internal and external requests.
- Comfortable leveraging Power BI to combine data sources, transform, pivot and visualize data in interactive reports and PDF/PPT outputs.
Qualifications
- Minimum 2+ years of relevant portfolio analytics experience
- Minimum 3+ years of experience in the investment management industry
Education (preferred, not required)
- Bachelors Degree in related field : Finance, Accounting, Computer Science, Mathematics
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
- Series 7, SIE and Series 63
- CFA designation a plus
Computer Skills Needed to Perform this Job
- Excellent data management skills, with particular emphasis on FactSet, Bloomberg, Power BI, VBA, Microsoft Excel, SQL, and Python
Compliance:
Ariel employees, including the incumbent(s) in this position, are required to: (1) read and strictly adhere to all compliance policies and procedures of the various Ariel entities, as applicable; and (2) work together with their colleagues, including the CCO, to resolve compliance issues.
Equal Opportunity Employer / Diversity:
Ariel celebrates diversity and practices inclusion as a way to get work done – it’s in our DNA. As an equal opportunity employer, employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, marital status, parental status (including pregnancy), disability, perceived disability, veteran status, status of military discharge, or any other basis under federal, state, or local law. Ariel prohibits discrimination against an applicant or employee because of their actual or perceived protected characteristic(s), and is committed to recruiting, retaining, and developing a diverse group of talented applicants, and to providing employees with a workplace free from discrimination and/or harassment.
Equal employment opportunity takes place in all employment practices, including recruiting, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, and termination. The firm seeks to uphold an inclusive culture where diversity is recognized and valued. As such, Ariel provides employees a robust benefits package that includes:
- Coverage for same-sex partner (domestic or spouse)
- Coverage for children (natural born, step, adopted or foster)
- Fully paid medical insurance that covers fertility treatments, gender affirmation
- Employer contributions to a Health Savings Account
- Maternity leave at 100% pay (12 weeks)
- Paid Parental Leave (up to 12 weeks depending on tenure)
Lastly, all employees have access to Ariel-sponsored educational, training, and recreational activities.