Manager, Operational Due Diligence
Apply NowCompany: University Pension Plan
Location: Toronto, ON M4E 3Y1
Description:
OUR COMPANY BACKGROUND & CULTURE
UPP is the first pension plan of its kind in Ontario's university sector, proudly serving over 41,000 members across five universities and fourteen sector organizations. Our purpose is to bring greater retirement peace of mind to the university sector by investing with integrity and serving members with care. As a sector-wide plan designed for growth, our doors are open to all Ontario universities.
Together, we're a team of progressive thinkers and agile doers operating within a fast-paced culture of collaboration and respect. We believe in bringing smart and capable people together to create, solve, and grow with a clear shared vision and values of integrity, inclusivity, ingenuity, and impact. Our culture is intentionally welcoming and purposefully rooted in equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation (EDI&R). We believe diverse teams, perspectives, and lived experiences contribute to better decisions and a better workplace.
As a pension plan, UPP approaches investing through a long-term lens to generate and safeguard value. Our commitment to investing responsibly accounts for material risks that impact our investment portfolio to generate sufficient risk-adjusted returns to meet the pension needs of our members.
Join us in building a bright future for our members, our organization, and each other.
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, Operational Due Diligence (ODD), the Manager, ODD will work closely with Active Public Markets and Private Markets Investment teams, Trading Liquidity & Exposure Management (TLEM), Responsible Investing (RI), Compliance and other business partners to perform initial and on-going non-investment operational risk assessments of external managers. The Manager will contribute to the team by assessing operational risk of external managers and communicate findings and recommendations to internal teams and investment management committees.
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 in a hybrid work environment, allowing employees the flexibility to work remotely and in-office (minimum two days per week in-office).
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
The Manager, ODD will have responsibility for but not limited to the following:
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
ATTRIBUTES
LIFE AT UPP
Do work that mattersWe 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 togetherCollaboration 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 dayYou'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 wellnessAt 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:
UPP respects your privacy. For information on how UPP handles the personal information you provide during the application process, please see our Job Applicant Privacy Statement.
Other details
Apply Now
UPP is the first pension plan of its kind in Ontario's university sector, proudly serving over 41,000 members across five universities and fourteen sector organizations. Our purpose is to bring greater retirement peace of mind to the university sector by investing with integrity and serving members with care. As a sector-wide plan designed for growth, our doors are open to all Ontario universities.
Together, we're a team of progressive thinkers and agile doers operating within a fast-paced culture of collaboration and respect. We believe in bringing smart and capable people together to create, solve, and grow with a clear shared vision and values of integrity, inclusivity, ingenuity, and impact. Our culture is intentionally welcoming and purposefully rooted in equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation (EDI&R). We believe diverse teams, perspectives, and lived experiences contribute to better decisions and a better workplace.
As a pension plan, UPP approaches investing through a long-term lens to generate and safeguard value. Our commitment to investing responsibly accounts for material risks that impact our investment portfolio to generate sufficient risk-adjusted returns to meet the pension needs of our members.
Join us in building a bright future for our members, our organization, and each other.
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, Operational Due Diligence (ODD), the Manager, ODD will work closely with Active Public Markets and Private Markets Investment teams, Trading Liquidity & Exposure Management (TLEM), Responsible Investing (RI), Compliance and other business partners to perform initial and on-going non-investment operational risk assessments of external managers. The Manager will contribute to the team by assessing operational risk of external managers and communicate findings and recommendations to internal teams and investment management committees.
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 in a hybrid work environment, allowing employees the flexibility to work remotely and in-office (minimum two days per week in-office).
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
The Manager, ODD will have responsibility for but not limited to the following:
- Participate in scheduled and ad-hoc operational due diligence reviews of external fund managers for existing and potential investments including hedge, public market and private fund managers.
- Perform analysis of key offering documents, policies, DDQs, audited financial information and investment manager policies.
- Engage with operational due diligence consultants and analyze manager assessment reports provided by them.
- Identify and assess observed deficiencies / areas of concern, presenting findings together with appropriate recommendations and communicate
- Identify, assess and communicate observed deficiencies / areas of concern, presenting findings together with appropriate recommendations, to the relevant investment committee(s) through written and verbal presentations on a periodic basis.
- Document meetings with external managers and their providers in a clear and concise manner, identifying points for escalation and follow-up
- Drive initiatives for improvement of ODD processes and controls working with key partners to build and sustain best-in-class investments
- Stay current on industry standards and help to facilitate knowledge transfer within the ODD group and the organization.
- Assist with ad-hoc projects and initiatives including coordinating communications to a high volume of external managers
- 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
- Minimum of 5 years' experience working in an operational due diligence or related capacity with alternative investments, preferably private markets.
- A comprehensive understanding of the full cycle of the operational due diligence review processes for newly proposed funds and ongoing fund reviews
- An undergraduate or advanced degree in business, finance, accounting, management, economics, or a related field
- Candidates with CFA, CAIA, CPA and / or similar certifications preferred.
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
- Team management, ability to manage capacity and workload and provide mentorship and support
- Ability to work independently or collaboratively within a team, as required
- Ability to build and leverage professional relationships with investment managers, counterparties, vendors and internal/external partners
- Willingness to adapt to change and to remain resilient
- Excellent business / report writing and presentation skills
- Good interpersonal and communication skills.
LIFE AT UPP
Do work that mattersWe 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 togetherCollaboration 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 dayYou'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 wellnessAt 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 respects your privacy. For information on how UPP handles the personal information you provide during the application process, please see our Job Applicant Privacy Statement.
Other details
- Pay Type Salary
Apply Now