Asset Allocation Strategist

Purpose of the Job

Quintet Private Bank is a leading private bank in the wealth management sector; we are committed to our clients and their families, and pride ourselves on our personalised service based on a deep understanding of what clients want to achieve. We are a bank headquartered in Luxembourg , with branches in Germany, Netherlands and Belgium and a subsidiary in the UK and supervised by the ECB with an ambition to stay true to our purpose to be the most trusted fiduciary of family wealth.

When you join Quintet you are joining a company that values diversity of background, equal access to opportunities, career development, collaboration and inclusiveness. We want our employees to feel proud of being part of a company that is committed to do the right thing. You will have the opportunity to grow your career while developing personally and professionally through various resources and programmes. 

The Asset Allocation Strategist is a fully integrated member of the Group Portfolio Management team which spans Asset Allocation (AA) and Portfolio Construction (PC) disciplines. As a member of the AA team, the strategist will primarily be responsible for and have demonstrable experience and technical knowledge spanning Strategic Asset Allocation optimisation techniques and in the development and implementation of Tactical Global X-Asset investment views and trade formation within a robust investment process, their respective commercial applications, (active SAA / TAA advice, new product design etc.), and delivery / effective communication through a multi-location Private Wealth business.   

End-to-end Portfolio Construction and front-facing experience will be a distinct advantage to facilitate x-functional working across the broader PM team and in the commercialisation and positioning of a new SAA advice service / capability to our Client Advisors through our local Investment Specialist teams. 

Depending on seniority and experience, expectations are to fully contribute along all facets of the Asset Allocation value chain including but not limited to the team’s effective management and oversight of the Quintet Group Strategic and Tactical Asset Allocation investment processes as required, both internally (vis. required CIO research inputs and participation) and externally (vis. Strategic Partner advice cycle management and validation).  The strategist will also be expected to assist in the design, delivery and implementation of a new group-wide UHNW Tailored Bespoke SAA service, and to be the ambassador and focus point for that service delivery in the home location and more broadly across the group as may be required from time to time.  Finally, the strategist would also naturally get involved with broader aspects of portfolio construction, modelling, maintenance and delivery of our Core and Personal model portfolios across the group in collaboration with the ICS Portfolio Construction, Investment Risk team and respective regional specialists. 

This position is open to candidates from all Quintet locations. While our primary hiring location is Luxembourg.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead, participate and coordinate / oversee, as required, the strategic and tactical asset allocation processes and required deliverables within the Asset Allocation team: 
• To manage and ensure smooth running and required organisation across all facets of the Strategic and Tactical Asset Allocation review / advice process cycles in close collaboration with our strategic partner and internal investment research / portfolio construction teams 
• To develop / deliver and assess, (wheresoever arising), implementable tactical global x-asset views, backed by suitable analysis and internal / external communication content as may be required, into the Quintet Group Investment Process.  Continually develop the x-asset framework / models used to assess and deliver those views effectively and efficiently, aiming for superior risk-adjusted returns over a 6-12month time horizon  
• Maintain / Monitor Quintet’s tactical asset allocation vectors, respective risk budgets and positioning vs strategic partner advice for the investment team in close collaboration with broader investment team functions such as portfolio construction and investment risk. 
• Lead / actively participate in regular asset allocation discussions and investment committee / internal research and related investment process meetings as required 
• Provide constructive input / challenge on risk and return modelling and all aspects of SAA design and delivery  in collaboration with our strategic partner and internally for  Quintet new product development etc. 
• Assist in the design, delivery and implementation of a new UHNW Tailored Bespoke SAA service group-wide, and to be ambassador and focus point for that service delivery in the home location and more broadly across the group as may be required from time to time (including interaction with CAs and clients where relevant)  
• Collaborate with asset allocation, macro, bottom-up and portfolio construction and investment risk experts across the Group to deliver investment views and actively participate in the delivery of strategic projects as required from time to time 
• Communicate the House View effectively with provision of specialist content to the Quintet IC, client advisors and other stakeholders as required and act as ambassador of the Quintet House View across the business and in the home location as it pertains to SAA / TAA and associated investment strategy 
• Portfolio modelling across Core / Personal strategies and assisting Portfolio Construction team to establish and implement required processes to deliver the strategic ambition towards centralised portfolio management  

Knowledge and Experience

• Degree in Finance or quantitative discipline 
• A minimum of 7 to 10 years experience in a Wealth Management/Asset Allocation/Portfolio Management role 
• Strong knowledge and experience of global x-asset risk/return drivers across equities, bonds, currencies and commodities 
• Experience in portfolio construction, asset return and risk forecasting, tactical asset allocation, SAA optimization 

Attributes and Qualities

• Attention to detail and strong analytical skills balanced with appreciation of commercial needs of a multi-jurisdictional Private Wealth business. 
• Strong communication skills - ability to communicate, present and successfully pitch complex topics to a “Private Wealth audience” – External (Clients) and Internal (Senior Management, Investment Team & Client Advisor (Front) Stakeholders) 
• Strong Team player with a “can-do” attitude and client-focused, commercial mindset 

Technical Skills

• Python would be highly desirable 
• R, VBA would be an advantage 

Languages Skills

• Fluent in English 
• Proficiency in French, German or Dutch an advantage