MassMutual
Relationship Management Lead for Affiliated Investment Managers
MassMutual, Boston, Massachusetts, us, 02298
Overview
MassMutual Investment Management (IM) is seeking a seasoned investment operations and relationship management professional to develop a new, customized oversight program and to lead the engagement model for MassMutual with affiliated investment managers. The framework will draw from the existing Manager Oversight framework for the third-party external asset managers that MassMutual places capital with for the General Investment Account (GIA).
This role reports to the Head of Manager Oversight and will lead cross-functional efforts between internal stakeholders and affiliated asset management units to strengthen governance and deepen the integration of operating models, while ensuring operational risks are transparent, documented, assigned to accountable owners, monitored and mitigated.
Impact/Key Responsibilities
Lead strategic alignment of frameworks and engagement models for affiliated asset managers by developing annual and long-term commitments and goals for their programs.
Translate MassMutual and IM strategic goals into actionable updates to the program and develop initiatives that support evolution of MM’s integrated operating models and governance to manage risk while enabling scalable growth in the private and alternative investments spaces.
Represent and lead MassMutual teams through negotiations with affiliated and external asset managers on investment, governance, operational, risk, compliance and reporting requirements.
Lead and manage two full-time employees initially and foster development of the team’s skills and capabilities to execute on strategy while focusing long-term on identifying unique or holistic opportunities to improve efficiency, create value or better-manage risk.
Curate agendas and lead engagements with a focus on eliminating ambiguity as to ownership, accountability and next steps; ensure cross-functional efforts see measurable progress towards desired outcomes and that teams reach critical milestones.
Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external manager investment teams and supporting function leaders; provide updates and report-back to Senior and Executive leadership groups.
Understand the GIA’s asset allocation processes, ALM drivers, multi-asset class exposures, affiliated account structures and the key stakeholders and functions that support it.
Leverage commonalities across asset classes in working to standardize integration points while ensuring flexibility required to address unique concepts and risks in different markets, complex instruments or investment structures.
Identify and prioritize operational risks, process improvements, and data enhancements.
Influence collaboration across investment, risk, finance, and technology teams.
Maintain a master inventory of relationship opportunities and track progress.
Develop and manage cross-functional SLAs and performance metrics that effectively measure the health of the overall relationship in management reporting.
The Team The Manager Oversight team is part of IM’s Strategy and Governance organization and oversees IM’s asset manager relationships and functions that include manager operational due diligence, investment mandate onboarding, lifecycle management and investment performance. Adjacent teams report to the head of IM Strategy and Governance and support IM’s business strategy and planning, vendor oversight, investment compliance and investment reporting for MassMutual’s Board and Investment Committee.
The Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree (STEM, Economics or Accounting focus preferred).
10+ years of related business experience in financial services, banking or the insurance industry in roles responsible for:
investment accounting/administration
financial reporting/audit
client service/relationship management
investment operational risk management/due diligence
or similar and related functions
3+ years working for an institutional asset manager or in an asset owner’s investment office
Prior management experience
Demonstrated ability to understand how tasks and milestones connect across related department objectives
Experience developing materials and presenting updates on efforts to senior leadership and stakeholders
Outstanding verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
Understanding of the financial markets, capital formation and asset manager-client relationships
Experience reviewing and interpreting investment agreements, servicing contracts and fee schedules
High degree of integrity and ability to maintain confidentiality
Ability to work independently and drive teams to milestones while navigating ambiguity
Growth-minded and adaptable to evolving environment
Ability to identify opportunities for process improvement and operational efficiency
Proven ability to establish and maintain strong relationships with peers and key partners
Comfortable working cross-functionally in a complex, fast-paced environment
High emotional intelligence
The Ideal Qualifications
STEM, Finance, Economics; Masters or related/higher degree
Investment-finance industry certification (CFA, CAIA, FRM, CIPM, CIMA, CPA, or similar)
Investment management administration or middle office experience (for a hedge fund or private asset manager, a plus)
Skilled negotiator
Experience working for/with an insurance co or ALM-LDI investment program(s)
Proficient in designing controls and documenting risks for an investment organization
Experience leading teams responsible for planning, execution and delivery of large strategic initiatives or investment transformation projects
Experience owning key-controls within one or more investment functions and managing internal and external audit engagements
Knowledge of investment ops risk frameworks and financial controls audit/assurance standards (best-practices)
The ideal candidate will have technical and soft skills developed from experience leading new investment and business development activities, investment products and platforms, middle office and/or an administration, accounting or finance function for a large asset manager or investment organization. The candidate must understand how asset management firms and institutional investors (capital allocators) operate and integrate, how they are governed, how risks and controls are managed and how technology/data is integrated, ingested, utilized and supplemented by manual procedures and controls, for data integrity and accuracy in investment decision-making and financial reporting for a regulated entity. Intellectual curiosity and high aptitude for learning about new and complex instruments (particularly in the private credit and lending spaces), investment structures and servicing arrangements is a must; MassMutual GIA multi-asset exposure includes many different public, private and alternative asset classes.
What to expect as part of MassMutual and the team
Regular meetings with Manager Oversight and Strategy and Planning teams and senior staff
Focused one-on-one meetings with your manager
Access to learning content on Degreed and other informational platforms
Your ethics and integrity will be valued by a company with a strong and stable ethical business with industry-leading pay and benefits
MassMutual is an equal employment opportunity employer. We welcome all persons to apply.
If you need an accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us and share the specifics of the assistance you need.
Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Finance and Sales
#J-18808-Ljbffr
This role reports to the Head of Manager Oversight and will lead cross-functional efforts between internal stakeholders and affiliated asset management units to strengthen governance and deepen the integration of operating models, while ensuring operational risks are transparent, documented, assigned to accountable owners, monitored and mitigated.
Impact/Key Responsibilities
Lead strategic alignment of frameworks and engagement models for affiliated asset managers by developing annual and long-term commitments and goals for their programs.
Translate MassMutual and IM strategic goals into actionable updates to the program and develop initiatives that support evolution of MM’s integrated operating models and governance to manage risk while enabling scalable growth in the private and alternative investments spaces.
Represent and lead MassMutual teams through negotiations with affiliated and external asset managers on investment, governance, operational, risk, compliance and reporting requirements.
Lead and manage two full-time employees initially and foster development of the team’s skills and capabilities to execute on strategy while focusing long-term on identifying unique or holistic opportunities to improve efficiency, create value or better-manage risk.
Curate agendas and lead engagements with a focus on eliminating ambiguity as to ownership, accountability and next steps; ensure cross-functional efforts see measurable progress towards desired outcomes and that teams reach critical milestones.
Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external manager investment teams and supporting function leaders; provide updates and report-back to Senior and Executive leadership groups.
Understand the GIA’s asset allocation processes, ALM drivers, multi-asset class exposures, affiliated account structures and the key stakeholders and functions that support it.
Leverage commonalities across asset classes in working to standardize integration points while ensuring flexibility required to address unique concepts and risks in different markets, complex instruments or investment structures.
Identify and prioritize operational risks, process improvements, and data enhancements.
Influence collaboration across investment, risk, finance, and technology teams.
Maintain a master inventory of relationship opportunities and track progress.
Develop and manage cross-functional SLAs and performance metrics that effectively measure the health of the overall relationship in management reporting.
The Team The Manager Oversight team is part of IM’s Strategy and Governance organization and oversees IM’s asset manager relationships and functions that include manager operational due diligence, investment mandate onboarding, lifecycle management and investment performance. Adjacent teams report to the head of IM Strategy and Governance and support IM’s business strategy and planning, vendor oversight, investment compliance and investment reporting for MassMutual’s Board and Investment Committee.
The Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree (STEM, Economics or Accounting focus preferred).
10+ years of related business experience in financial services, banking or the insurance industry in roles responsible for:
investment accounting/administration
financial reporting/audit
client service/relationship management
investment operational risk management/due diligence
or similar and related functions
3+ years working for an institutional asset manager or in an asset owner’s investment office
Prior management experience
Demonstrated ability to understand how tasks and milestones connect across related department objectives
Experience developing materials and presenting updates on efforts to senior leadership and stakeholders
Outstanding verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
Understanding of the financial markets, capital formation and asset manager-client relationships
Experience reviewing and interpreting investment agreements, servicing contracts and fee schedules
High degree of integrity and ability to maintain confidentiality
Ability to work independently and drive teams to milestones while navigating ambiguity
Growth-minded and adaptable to evolving environment
Ability to identify opportunities for process improvement and operational efficiency
Proven ability to establish and maintain strong relationships with peers and key partners
Comfortable working cross-functionally in a complex, fast-paced environment
High emotional intelligence
The Ideal Qualifications
STEM, Finance, Economics; Masters or related/higher degree
Investment-finance industry certification (CFA, CAIA, FRM, CIPM, CIMA, CPA, or similar)
Investment management administration or middle office experience (for a hedge fund or private asset manager, a plus)
Skilled negotiator
Experience working for/with an insurance co or ALM-LDI investment program(s)
Proficient in designing controls and documenting risks for an investment organization
Experience leading teams responsible for planning, execution and delivery of large strategic initiatives or investment transformation projects
Experience owning key-controls within one or more investment functions and managing internal and external audit engagements
Knowledge of investment ops risk frameworks and financial controls audit/assurance standards (best-practices)
The ideal candidate will have technical and soft skills developed from experience leading new investment and business development activities, investment products and platforms, middle office and/or an administration, accounting or finance function for a large asset manager or investment organization. The candidate must understand how asset management firms and institutional investors (capital allocators) operate and integrate, how they are governed, how risks and controls are managed and how technology/data is integrated, ingested, utilized and supplemented by manual procedures and controls, for data integrity and accuracy in investment decision-making and financial reporting for a regulated entity. Intellectual curiosity and high aptitude for learning about new and complex instruments (particularly in the private credit and lending spaces), investment structures and servicing arrangements is a must; MassMutual GIA multi-asset exposure includes many different public, private and alternative asset classes.
What to expect as part of MassMutual and the team
Regular meetings with Manager Oversight and Strategy and Planning teams and senior staff
Focused one-on-one meetings with your manager
Access to learning content on Degreed and other informational platforms
Your ethics and integrity will be valued by a company with a strong and stable ethical business with industry-leading pay and benefits
MassMutual is an equal employment opportunity employer. We welcome all persons to apply.
If you need an accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us and share the specifics of the assistance you need.
Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Finance and Sales
#J-18808-Ljbffr