Stanford Management Company, located on campus at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, invests Stanford University’s endowment funds. The endowment provides critical financial support to current and future generations of students and scholars, supplying over one fifth of the University’s operating budget each year. We aim to preserve the endowment’s purchasing power in perpetuity by achieving high investment returns while taking an appropriate amount of risk. This very long-term view underpins our asset allocation and manager selection across public and private equity, hedge funds, real estate, natural resources, and fixed income.
Who Will You Work With?
We are seeking analysts to join our 23-person investment team. We sit together in an open office, where you will collaborate with senior investment team members and contribute actively to team deliberations. You will also work closely with leading investment managers from around the world. We believe investing is an apprenticeship, and you will receive training and mentorship from the entire team.
What Will You Do?
You will research new investment managers, present in weekly investment team meetings, write investment recommendations, and lead special projects. We will teach you the fundamentals of asset allocation, including mean-variance optimization, and the process of selecting investment managers and underwriting investments. You will learn about a broad variety of investment strategies and asset classes. You will gain financial modeling skills, improve your written communication, and learn due diligence techniques. You will travel occasionally, typically to major financial centers.
We operate as a meritocracy, and we view the analyst position as the beginning of a challenging and rewarding career in investing. If you are successful, we hope you will work at Stanford for many years.
CORE DUTIES*:
- Support assigned team in a variety of analytic and investment management activities.
- Conduct research, analyses and assist with due diligence in support of the selection and evaluation of potential investments (portfolio fit, sponsor’s track record, assessment of team, deal/fund structure, excel modelling).
- Perform asset class/industry research relating to investment trends and global market environments.
- Run portfolio level analysis in support of asset allocation, portfolio construction and future investment commitments.
- Conduct valuation updates and monitor performance for the existing portfolio(s).
- Perform research and analysis of benchmarking and comparative statistics.
- Complete ad hoc projects related to overall endowment management.
- Assist in the preparation of standard Investment Committee reports, memos and presentations.
- – Other duties may also be assigned
Education & Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, or equivalent field and one year finance, investment banking, and/or investment management experience or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Fundamental understanding of investment principles and financial metrics.
- Strong technical/quantitative skills with demonstrated ability to execute complex financial analysis.
- Ability to communicate effectively with senior management and investment professionals.
- Proficiency in MS Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, and on a collaborative basis as part of a team.
- Accuracy, attention to detail, ability to multi-task, and organizational skills.
- Team orientation and strong interest in supporting the work of a university endowment.
Certifications and Licenses:
None
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS*:
- Constantly perform desk-based computer tasks, frequent stand/walk, and use a telephone.
- Occasionally write by hand, occasionally lift/carry/push/pull objects that up to 10 pounds, grasp lightly/fine manipulations.
- Rarely kneel/crawl, operate foot and/or hand controls.
- – Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- May travel out of town.
- May work evenings and weekends.
WORK STANDARDS:
- Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
- Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
- Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University’s Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu.
If interested, please apply here.
