Over the last 20 years, Ares’ success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by our core values – Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy – and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and employee-focused programming, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry.
Job Description
Ares is looking for Senior Associate to join the Los Angeles Investment Operations team.This role reports to Principal of Investment Operations. The candidate is responsible for monitoring wires and cash management activities. While actively enhancing the platform to streamline and strengthen team capabilities. The ideal candidate is an ambitious self-starter capable of working independently to conduct business that is an equal blend of art and science. Good critical thinking skills, attention to detail, and a “solutioning” mindset are a must.
Primary functions and essential responsibilities
Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Support activities for overnight monitoring of inputs to the cash management function (investment pipeline, currency balances, unsettled trading activity, etc.).
Tracking of non-investment related cash movements (contributions/withdrawals, fees, paydowns, etc.).
Ensure all cash transactions were accurately recorded; work with Banks to resolve and clear all cash account exceptions; work with Finance and Accounting Teams to resolve and troubleshoot exceptions.
Monitor inbound/outbound data feeds between Treasury Management System (TMS) and various other systems.
Technical capabilities sufficient to design and incorporate tools which either enhance monitoring capabilities or inform interested parties in Portfolio Management, Fund Accounting, etc. (or both).
Set up account and third-party standard settlement instructions.
Optimize efficiency and create scalability of wire team processes.
Collaborate across internal teams to streamline wire team workflows and standard processes.
Assist w/ Client Onboarding for activities related to bank account setup and cash movements.
Active participant in build-out of TMS (Hazeltree) as Ares seeks to centralize key activities within an evolving platform.
Track and validate outgoing transactions related to borrowings.
Work on system integration to optimize wire flow.
Build strong global banking and vendor relationships.
Qualifications
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Finance or other business related discipline
MBA, CFA and/or CPA preferred but not required
Experience Required:
Minimum of 4-5 years of experience in high quality, global capital markets or investment management firms with expertise in Investment Operations and Settlements related functions
Experience in Investment Operations in any of middle office, back office and/or compliance preferred
Prior experience with an alternative asset manager preferred, broader asset management experience preferred
Strong knowledge of various asset classes, primarily focused in credit/fixed income, derivatives, and FX with an emphasis on bank debt and high yield/alt credit
Experience with Hazeltree, Everest, Coupa, Wall Street Office, Geneva, and/or IVP data management platforms preferred
Understanding of basic accounting theories
Experienced with a diverse set of investment vehicles such as Institutional Separate Accounts, SMA/Limited Partnerships, Open-End Mutual Funds, Closed-End Funds and UCITs, CLOs, and complex fund structures
Hedge fund, Credit or Private Equity experience is a plus
Intermediate-level technical acumen for solutioning complex problems using common enterprise tools (report writers, SQL, Excel, etc.)
General Requirements:
Ability to extract meaningful information from extensive research and analysis to effectively present facts and findings in a digestible format, a keen eye for attention to detail
A self-directed individual with a can-do attitude, willing to work in an energetic, collaborative, and fast-paced environment, proactive in nature, and a proven ability to resolve issues with minimal supervision
Proven outstanding communication (written and verbal), presentation, documentation, and interpersonal skills
A hands-on approach and ability to synthesize business operations and talent needs
Ability to successfully manage multiple priorities and competing demands
High accuracy and detail orientation
Good judgment in terms of escalating issues vs. solving problems independently
A solutions-oriented, self-starter and ability to see the big picture
Comfort in dealing with ambiguity and uncertainty in a dynamic and fast-paced environment
Ability to be flexible in terms of hours in order to coordinate with team members across various time zones
An analytical mind and a passion/interest in bringing new ideas to increase efficiency of existing processes
Dependable, great attitude, highly motivated and a team player
Strong written and verbal communications skills
Familiarity with standard activities carried out by financial intermediaries such as investment banks, broker/dealers, Prime Brokers, etc.
Strong knowledge of financial payment types and processing
Strong knowledge of SWIFT and ACH is a must have
Knowledge of complex fund structures a plus
Strong knowledge of various asset classes, primarily focused in the area of credit/fixed income, derivatives, and FX with an emphasis on bank debt and high yield/alt credit a significant plus
Corporate Finance knowledge a plus
Reporting Relationships
Compensation
The anticipated base salary range for this position is listed below. Total compensation may also include a discretionary performance-based bonus. Note, the range takes into account a broad spectrum of qualifications, including, but not limited to, years of relevant work experience, education, and other relevant qualifications specific to the role.
$125,000 - $145,000
The firm also offers robust Benefits offerings. Ares U.S. Core Benefits include Comprehensive Medical/Rx, Dental and Vision plans; 401(k) program with company match; Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA); Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) with company contribution; Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance; Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance; Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and Commuter Benefits plan for parking and transit.
Ares offers a number of additional benefits including access to a world-class medical advisory team, a mental health app that includes coaching, therapy and psychiatry, a mindfulness and wellbeing app, financial wellness benefit that includes access to a financial advisor, new parent leave, reproductive and adoption assistance, emergency backup care, matching gift program, education sponsorship program, and much more.
There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.
