Investment fund management assistant

Investment fund management assistants provide clients with financial planning advice on financial products and serve as the main contact point for new and old clients. They assist and perform preparatory work in the creation and administration of funds and help with the implementation of fund management decisions made by the portfolio or fund manager.

Includes people working with fund managers to assist them in various tasks including monitoring the financial markets.

The following job titles also refer to investment fund management assistant:

investment fund office clerks
investment fund clerks
investment fund specialist
investment fund assistants
investment fund manager
investment fund specialists
investment fund clerk
investment fund assistant
investment fund office clerk

High school diploma is generally required to work as investment fund management assistant. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Investment fund management assistant is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to investment fund management assistant.

investment analyst
securities analyst
corporate banking manager
corporate investment banker
investment adviser

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of investment fund management assistant. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of investment fund management assistant with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of investment fund management assistant.

Financial products: The different types of instruments that apply to the management of cash flow that are available on the market, such as shares, bonds, options or funds.
Funding methods: The financial possibilities for funding projects such as the traditional ones, namely loans, venture capital, public or private grants up to alternative methods such as crowdfunding.
Banking activities: The broad and continuously growing banking activities and financial products managed by banks ranging from personal banking, corporate banking, investment banking, private banking, up to insurance, foreign exchange trading, commodity trading, trading in equities, futures and options trading.
Securities: The financial instruments traded in financial markets representing both the right of property over the owner and at the same time, the obligation of payment over the issuer. The aim of securities which is raising capital and hedging risk in financial markets.
Economics: Economic principles and practices, financial and commodity markets, banking and the analysis of financial data.
Financial markets: The financial infrastructure which permits trading securities offered by companies and individuals govern by regulatory financial frameworks.

These skills are necessary for the role of investment fund management assistant.

Communicate with customers: Respond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.
Manage securities: Administer the securities owned by the company or organisation, namely debt securities, equity securities and derivatives aiming to get the highest benefit from them.
Analyse market financial trends: Monitor and forecast the tendencies of a financial market to move in a particular direction over time.
Analyse economic trends: Analyse developments in national or international trade, business relations, banking, and developments in public finance and how these factors interact with one another in a given economic context.
Prepare financial statements: Collect, entry, and prepare the set of financial records disclosing the financial position of a company at the end of a certain period or accounting year. The financial statements consisting of five parts which are the statement of financial position, the statement of comprehensive income, the statement of changes in equity (SOCE), the statement of cash flows and notes.
Communicate with banking professionals: Communicate with professionals in the field of banking in order to obtain information on a specific financial case or project for personal or business purposes, or on behalf of a client.
Advise on financial matters: Consult, advise, and propose solutions with regards to financial management such as acquiring new assets, incurring in investments, and tax efficiency methods.
Present reports: Display results, statistics and conclusions to an audience in a transparent and straightforward way.
Create a financial report: Finalise project accounting. Prepare an actual budget, compare the discrepancy between the planned and actual budget, and draw final conclusions.
Assist in fund management: Prepare the implementation of the investment fund manager’s decisions and make suggestions on management-related topics such as the development of financial products or the introduction of new sales channels.
Offer financial services: Provide a broad range of financial services to clients such as assistance with financial products, financial planning, insurances, money and investment management.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of investment fund management assistant. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Financial statements: The set of financial records disclosing the financial position of a company at the end of a set period or of the accounting year. The financial statements consisting of five parts which are the statement of financial position, the statement of comprehensive income, the statement of changes in equity (SOCE), the statement of cash flows and notes.
Financial forecasting: The tool used in performing fiscal financial management to identify revenue trends and estimated financial conditions.
Accounting techniques: The techniques of recording and summarising business and financial transactions and analysing, verifying, and reporting the results.
Stock market: The market in which shares of publicly held companies are issued and traded.
Actuarial science: The rules of applying mathematical and statistical techniques to determine potential or existing risks in various industries, such as finance or insurance.
Accounting: The documentation and processing of data regarding financial activities.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of investment fund management assistant. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Implement marketing strategies: Implement strategies which aim to promote a specific product or service, using the developed marketing strategies.
Calculate tax: Calculate the taxes which have to be paid by an individual or organisation, or paid back by a governmental institution, compliant with specific legislation.
Manage sales channels: Monitor, control and prospect new direct and intermediary ways to bring services and products to the market.
Review investment portfolios: Meet with clients to review or update an investment portfolio and provide financial advice on investments.
Maintain records of financial transactions: Collate all the financial transactions done in the daily operations of a business and record them in their respective accounts.
Examine credit ratings: Investigate and look for information on the creditworthiness of companies and corporations, provided by credit rating agencies in order to determine the likelihood of default by the debtor.
Analyse financial performance of a company: Based on accounts, records, financial statements and external information of the market, analyse the performance of the company in financial matters in order to identify improvement actions that could increase profit.
Manage contracts: Negotiate the terms, conditions, costs and other specifications of a contract while making sure they comply with legal requirements and are legally enforceable. Oversee the execution of the contract, agree on and document any changes.
Monitor stock market: Observe and analyse the stock market and its trends on a daily basis to gather up-to-date information in order to develop investment strategies.
Compare property values: Obtain information on the value of properties comparable to a property which is in need of valuation in order to make more accurate appraisals and assessments, or to set or negotiate the price at which the property can be sold or leased.
Provide financial product information: Give the customer or client information about financial products, the financial market, insurances, loans or other types of financial data.
Analyse financial risk: Identify and analyse risks that could impact an organisation or individual financially, such as credit and market risks, and propose solutions to cover against those risks.
Handle financial transactions: Administer currencies, financial exchange activities, deposits as well as company and voucher payments. Prepare and manage guest accounts and take payments by cash, credit card and debit card.

2412 – Financial and investment advisers

 

 

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References

1. Investment fund management assistant – ESCO