Solutions Graduate Programme London 2022

We're looking for a methodical individual to join our Solutions division.

As part of the Solutions Graduate Programme, you'll complete either an Actuary Level 7 qualification or CFA (dependent on role) as well as having access to other learning materials and courses. 

We design and deliver innovative investment solutions for our clients. So we're after creative, curious people who are up for a challenge. You'll be happy working with complex problems, but we also need someone who is interested in investment processes and quantitative methods. 

The department

You'll be part of our newly created Schroders Solutions division which has been established by bringing together the Portfolio Solutions team and the River & Mercantile Solutions and Derivative businesses in February 2022. 

Our Solutions teams work on creating new investment solutions using our own investment expertise and/or in partnership with other Investment desks within Schroders.  Our job is to build bespoke portfolios and work with our global clients to understand the investment challenges our clients face.  

Our job is to teach you what we do and how we do it.

So we want a smart, creative and diverse team. Because the more different ideas we have, the more likely we are to succeed. 

The roles

You could join in one of the following teams:

• Consulting 
• Portfolio Implementation 
• Derivatives

The teams

Consulting

The Consulting team is responsible for delivering investment advice to over 100 clients, the vast majority of which are UK defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes. Our role is very broad and involves technical investment modelling, presenting to and educating our clients about many aspects of investment, and ultimately helping to ensure our clients achieve the returns they need.

Some of your day to day tasks could include:

• Modelling pension liability cash flows 
• Dealing with ad-hoc client queries
• Designing a long-term investment strategy to meet a client's investment goals, which will involve risk modelling and analysis
• Preparing written materials for clients, including advice and training
• Reporting to clients on how things are going in their investment strategy

Portfolio Implementation

The team is responsible for building and monitoring multi-asset portfolios, providing exposure to our best ideas whilst meeting client specific objectives. The role is diverse and focuses on the practical approach to implementing our clients’ solutions, managing both risk and return.
Some of your day to day tasks could include:

• Planning, execution and reporting of portfolio transitions for advisory clients 
• Day to day management of portfolios on behalf of our Fiduciary clients and multi asset funds
• Model trades and execute on behalf of our Fiduciary clients and multi asset funds across a range of asset classes and markets. 
• Providing trade and exposure analysis to Portfolio Managers
• On-going risk and exposure monitoring across all portfolios and products
• Investment performance measurement and monitoring across all portfolios and products

Derivatives

The Derivatives team is made of actuarial, pension and market specialists that have a wide knowledge of financial markets and of pension schemes. The aim of the team is to put together and manage innovative solutions that help pension schemes manage the risks in their liabilities and their assets or enhance their returns.

Some of your day to day tasks could include:

• Modelling pension liability cash flows to understand their risks
• Designing a liability matching portfolio of UK Gilts and derivatives
• Monitoring hedge portfolios versus their benchmarks
• Model trades and execute them in the market, either on execution platforms or with counterparty banks
• Dealing with ad-hoc client queries
• Reporting to clients on how their hedge portfolios are performing and explaining the performance

What you'll be like 

• A great communicator with good interpersonal skills
• Numerate and inquisitive – you'll have solid numerical skills and a high attention to detail
• Creative – you'll be able to think outside the box and bring fresh ideas to the table
• Collaborative – you will collaborate with others both within the same team and across functions
• Happy to get involved in variety of tasks and projects
• Organised and able to meet competing priorities effectively
• Be interested in the investment markets and global trends

 The knowledge, skills and qualifications we're looking for

An honours degree or equivalent. In line with the qualification you’ll complete during this role, it’s advisable that applicants should have completed a degree in numerate or quantitative subject such as Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Engineering, Chemistry or Physics. It’s advisable that applicants who have a degree in a non-numerate subject should have completed a Maths A-level at grade B or above.  

Recruitment process

1. Online application form and CV
2. Online assessments
3. Online video interview
4. Assessment centre 
5. Final round interview with a senior leader from the business

Candidates should be available to start the graduate programme on Monday 26 September 2022. This role would be suitable for a recent graduate or someone with 1-2 years experience within a financial services or similar role.