Investment Portfolio Analyst/Associate

Business Area: ISA - Investment Strategy & Advice

Place of Work: London

Contract Type: Permanent

When you join USS, the size and scale of our pension scheme means you will have numerous opportunities to learn and develop your career. Given our size you'll have real autonomy and influence as you collaborate closely with a wide-ranging team of experts.

About the role

In your role within the Total Portfolio Management team, you will make a significant contribution from the outset.

This new position offers a unique opportunity to join the Investment Strategy & Advice (ISA) department at USS Investment Management (USSIM) Limited - the dedicated investment manager and advisor for USS, one of the UK's largest pension schemes.

The ISA department plays a pivotal role in shaping and implementing the overall investment strategy, providing expert advice across both Defined Benefit (DB) and Defined Contribution (DC) sections of the scheme. Within this, the Total Portfolio Management team ensures the efficient and robust management of portfolios, translating high-level strategy into actionable solutions.

In this role, you will focus on monitoring and supporting the management of implemented portfolios and target allocations across the DB and DC funds. You will also develop and produce insightful analysis to aid in understanding the portfolios and supporting effective decision-making. Additionally, you will contribute to the portfolio construction process through thematic research, forecasting expected returns, conducting scenario analysis, and optimising portfolios.

This role offers an excellent opportunity to take on increasing responsibility over time, with high visibility and the potential for significant impact on the overall investment strategy.

What you will be doing

As a trusted part of the ISA - Investment Strategy & Advice you will be responsible for:

• Supporting the ongoing delivery of DB and DC asset allocation solutions, including portfolio rebalancing and target allocation changes, liaising with other teams as needed
• Assisting in portfolio construction through thematic research, expected return forecasting, scenario analysis and optimisation
• Conducting research on strategic and cyclical aspects of asset classes and asset allocation strategies
• Developing a strong understanding of long-term return forecasting to enhance USSIM's proprietary methodology
• Improving the quality and robustness of USSIM tools for long-term return estimation and analysis
• Conducting scenario analysis and stress testing to assess uncertainty in model inputs and impacts of specific scenarios
• Producing portfolio analysis and supporting the development of insights to enhance stakeholder understanding
• Supporting and enhancing the Portfolio Management Software (Jacobi) and contributing to the development of other tools

About you

We know that sometimes people can be put off applying for a job if they don't tick every box, if you're excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we're looking for, then please apply, regardless of whether you meet all the requirements outlined in this profile.

To be successful in the role you will have:

• Broad understanding of multi-asset portfolios
• Broad understanding and interest in investment matters across multiple asset classes (e.g. LDI, equities, credit and private markets, derivatives) including drivers of risk and return,
• Excellent analytical and quantitative skills - able to pick up new and challenging concepts (quantitative, statistical and qualitative) and able to provide clear solutions
• Intellectual curiosity - willingness and ability to investigate and develop new ideas and investment strategies
• Willingness to work in a close-knit team with a long-term perspective
• Ability to deliver high quality work under constrained timelines

At USS, every individual contributes to building a secure financial future for our members and their families. We strive to create a work environment where everyone can thrive professionally while making a meaningful impact on the lives of others.

We're also committed to helping you build your career by providing opportunities for development. We put a focus on recognising and supporting each individual's unique career path, driving this forward with the support of an engaged and proactive management team.

Here at USS, we want you to thrive in and out of work with a friendly team, flexible culture and excellent range of benefits!

How we will reward you

• Generous annual leave package
• Access to a high quality pension scheme provided through Universities Superannuation Scheme
• Supportive people policies (including enhanced occupational sickness pay and family friendly pay)
• Financial contributions towards your personal development to help you maintain your physical and mental wellbeing
• Access to a range of health and wellbeing services i.e., private healthcare, discounted gym membership
• Learning and development opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and talent
• Employee Volunteer Day's to support the communities where you work and live
• Cycle to Work Scheme

Our culture and values

Our people are what makes us different. We work together to create a diverse and inclusive culture that embraces individuality, where people are welcomed and feel comfortable in the knowledge that they can be themselves.

Our purpose firmly states the importance of members, putting them 'front and centre' of what we do. This is embedded through our values:

• Integrity

About us

Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) was established in 1974 as the principal pension scheme for universities and higher education institutions in the UK.

We work with around 330 employers to help build a secure financial future for more than 528,000 members and their families. We are one of the largest pension schemes in the UK, with total assets of around £75.5bn (at 31 March 2023). To find out more, please visit

USSIM is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to ensure our recruitment process is as flexible and inclusive as possible so we can attract diverse candidates and recruit the best talent.

We want all candidates to perform at their best during the recruitment process, so if you need any reasonable adjustments or if there is anything we can do to help support you through your recruitment journey please let us know by contacting .