fenjob17112

Reason Foundation, Pension Integrity Project
Senior Financial Analyst - Investment Portfolio Design

The Pension Integrity Project at Reason Foundation invites applications for a Senior Financial Analyst - Investment Portfolio Design. This job is available as part-time, full-time, or on a contracting basis.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
Support the Implementation Team:
1. Perform analyses of pension plans’ investment governance, asset allocation, fund manager selection, fees, and reporting.
2. Perform analyses of Defined Contribution (DC) plan provisions for members, including: critiquing choice of funds that are being offered; reviewing education guidance (if any) and communications on income replacement goals (if any); providing suggestions on how to improve the DC plan management to be in-line with best practices for delivering a retirement benefit.

Develop research projects related to investment practices in public-sector pension finance.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must have 5+ years of experience in finance and investment including expertise in investment portfolio design for institutional investors (e.g. pension plans).

In addition, the role requires:
- Strong research writing and analytical skills
- Proficiency in tools and methods for forecasting investment returns
- Ability to develop dynamic models (using Excel, R, Stata or similar) that can be applied in a research context

Ideally, candidates will also have:
- Familiarity in investment portfolio design for individual investors, particularly lifecycle models
- Capacity to work with large data sets
- A background in retirement planning

TRAVEL: None Required. There may be opportunities to join the implementation team on the road for specific work related to critiquing investment management, if desired.

LOCATION: Flexible. Reason has offices in Los Angeles and Washington D.C., but most employees telecommute from their homes in states across the country.

SALARY: Comparable to senior researchers within the non-profit sector and commensurate with experience.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Please apply to jobs@reason.org

PENSION INTEGRITY PROJECT AT REASON FOUNDATION: The Pension Integrity Project at Reason Foundation offers pro-bono consulting to public officials and other stakeholders to help them design and implement pension reforms that improve plan solvency and promote retirement security.

WHAT WE DO FOR POLICYMAKERS AND PENSION PLAN STAKEHOLDERS:
- Customized analysis of pension system design, trends, and fiscal trajectory
- Independent actuarial modeling of reform scenarios
- Assistance with stakeholder outreach, engagement and relationship management
- Design and execution of public education programs and media campaigns
- In-depth case studies on jurisdictions that have adopted reforms with highlights on key lessons learned
- Peer-to-peer mentoring from state and local officials who have successfully enacted reforms

WHY WE DO IT: We believe that public sector retirement systems should work for all public employees and taxpayers. Affordable retirement plans with transparent and accountable management are necessary to support all aspects of good governance generally. States, cities, and counties will increasingly struggle to provide public services unless they are able to adopt financially sustainable retirement benefits.

OBJECTIVES OF PENSION REFORM:
- Keeping Promises: Ensure the ability to meet 100% of the promises already made to retirees and active workers
- Retirement Security: Provide retirement security for all current and future employees
- Predictability: Stabilize contribution rates for the long-term
- Risk Reduction: Reduce pension system exposure to financial risk and market volatility
- Affordability: Reduce long-term costs for employers/taxpayers and employees
- Attractive Benefits: Ensure the ability to recruit 21st Century employees
- Good Governance: Adopt best practices for board organization, investment management, and financial reporting

PENSION INTEGRITY PROJECT CONTACTS:
- Leonard Gilroy, Senior Managing Director (leonard.gilroy@reason.org)
- Anthony Randazzo, Managing Director (anthony.randazzo@reason.org)

Reason Foundation is a national 501(c)(3) public policy research and education organization with expertise across a range of policy areas, including public sector pensions, transportation, infrastructure, education, and criminal justice. For more information about Reason, visit http://reason.org

Posted: 4 Aug 2017