About the Team

Baron’s Performance Analytics Team, part of the Portfolio, Risk & Data Analytics (PR&DA) Group, is responsible for conducting performance analytics for the Baron Funds and other investment products. The Team meets regularly with portfolio managers to discuss market trends and drivers of absolute and relative performance. In addition, the Team analyzes performance dispersion between accounts, peer performance analysis and reporting, and provides support for product development and marketing efforts. The Team also supports the Firm’s internal research and external marketing efforts and is responsible for the production and review of periodic reports for the Firm’s CIOs, executives, the Board of Trustees, and Marketing and Sales. The Performance Analytics Team works closely with the Risk and Portfolio Analytics Teams within the Group and interacts regularly with sales, accounting, marketing, and most other departments at the Firm.

About the Role

The Associate is expected to understand the Firm’s portfolio objectives and investment processes, remain informed about the industry landscape and market events and trends, and leverage technology and various analytical tools to effectively support the efforts of the Performance & Competitor Intelligence Analytics Team. The Associate will be responsible for monthly performance-based reporting and ad-hoc requests. The Associate is expected to communicate results effectively to members of the PR&DA Group, portfolio managers, and other groups across the Firm. The successful candidate should have an aptitude to manage large and complex datasets, summarize and present results in a clear and concise fashion, and collaborate with team members to create optimal workflows that facilitate the timely and accurate delivery of analytics to relevant stakeholders.

The Associate assists the Manager of Performance & Competitive Intelligence Analytics with a diverse array of projects and reporting requirements. The Associate is responsible for providing broad data and analytical services used by Portfolio Managers, Sales, Marketing, and Investor Information & Data teams and participates in data research projects and initiatives within the PR&DA team. Aside from reporting, the Associate will be involved in the production of data for monthly market updates, maintenance of internal data sets, responding to questions in RFPs and DDQs, and supporting the research efforts of the team. This position requires a general understanding of financial markets and the investment management industry, familiarity with performance analytics tools, and programming knowledge. An initiative-taking and problem-solving attitude is essential to succeed in this role. The PR&DA Group has a strong, team-based orientation, yet relies upon its members to take initiative and responsibility for their own individual projects. Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to eloquently explain complicated concepts and results in simple terms are also key.

Key Responsibilities

Performance Analytics:

• Develop a strong understanding of analytics applications available, such as Morningstar Direct, FactSet SPAR and PA and related API codes, Nasdaq eVestment^TM, Refinitiv (Lipper for Investment Management), FI360 and Advent Portfolio Exchange (APX), as well as Baron’s proprietary Marketing and Equity Research systems, Starfish, FundsDB and BRAInS.
• Assist with the timely and accurate production of reports, including performance-based analytics and peer comparisons, and present results in clear and concise fashion.
• Contribute to monthly and quarterly reporting processes alongside other members of the P&RA team.
• Support Sales and Marketing efforts in marketing campaigns by running performance analytics reports and compiling data and analyses requested.
• Assist P&RA Group members with various internal reporting, initiatives and research projects requiring the manipulation of complex databases and copious quantities of data.
• Run one-off and ad-hoc portfolio analytics requests and deliver accurate and concise analyses in a timely manner.
• Support sales and marketing efforts through client meeting preparation by running reports and compiling data.
• Develop and foster strong, collaborative relationships with other departments within the Firm.
• Review, audit, and approve periodical marketing documents and materials and collaborate with different departments to ensure data accuracy and investigate performance related inquiries.
• Work closely with IT developers to automate existing processes where applicable.

Periodical Reporting:

• Prepare information required for quarterly Investment Committee meetings.
• Prepare files and/or populate consultant databases with quarterly portfolio and performance-based analytics data in an accurate and timely manner.
• Provide data for product presentations and other marketing materials.
• Conduct statistical analyses including portfolio and performance characteristics, and various risk metrics to assist in the completion of RFPs and DDQs.
• Populate and audit quarterly performance-based data in proprietary marketing database “Starfish.”
• Maintain other internal databases and custom reporting settings.
• Prepare data for consultant databases.
• Prepare Competitive Peer Analyses.
• Prepare Ratings and Ranking reports.

Other:

• Assist in improvements of portfolio reporting and automation projects, develop dashboards and review of data flows into the Firm’s proprietary databases, Starfish and BRAInS, working closely with IT Developers and Fund Accounting departments.
• Update and maintain the “Portfolio & Risk Analytics Procedures Manual.”
• Train Investment Specialists on using Morningstar Report Portal and, as Administrator, create and update templates for the Intermediary and RIA Sales teams.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, mathematics, economics, or statistics.
• Up to 3 years of relevant experience in performance/portfolio analytics or risk reporting, preferably in the investment management industry.
• Experience with performance analytics applications such as Morningstar, FactSet PA and/or Bloomberg.

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of financial markets and the investment management industry.
• Familiar with Morningstar’s peer group ranking methodology.
• Office productivity: Advanced/Power User of Microsoft Office and Adobe, particularly MS Excel, VBA, Vlookups, Hlookups, pivot tables, macros, APIs as well as PowerPoint, and Word.
• Financial applications: FactSet and or Bloomberg. Asset management industry databases including Morningstar Direct, eVestment, Refinitiv (Lipper for Investment Management), and/or Broadridge (Fi360) (desirable).
• Knowledge of relevant programming languages (Python, VBA, SQL, R) and data visualization tools (Microsoft Power BI and/or Tableau) preferred.

Skills and Abilities:

• Attention to detail: Meticulous diligence, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of analyses, reports, and models.
• Adaptability: Willingness to learn and adapt to new tools, techniques, and methodologies as required by the role and industry.
• Time management: Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously, meeting deadlines and delivering high-quality work under pressure.
• Collaborator: Ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment, while also taking the initiative and responsibility for individual projects.
• Communication skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complicated concepts and results in simple terms to various stakeholders, including portfolio managers, analysts, and other departments.
• Technical proficiency: Strong analytical and critical thinking skills and quantitative aptitude. and proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint with previous experience using relevant programming languages (Python, VBA, SQL, R) and data visualization tools (Microsoft Power BI and/or Tableau). Must be able to create and maintain complex spreadsheets, databases, reports, and visually appealing presentations in Excel PowerPoint Power BI or other visualization tools