Investment Operations Associate Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Working at PPM America, Inc.

PPM is a US-based institutional asset manager. Established in Chicago in 1990, PPM exists to consistently support institutional clients in achieving their long-term value goals. We take a hard work, straight talk, full transparency and humility approach to our work. Our success is supported by a team-based culture that encourages debate, collaboration and consistency. At the center of our belief is the fact that our best ideas to date have and can come from any team member anywhere in our firm. We believe the success of our investment culture is best demonstrated by the strong retention of our clients and investment professionals. PPM was again named one of the Best Places to Work in Money Management by Pensions & Investments in 2024. We attract professionals who exhibit humbleness, directness, and dedication. PPM's values guide our internal conduct and help define the type of relationships we share with our investors, affiliates, and other valued partners. Above all, PPM is passionate about giving back to our clients, to each other, and to our community. We understand that community and purpose are just as important as the job description when finding your next career.

Values

At PPM, our values are reinforced in our culture every day. We act like owners. Integrity guides all that we do, and we are committed to exercising sound judgment in every decision that impacts the company and serves our clients. We are passionate about investment performance and driving results. We are relentless in our efforts to provide best in class service. We strive to build strong and lasting relationships with our clients, seeking to gain trust in everything we do. We work collaboratively with transparency and accountability. We operate as a team. We rely on each other, are accountable to each other, and respect each other. We value differences and unique perspectives and embrace the principle that great ideas can come from anyone. We embrace change. We are not afraid to challenge the status quo in search of a better, smarter or faster solution. We value learning, challenge ourselves and motivate others. We are also committed to positively impacting our community. As a firm, we invest time, experience and fundraising efforts with our non-profit partners.

At PPM, we offer volunteer opportunities to get involved with a network of peers and support the causes that are important to you. Your passion and talents can make a lasting impact on our organization and our community. Additionally, our employees go the extra mile every day and the benefits of working at PPM reflect our commitment to supporting and enhancing their personal and professional lives. The plans and programs listed below are offered in collaboration with our parent company.

Portfolio Services

The Portfolio Services Department is a dynamic, fast-paced team that provides a broad spectrum of operational support to PPM and a fiduciary oversight of its clients' investments and assets. The Department supports nearly all asset management activities in the trade lifecycle, including portfolio management, trade execution, and client reporting. Functionally oriented teams include Public & Private Investment Operations, Derivatives Administration, Performance Analytics, Data Management and Business & Product Reporting. A high level of collaboration coupled with extensive cross-training promotes flexibility, scalability and professional development across the department. Portfolio Services is centrally positioned to engage with all of PPM's investment and administrative teams to meet the firm's strategic objectives. The department maxim is to be indispensable to our clients through timely, complete and accurate execution of roles and responsibilities.

Job Purpose

The Private Investment Operations Associate, CLOs, PPM is responsible for overseeing the full lifecycle of syndicated bank loans within CLOs, managing the operations of CLO warehouse launches, and ensuring compliance with CLO reporting and payment obligations. The Private Investment Operations Associate is part of a team that handles a diverse range of functions and disciplines and drives process improvements and automation to enhance operational efficiency. This role involves significant interaction with internal parties (traders, portfolio managers, CLO team, operational teams, etc.), as well as external parties (trustees, agent banks, counterparties, custodians, auditors, and clients). This role also provides oversight to Analysts that support Private Investment Operations.

In addition to the CLO responsibilities, the Private Investment Operations Associate has the opportunity to engage in operational activities with respect to other private investments, as the broader Private Investment Operations team regularly seeks opportunities to cross train across various asset types and processes in an effort to deepen the skill set of all team members.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Manages all operational aspects of launching and closing CLO warehouses including funding requests, review of flow of funds reports and related documentation, performing asset transfers, and coordinating closings with the trustee, clients, and other involved parties.

• Analyzes and interprets CLO indentures to validate CLO compliance testing, monitors and reconciles loan characteristics to compliance tests to ensure indenture and regulatory compliance, and produces trustee reports.

• Performs detailed reconciliations of CLO portfolio cash/holdings and CLO asset attributes to CLO trustee.

• Supports various CLO accounting activities including monitoring of expense invoices, calculation of management and trustee fees, and performing detailed analyses of waterfalls and cash flow distributions.

• Prepares client reports.

• Responds to client and investment manager inquiries in a timely, complete, and accurate manner.

• Effectively and efficiently coordinates new project/activity related work.

• Promotes continual process improvement by identifying, recommending, and implementing change and automation.

• Works collaboratively with other Private Investment Operations team members

• Mentors and cross-trains others on CLO portfolio level reporting and other responsibilities.

• Mentors/oversees junior Portfolio Analyst execution of CLO responsibilities.

• Provides additional operational support where and when needed.

• Participates in and provides cross training with the Public Securities Operations team on an ad-hoc basis.

Other Duties

• Performs other duties and/or projects as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Deep understanding of CLO indentures, CLO trustee reporting, payment waterfalls, and governing documents.

• Deep understanding of S&P, Moody's, and Fitch ratings as they relate to CLOs.

• Ability to prioritize and independently manage multiple deadlines and clientele simultaneously.

• Advanced proficiency with the entire Microsoft Office Suite, with an emphasis on Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

• Advanced proficiency in navigating Moody's and S&P's websites.

• Unquestionable professional integrity.

• Keen eye for detail required.

• Strong organizational and communications skills.

• Strong teamwork-based approach to work and collective activities.

• Critical thinking, analysis, troubleshooting, and problem-solving expertise.

• Knowledge of WSO systems (Administrator, Reporting, Compliance, Integration Utility tool) preferred.

• Knowledge of S&P Global platforms (Markit Pricing, Notice Manager, ADFlow) preferred.

• Knowledge of BlackRock's Aladdin tool preferred.

• Proficiency in tools that promote data analysis, task automation, and/or visualization (i.e. Python, Power BI, JIRA, etc.) preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree , preferably in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Marketing or a related discipline, required.

• 3+ years of practical experience in CLO asset classes and Custodial/Trustee service requirements required.

• Extensive experience with operational processes involved in launching and closing CLO warehouses required.

• Extensive experience in preparing accurate and timely reports, analysis, and presentations for management and clients required.

• Experience in syndicated bank loan LSTA trade and settlement documentation, and the Clearpar Platform preferred.

• Additional credentials or progress toward an advanced degree or chartered industry designation (i.e., CFA, CPA, etc.) preferred.

Benefits

At PPM, we offer volunteer opportunities to get involved with a diverse network of peers and support the causes that are important to you. Your passion and talents can make a lasting impact on our organization and our community. Additionally, our employees go the extra mile every day and the benefits of working at PPM reflect our commitment to supporting and enhancing their personal and professional lives. The plans and programs listed below are offered in collaboration with our parent company.

• Competitive salary and bonus

• Medical, dental and vision coverage

• For eligible employees, $2 for $1 matching on 401k contributions, up to a max matching contribution of 12% of your eligible compensation.

• Tuition and professional certification reimbursement

• Paid parental leave

• Adoption assistance

• Holidays and paid time off

• Paid time off to volunteer

Base Pay:

$95,000.00 - $105,000.00. The base salary for this position may vary depending on experience, job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities. In addition to the base salary, this role will be eligible to participate in our annual bonus program. This role will also be eligible for compensated personal time off and holidays, health benefits, 401(k) plan with generous matching and other benefit programs according to the Company's employment policies and subject to the formal terms of such plans and programs.