Portfolio Operations Associate Jobs in Wisconsin

WFAA requires all individuals working out of WFAA offices or conducting in-person business to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. WFAA will consider requests for reasonable accommodation as required under applicable law.

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA)* is recruiting for a Investment Operations Associate.  The Investment Operations Associate will be  responsible for handling critical daytoday investment operational functions, leading custody/brokerage relationships, ensuring data quality/integrity for performance reporting and portfolio analytics, assist the improvement of investment operations processes and workflows, producing Boardlevel reporting, monitoring compliance and governance related matters and executing operational diligence In addition, it will be important for this position to develop a close partnership with the investment team to support the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni’s (WFAA) strategic investment objectives and mitigate operational risks.

The successful candidate should have a high degree of intellect and integrity and be a proactive, insightful, energetic, and articulate individual with excellent judgement, reasoning, and problemsolving skills. This individual should be capable of representing the organization effectively while interacting with investment managers and other large endowments and institutional investors. The successful candidate must also be a collegial team player who is comfortable sharing responsibility, managing multiple assignments, and adjusting priorities to meet challenges as they arise. They will also be enthusiastic about being part of the organization and contributing to its mission.

Who is WFAA?
The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is a private, nonprofit corporation that encourages individuals and organizations to make gifts to the university and to connect with the UW. In 2014, the UW Foundation merged with the Wisconsin Alumni Association® to better serve a growing population of UW alumni and donors. We believe that private support grows out of good relationships between campus leaders, faculty and program staff who need support, and the alumni and friends who want to invest in UW–Madison. We provide important engagement opportunities to link UW–Madison alumni to each other and to their alma mater, building a strong community of Badgers.

Diversity and Inclusion:

Just as the university community benefits from differing viewpoints, perspectives, and experiences, inclusion and diversity are imperative for the success of our mission. WFAA values people and the differences that they bring to the organization, and creates an environment in which all staff members and constituents feel respected and have opportunities to thrive. 

Investment Operations

• Assist the Director of Investment Operations in all related aspects of daily investment operations
• Monitors account setup and management, reporting accuracy, documentation requirements, and tax related issues
• Assists with cash management, movement of collateral, liquidity monitoring and reconciliation of daily cash flows
• Reviews cash flow transactions/wire transfers, maintaining an effective control environment
• Supports the oversight of the document management processes
• Liaison for WFAA’s relationship with custodian
• Collaborates with industry experts and peer groups in developing and implementing best practices in investment administration and operational risk management
• Lead in the review of investment valuation reconciliations; ensuring values are presented accurately

Performance, Analytics & Reporting

• Responsible for the review and reconciliation of accounting and performance data, portfolio analytics, interacting with custodian, investment managers and thirdparty data aggregators to ensure accuracy of data
• Works with investment and technology staff to develop and codify processes that serve to systematically aggregate information from various sources into WFAA’s proprietary database
• Ensures data quality and integrity of line item, separately managed accounts, commingled funds, and benchmark returns in various systems used for portfolio management and reporting
• Coordinates, compiles, and distributes Board reporting, assuring accuracy and timeliness
• Ensure adherence to the Investment Policy

Compliance and Governance

• Develops relationships and works with functional areas within the organization to assess and provide information for financial reporting requirements (financial statements, schedules, disclosures, etc.)
• Analyzes internal controls, documents results, and provides recommendations to mitigate risks
• Coordinates and plays a central role in the internal and external audit process
• Collaborates on design, creation, and implementation of highly efficient processes for the delivery of Board materials, Chief Financial Officer reports, Acquisitions and Divestitures presentations, and adhoc projects/requests

Required Qualifications:

• 4+ years of experience in an endowment, foundation, or institutional allocator of capital
• 2+ years operational experience in a sophisticated investment environment
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, actuarial science, finance, computer science, or related discipline
• Strong analytical skill and ability to interpret financial statements
• Awareness of common investment types, structures, and arrangements
• Comfortable learning and navigating multiple internal and external system platforms

Other Qualifications:

• Demonstrated success in an operational role in an institutional asset management organization
• Experience working with custodial service providers, especially as a customer service advocate, driving prioritization of projects and response times
• Solid comprehension of back-office processes
• MBA, CFA, CIPM, CAIA designations

WFAA is committed to provide our employees with an environment that is inspiring, creative and respectful. We offer competitive pay and an excellent benefits program, which includes a 10% 401k contribution after 1 year of service!

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer *The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is the “doing business as” name of the merged organization comprising the University of Wisconsin Foundation (advanceuw.org) and the Wisconsin Alumni Association (uwalumni.com). Its legal corporate name is registered as the University of Wisconsin Foundation. 

Required Qualifications:

• 4+ years of experience in an endowment, foundation, or institutional allocator of capital
• 2+ years operational experience in a sophisticated investment environment
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, actuarial science, finance, computer science, or related discipline
• Strong analytical skill and ability to interpret financial statements
• Awareness of common investment types, structures, and arrangements
• Comfortable learning and navigating multiple internal and external system platforms

Other Qualifications:

• Demonstrated success in an operational role in an institutional asset management organization
• Experience working with custodial service providers, especially as a customer service advocate, driving prioritization of projects and response times
• Solid comprehension of back-office processes
• MBA, CFA, CIPM, CAIA designations

WFAA is committed to provide our employees with an environment that is inspiring, creative and respectful. We offer competitive pay and an excellent benefits program, which includes a 10% 401k contribution after 1 year of service!

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer *The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is the “doing business as” name of the merged organization comprising the University of Wisconsin Foundation (advanceuw.org) and the Wisconsin Alumni Association (uwalumni.com). Its legal corporate name is registered as the University of Wisconsin Foundation.