Asset & Wealth Management (Private) – Alternatives Product Strategy – Associate – London
Goldman Sachs Asset Management is one of the world’s leading asset managers with over $3 trillion in assets under supervision. Bringing together traditional and alternative investments, Goldman Sachs Asset Management provides clients around the world with a dedicated partnership and focus on long-term performance. As primary investment area within Goldman Sachs, we provide investment and advisory services for pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, endowments, foundations, financial advisors and individuals. At Goldman Sachs, our culture is one of teamwork, innovation and meritocracy. Our people are our greatest asset, and we take pride in supporting each colleague both professionally and personally.
We are seeking a highly driven and detail-oriented Associate to join our growing team in London. Alternatives Asset Management is a strategic growth area for our firm, representing a critical component of our long-term vision and commitment to providing innovative investment solutions for our clients. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a dynamic and expanding area of AWM, developing market intelligence materials and creating financial models for new and existing products.
Principal Responsibilities
1. Play a pivotal role in supporting the early-stage positioning and governance requirements of alternative investment product offerings across asset classes, including Private Credit, Private Equity, Real Estate, Infrastructure, and External Investing Group (XIG), while also identifying opportunities to streamline these processes to meet regulatory standards and obligations.
2. Act as a key point of contact for product governance guidance, review, and oversight through the firm's existing processes across global Product and Distribution Initiatives.
3. Run and present at governance forums, often alongside product specialists, to opine on product governance-related rules and regulations.
4. Ensure strong documentation of governance activities across the firm.
5. Liaise closely with Legal and Counsel across product Governance responsibilities, including identifying appropriate follow-ups and actions.
6. Act as a central point of contact for the AIFM(s) and where necessary, the relevant Fund and AIFM Boards.
7. Support development of Product proposals for new ideas and next vintage funds (idea generation, portfolio composition, product and distribution governance).
8. Utilize new technology and processes to maintain and develop fund analyses, focusing on pricing, performance, revenue, expenses, and asset availability.
9. Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders such as investment teams, distribution, legal, fund management, operations, compliance, controllers, and tax to develop and execute product strategy and development projects.
10. Proactively document and develop team processes and procedures, identifying efficient ways of working and contributing to strong overall documentation of governance activities across the firm.
11. Respond to internal questions from senior management and salespeople across all sales channels (private wealth, institutional, third-party distribution) related to the Alternatives platform and pipeline.
12. Demonstrate a strong strategy and execution mindset with the ability to independently manage workload and deliver on multiple priorities.
Skills & Experience We Are Looking For
13. Bachelor’s degree, with a minimum of 3 years of industry experience.
14. Ideally Investment Management Certificate (IMC) qualified.
15. In-depth knowledge of the asset management industry, client channels, and Alternatives vehicle mechanics and requirements (AIFs, Private Funds) gained through previous experience in product research and/or strategy consulting roles.
16. Prior knowledge of Alternatives, including private credit, real estate, hedge funds, or private equity, is preferred.
17. Proven ability to manage complex fund products effectively, coupled with a deep understanding and practical application of global regulatory frameworks such as MiFID, AIFMD, and the FCA Consumer Duty, particularly concerning the Value for Money assessment.
18. Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects effectively in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, demonstrating a strong capacity to shift mindset and reprioritise with changing business needs, with prior experience either in-house or through consulting engagements.
19. Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative approach, with the ability to build relationships across diverse teams and effectively navigate multiple stakeholders, with an understanding of their different needs.
20. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, especially the ability to explain complex technical concepts in simple terms to other stakeholders.
21. Proactive, problem-solving skills with a strong work ethic, strategic mindset, and ability to employ a commercial perspective.
22. Commercially minded and aware of stakeholder intricacies, with proven ability to navigate multiple stakeholders.
23. Strong technical skills, including a high level of proficiency in Microsoft Excel and excellent PowerPoint skills.