Job Information
Morgan Stanley AIP Operational Due Diligence Associate in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
Morgan Stanley Investment Management (“MSIM”), together with its investment advisory affiliates, operates in 23 countries with $1.5 Tn in assets under management or supervision as of December 31, 2023. Morgan Stanley Investment Management strives to provide outstanding long-term investment performance, service and a comprehensive suite of investment management solutions to a diverse client base, which includes governments, institutions, corporations and individuals worldwide
Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners, L.P. (“MS AIP”) is Morgan Stanley Investment Management’s alternative investment group focusing on hedge fund solutions. It is based in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania (a suburb of Philadelphia), with additional offices in New York, and London.
The candidate will be responsible for a multi-faceted role with various responsibilities, including operational due diligence, structuring and deal execution, managed account oversight, and developing and executing various growth initiatives within the other business verticals. In addition, this person will be involved in various risk management support activities such as developing and enhancing the group’s various approaches to assess and monitor operational risks. This position is located in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. This candidate will report to the Head of Operational Due Diligence.
RESPONSIBILITIES
*
*
**
Operational Due Diligence:
Coordinate, prepare for and actively participate in on-site due diligence meetings with senior management of potential and existing investment advisors and evaluate their processes, policies, procedures and controls.
Coordinate and review background investigations of senior management of potential and existing investment advisors.
Evaluate operational risk at underlying managers, assess the risks involved and provide recommendations for improvements to control such risks.
Document the results of the due diligence procedures, including any specific concerns and recommendations.
Present details of the operational assessments to the Investment Committee(s).
Analyze audited financial statements from underlying funds to identify departures from generally accepted accounting principles, qualifications of audit opinions, performance, expense impact, related party transactions and other unusual attributes.
*
**
**
Structuring / Deal Execution:
Evaluate potential investment structures to be used for direct hedge fund investments or individual less liquid secondary/co-investment opportunities.
Understand the impact and ability to invest in a potential structure, based on MS AIP’s investor base, tax considerations, and client mandates.
Review offering and legal documents for underlying funds in search of “off-market” terms or language. Provide comments for negotiation and implementation within governing documents and side letter agreements.
Collaborate with various internal teams including MS AIP’s investment, middle office, legal, and tax teams to ensure timely and successful execution of transactions.
*
**
**
Separately Managed Account Oversight:
Assist in the creation and launch of separately managed accounts, setup to invest in various hedge fund strategies.
Oversee third party service providers including the managed account servicer, administrators, and counterparties, and serve as a point of resolution for escalation items.
Interact with the various investment advisors engaged to manage capital through the managed account platform.
Review and approve certain managed account expenses in line with formal agreements with investment advisors.
Minimum Bachelor’s degree, preferably in finance or accounting.
CPA and/or CFA Charterholder preferred
Strong presentation, communication and interview skills required.
Minimum of three years experience in investment management industry, preferably with knowledge of hedge fund and/or private equity operations/controls and understanding of alternative investment strategies.
Ability to apply knowledge and experience to a wide variety of alternative investment managers and operating environments to assess operational risks and identify potential concerns.
Strong understanding of generally accepted accounting principles for alternative investment funds and ability to analyze audited financial statements for such funds.
Ability to travel globally (position will require approximately 15-20% travel).
Demonstrate ability to work effectively and independently in a team-oriented environment.
Team-player instincts, with a professional demeanor characterized by collegiality, mutual respect, integrity, and thoughtfulness.
Morgan Stanley's goal is to build and maintain a workforce that is diverse in experience and background but uniform in reflecting our standards of integrity and excellence. Consequently, our recruiting efforts reflect our desire to attract and retain the best and brightest from all talent pools. We want to be the first choice for prospective employees. It is the policy of the Firm to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, sex stereotype, gender, gender identity or expression, transgender, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, disability, marital and civil partnership/union status, pregnancy, veteran or military service status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversifying its workforce (M/F/Disability/Vet).
Job: *Asset/Investment Management
Title: AIP Operational Due Diligence Associate
Location: Pennsylvania-West Conshohocken
Requisition ID: 3251300