Investment Advisor

Overall Purpose of Role

An Investment Advisor (IA) is the conduit into Barclays’ investment platform for clients and relationship managers. He will effectively act as the architect of the overall client investment relationship as well as being the investment manager of advisory investment portfolios. When accompanying relationship managers in client meetings, the IA will bring strong technical expertise to assess the needs, risk appetite and objectives of clients, and translate them into proposals from an asset allocation, portfolio of investment solutions, and single asset perspective. The IA will be responsible for the ongoing investment and risk management of clients’ investment portfolios, as well as their alignment to Barclays’ investment strategy based on the client risk profile and advisory mandate investment criteria.

Driven by targets, the IA will have to proactively acquire new profitable investment led business and increase existing clients’ wallet share. The insights matured during the ongoing interaction with clients will be shared across product specialist teams in order to better tailor our offering around our clients’ needs. 

Key Accountabilities

• Investment advice: drawing on a broad experience base the IA will identify appropriate investment strategies tailored to client needs to acquire and develop new business and increase existing clients’ share of wallet. The investment advisor will play a key role in providing clients with a continued superior level of advice with respect to investment services, asset allocation, and specific investment ideas.
• Ideas generation: the IA will maintain a close working relationship with segment experts, investment platforms and product specialists to ensure that any client insights or market intelligence can be fed back for potential product development or services opportunities.
• Business development: support relationship managers in acquiring new business via prospecting activities and developing existing relationships.
• Risk management: while maintaining an appropriate level of professional qualifications to meet regulatory and group policy requirements, the IA will also ensure that the investment approach is consistent across clients with similar investment objectives and that all proposed trades are suitable to the end client. Mastery of investment management of leveraged portfolios is essential.

Risk and Control Objective

Ensure that all activities and duties are carried out in full compliance with regulatory requirements, Enterprise Wide Risk Management Framework and internal Barclays Policies and Policy Standards.

Person Specification

Professional/technical experience

The right candidate will have in-depth and broad knowledge of investment products, solid investment experience in financial markets, and a strong understanding of asset allocation and portfolio construction. You will also possess outstanding technical skills and solid experience with respect to managing leveraged investment portfolios, as well as the designing and /or selling of derivatives and structured products across asset classes. At least basic understanding of wealth and estate planning issues is required. Experience working with NRI client is a clear plus.

Drawing on substantial experience in interacting with clients, you will demonstrate superior selling skills and boast a proven record for closing deals, while equally showcasing the ability to successfully match clients’ investment needs and objectives with the appropriate set of products and services.

Academic and professional qualifications

You will be at least of graduate calibre, ideally have at least 7 years of relevant experience, and have the local investment qualifications allowing you to provide investment advice.  CFA / CAIA charterholders preferred.

Language skills

English: strong verbal, written communication and presentation skills are a critical requirement of the position. French, German desirable. Hindi a plus.

Personal attributes

Setting you apart will be the ability to engage a diverse group of clients, bankers and product providers to successfully drive business management. As a highly motivated self-starter who can work in a global environment, you will build excellent relationships within the IA team and the broader set of stakeholders. You are creative and commercially minded, able to work and deliver under pressure without compromising either accuracy or the ability to manage multiple investment portfolios/relationships.

Purpose and Values

Barclays has a single cross-business Purpose for Barclays and five core Values which underpin it. Our Purpose is helping people achieve their ambitions in the right way. Put simply, this is the answer to the question ‘What is Barclays for?’ and it should guide our every action as employees.

Respect

We respect and value those we work with, and the contribution that they make.

Integrity

We act fairly, ethically and openly in all we do.

Service

We put our clients and customers at the centre of what we do.

Excellence

We use our energy, skills and resources to deliver the best, sustainable results.

Stewardship

We are passionate about leaving things better than we found them.