Different organisations are responsible for the administration and management of investment funds. Over eight thousand regulated investment funds with net assets of over €3.8 trillion are domiciled in Ireland. Technology developed by Fintech companies are supporting and driving improvements in the way these assets are managed.
Asset managers take a holistic view of their client’s financial health and investment goals, research the market for investment opportunities and help to mitigate against risk by building a diverse portfolio of investments. Investment managers will recommend individual investments such as bonds, equities or pension funds and help their clients decide what investments to buy. Both have the same goal of increasing profits for their client.
In this sector you will be responsible for managing a financial portfolio on behalf of your clients to maximise financial returns. You will advise your clients on investment opportunities depending on their financial goals and investment strategy. They may decide to spread their investment over different sectors such as cash, bonds, equities, commodities real-estate or hedge funds. You will need to be detail oriented and keep abreast of current affairs. Your clients will need real-time data to take action if they need to adjust their financial portfolio to take account of market conditions. Geopolitical risks such as cyberattacks, conflicts and catastrophic weather events can all disrupt the stock market and the share price of a company that your client may have invested in. In these scenarios your role would be to advise your client on rebalancing their portfolio or diversifying into other assets. For example investing in gold has always been seen as a safe haven in uncertain times.
Working in asset management you need excellent analytical, numerical skills and IT skills. You will be responsible for building effective long term business partnerships with your clients. This will involve regular meetings and presentation of financial information, so first-rate interpersonal and communication skills are required. A foreign language may be an advantage if working for an international financial services organisation.
If you are interested in joining this young, dynamic sector there are opportunities throughout Ireland with the possibility of international travel as your career progresses. Skills are required from a variety of disciplines such as IT, Finance, Data Analysis, Accounting, Languages, Legal, Managerial and Marketing. A degree level qualification is usually required but there are many professional courses available to enable you to specialise once you have joined the sector.
Career opportunities include senior leadership and managerial roles, management consultancy, specialising in particular marketplaces e.g. technology, healthcare etc. compliance, risk, investment analyst, financial advisor, fund manager, stockbroker, trader, wealth managers, treasury professionals, commercial banking and financial technology.