Japan Equity Co-Portfolio Manager

Border to Coast is seeking an experienced Japan Equity Co-Portfolio Manager to play an integral role in the management of our Overseas Developed Equities portfolio within our Internal Equity team. This is an exciting opportunity within a flourishing asset management business where the right candidate will be able to assume wide-ranging investment management responsibilities.

At Border to Coast, our purpose is to make a difference and we’re looking for an ambitious Japan Equity Co-Portfolio Manager to join our award-winning team. As a customer-owned and customer-focused organisation, integrity is one of our values, as is our collaborative and sustainable approach. Our focus is to secure the pensions of over a million people who have provided valuable service to their communities and society.

Our Internal Equity team is responsible for the management of £13bn of assets that are invested directly into equity markets. The team is growing, and we are now recruiting for a Japan Equity Co-Portfolio Manager working closely within the existing Equity Portfolio management team to directly influence the performance outcomes of a key investment strategy.

About the Role:

This role supports the Japan Equity portfolio manager by being a key influencer and decision maker in the day-to-day management of the Japan Equity portfolio. You will also be an active and influential member of the Equity Investment Team. As a Co-Portfolio Manager your role will be exceptionally varied and will include:

• Conducting detailed fundamental research on companies within the Japan Equity market and generating investment recommendations in accordance with the Border to Coast investment philosophy, investment process and procedures.
• Working with the analyst team to evaluate existing and new potential investments for the Japan equity portfolio.
• Implementing investment recommendations and shaping portfolio construction in accordance with the Border to Coast investment process and consistent with generating the best risk adjusted return.
• Active participation in investment team meetings, company meetings and conferences.
• Engaging with both the Portfolio Risk and Responsible Investment teams to ensure an integrated investment approach.
• Writing investment thought pieces and briefs on relevant events and the outlook for your area of investment expertise.
• Building a long term, open and collaborative relationship with our Partner Funds.

About You:

You will have prior investment management expertise. Experience of investing in Japanese equity markets would be advantageous. You’ll have a keen interest and understanding of investment markets, long-term investment, and a commitment to responsible investment and sustainability. You’ve got excellent analytical skills, both qualitative and quantitative. You’ll be a strong communicator with high levels of integrity and trustworthiness and be able to distil a wide range of often conflicting information in a concise and cohesive manner.

A natural problem solver with the ability to make decisions using imperfect information, you’ll understand financial income, cashflow and balance sheet models to support investment theses. You can demonstrate planning, organisation, time and data management and administrative capabilities and have good communication skills. You’re a pro-active, self-motivated team player with the ability to manage an interesting and variable workload and be willing to assist and support other team members when required. You will be educated to degree level and have a suitable investment management or professional qualification.

Why join Border to Coast?

At Border to Coast, you will receive competitive remuneration and have access to excellent benefits:

• Vitality Health Insurance for all employees
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Critical Illness Cover
• Pension scheme
• Stunning Leeds city centre location only a short walk to the train station
• Cycle to work scheme
• Life Assurance of 6 times of salary
• Sustainable travel plans and public transport discounts
• Range of discounts for Leeds gyms, shops and restaurants
• Hybrid working
• Onsite gym

We welcome applications from people of all experience levels and backgrounds and value diversity of thought. We are committed to creating an inclusive and engaging workplace, ensuring that colleagues maintain a work life balance. We encourage colleagues to progress, be themselves and be their best through both personal and professional development.

If you have a disability, or if you have a condition that you believe may affect your performance during our selection process, we would be happy to discuss making reasonable adjustments to our processes for you. Please contact our recruitment team at recruitment@bordertocoast.org.uk.

We’re looking for people with the right values, behaviours, skills and experiences and if you meet some of the role’s criteria and are interested in finding out more about Border to Coast and the team, we’d love to hear from you.

About Us:

Border to Coast is the largest LGPS (Local Government Pension Scheme) pool in the UK. It is owned by 11 Local Government Pension Schemes (‘Partner Funds’). The Partner Funds represent 3,100 employers and over a million members. The Partner Funds have c.£64bn in investments, of which Border to Coast is responsible for managing £47.9bn (as of 31 March 2024). Border to Coast also provides support and advice on a further £8.2bn, primarily invested in index funds, which sit outside of the pool.

Our purpose is to make a difference for the LGPS. We seek to do this by providing cost-effective and innovative investment opportunities delivering returns over the long term for our Partner Funds, their employers and over 1.1 million LGPS members.