Custom Research Analyst in London

ISS STOXX Governance is seeking a talented Corporate Governance Research Analyst to join its Custom team. The Custom Research team partners with clients to fully optimize their corporate governance program through the provision of governance expertise as well as customized deliverables. Custom Research Analysts, working as members of regional teams, help clients develop and/or implement customized guidelines that reflect the clients' unique corporate governance philosophy. Using Policy Engine, a data-driven automation tool for base policy automation, in conjunction with analyst expertise on the subject of corporate governance, the Custom Research team provides clients with customized vote recommendations based on their respective proxy voting guidelines.

As part of providing end-to-end management of client policies, the team keeps clients apprised of new trends and emerging proposals that have garnered increased interest in the investment community and assists clients in developing and implementing policies on these new issues. To this end, the team provides clients with tailored reports, including an annual custom policy matrix that captures voting instructions and procedures on proxy issues that are expected to be seen on ballots in the upcoming year, and policy gap analyses to identify areas in client policy that do not effectively address any particular corporate governance issue.

Responsibilities

• Issue insightful, grounded, well-reasoned proxy vote recommendations and rationale based on client-specific proxy voting guidelines for institutional investors based in Continental Europe.
• Experience in gathering corporate governance data based on information in the company’s public documents.
• Experience in actively working with institutional investors to help them update, develop, or formulate their proxy voting guidelines.
• Complete various client-specific projects.
• Research policy-related issues, and support teammates in their completion of client projects as needed.
• Contribute to seasonal reviews, client calls, and client-focused research reports.
• Experience in engagement with institutional investors and other market players.
• Answer internal and external queries on research analyses, and discuss policies and vote recommendations as appropriate.
• Participate in and actively contribute to ISS Governance policy formulation and update efforts.
• Work with Corporate Technology to develop, enhance, and test current and new applications that will benefit our clients, the department, and the company as a whole.
• Work closely with Sales and Account Management counterparts to ensure overall positive client experience.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Law and/or Finance, Economics/Politics or equivalent through experience.
• Previous experience in the proxy voting industry working with institutional investors is a plus.
• Strong computer literacy with previous experience and excellent knowledge of MS Office.
• Strong analytical abilities and comfort with ambiguity.
• Excellent problem solving and judgment skills.
• Excellent English writing and oral communication skills, and the ability to formulate and support a position on an issue.
• Organizational skills, attention to detail, a self-driven work ethic, and the ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a high-pressure, deadline-driven environment.
• Ability to work within a team-oriented environment and communicate with various internal and external parties.
• Willingness to work long hours and weekends primarily during peak weeks (March, April, May, June), but on an as-needed basis throughout the year as well.
• Good understanding of business technology, and experience working with technology in an operational context.

At ISS STOXX, our people are our driving force. We are committed to building a culture that values diverse skills, perspectives, and experiences. We hire the best talent in our industry and empower them with the resources, support, and opportunities to grow—professionally and personally. Together, we foster an environment that fuels creativity, drives innovation, and shapes our future success.