Why Investment Consulting Is Still A Great Career Option For Investment Professionals

There is nothing new about the perception that investment consultants may struggle to retain their place as superannuation funds continue to develop internal investment capabilities and the rate of consolidation accelerates.

However, opportunities for investment professionals within investment consulting continue to be buoyant and offer a rewarding and challenging career path. Most investment consulting firms we work with have continued to hire at all levels. From entry level investment analysts, as well as senior asset class and ESG specialists. Increasingly, as the industry evolves the work in investment consulting is even more dynamic and interesting as perhaps previously thought.

Often work in investment consulting is broader than other investment analyst positions in superannuation funds or specialist fund managers.

This is largely due to…

Depth and breadth of investment research. Including a range of investment themes and markets, macroeconomic considerations, critically researching investment managers across multiple asset classes and having exposure to strategic asset allocation, investment strategy and investment governance issues.

Institutional client focus. Investment consulting offers broad client exposure to insurance firms, endowment funds, dealer groups and of course superannuation funds. Investment consultants ability to engage and communicate effectively with senior stakeholders including CIOs, heads of asset classes, investment committees and trustees, is a critically important skill they develop.

Having assisted many investment consulting firms recruit talent, we have seen first-hand how they identify and hire highly intelligent candidates. Exceptional academic results; (first class honours, double degrees and increasingly CFA qualifications) are usually a minimum requirement. A high level of qualitative and quantitative analytical skills and client presentation skills are other attributes they look for. Written assessments and excel tests (financial modelling) are also common practice in the recruitment process.

Investment consulting offers a solid career platform and a structured career path, and investment consulting experience is always in high demand. Investment consulting professionals have transitioned into numerous investment related positions within superannuation and funds management. This has been illustrated by numerous investment consultants being head hunted for their specialised skills for CEO, CIO, heads of assets class, investment strategy, and institutional business development opportunities across the Australian market.

It’s also worth noting that numerous Chief Investment Officers of leading superannuation funds have spent their formative years developing their skills in investment consulting. Sam Sicilia – HostPlus, Kristin Fok – CBUS, Michael Wyrsch – Vision Super, David Neil – Previously Future Fund, now CEO of IFM Investors, Norman Zhang – Legal Super, Graeme Miller – Telstra Super,  Daniel Selioutine – ESSuper and Ed Smith – TWUSuper  to name a few.

Kaizen Recruitment is specialist recruitment firm working with many leading investment consulting, superannuation funds and fund managers in the Australian market.

Kaizen Recruitment specialises financial services recruitment across funds management, wealth management, superannuation, investment consulting and insurance. We are based in Melbourne and Sydney. For assistance or further information please telephone our office at +61 3 9095 7157 or submit an online form.

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