Junior Analyst

Type: Trainee
Region: London

Job DescriptionAbout Downing Downing is a responsible investment manager founded in London in 1986, with a team of over 200 people based out of our four offices across the UK and Nordic regions.We manage c.£2bn of assets AUM across private and public markets, investing into areas including renewable energy, healthcare, specialist lending and a range of listed companies. Our vision is to be a leader in our chosen markets, so that we can deliver attractive, risk-adjusted returns by investing in assets and businesses that contribute to a better future.Downing is similarly committed to its role as a responsible investor and has integrated the consideration of sustainability factors across each of our strategic and investment decision making processes.We monitor ESG performance and consistently look to improve through various responsible investment policies and by being active signatories to several industry frameworks, including UNPRI, UKSIF, ICGN, IIGCC and the UK Stewardship Code.Diversity is important to us, and we see the benefits that having a team with a range of backgrounds and perspectives can bring. We are bold and ambitious, straightforward and we support each other. These core values are vital to everything we do – from the businesses we invest in, to the people we hire.About the team Downing has a strategic objective to meaningfully grow its assets under management by raising capital from institutional investors. The Institutional Solutions team sits at the heart of this, working closely with our investment teams and our various departmental centres of expertise.The Institutional Solutions team is responsible for the successful creation of new investor propositions across our public and private market strategies, working closely with our investment teams to develop offerings that meet investor demand, align with our investment expertise and fundamentally support our values and commitment to sustainability.We lead and coordinate fundraising activity, utilising the team’s own sales professionals and / or external placement agents and advisors to build relationships with investors and raise capital across a range of initiatives. Collateral production, due diligence responses, market mapping, fund concept modelling and testing, as well as fundraising project management, all sit within the team’s remit.We are looking for a junior analyst to support our team. You will be a joining a team of 4 institutional specialists, who are critical to Downing’s efforts to grow its institutional investor base and product range. We have a collaborative environment and always do our best to help each other out. We engage with all departments and at all levels of seniority, up to and including the CEO.Role and responsibilities This role will provide an exciting opportunity for the successful candidate to make a meaningful contribution and gain hands on experience of working across a range of public and private market investment strategies and fundraising initiatives.The role will support the team in all aspects of the product lifecycle – from initial market research, concept design and testing, through to launch and ongoing investor engagement.This role would be well suited to a proactive individual with an interest in a career in finance or sales. The right candidate will have strong attention to detail, organisational skills and be deadline oriented.Your responsibilities will include:Preparing quarterly updates to the ‘master presentation decks’ and website for Downing and the respective investment strategies.Contributing to the creation of tailored high-quality sales documents and other collateral for Downing’s various new institutional offerings.Conduct research on market trends, industry developments, and competitive landscapes.Collaborate with senior members of the team to evaluate the risk and return profiles of investment prospects.Analyse financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.Support the sales outreach process by drafting and personalising investor outreach emails, as well as attending sales meetings and conferencesEnsure the CRM is consistently updated with accurate investor information, interactions and follow-up activities to maintain organised and effective communication records.Key skills and experience The ideal candidate will have the following:Preferably studying for a degree in finance/business/economics/legal-related subjects but not essential. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.Strong interpersonal skills, with both internal and external stakeholders.A desire to learn about the business and product range, and to work in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment.Intermediate proficiency and previous experience working in PowerPoint and Excel.A willingness to get involved in new projects and learn on the goEven if you do not have all of the skills and experience noted above, we still encourage you to apply. We understand that different people have different backgrounds and bring different types of experience, which can be valuable in different ways. The most important thing we are looking for is attitude – and we are keeping an open mind about the exact skills and experience each individual applicant has to offer.Personal Profile Collaborative – You are able to work as part of a cross-function team to successfully manage projects from inception to deliveryPassionate about what you do – You are always happy to roll up your sleeves.Team player – Have fun in what you do! We do our best to cultivate an open, honest, hard-working but fun culture at Downing.Customer oriented – You are approachable, friendly and professional whilst working diligently. Nothing is too much trouble.Assertive and focus on execution – You make things happen.Eloquent – You can explain complex things in simple, relevant terms.Creative – You can think outside the box and are happy to put forward new ideas.Additional details This role will be on a fixed-term contractAll candidates must be eligible to work in the UK or have a working visa.We endeavour to reply to all individual applicants and will provide feedback for any candidates that reach the interview stage.