Portfolio Manager Job Description Template

A hiring manager learns how to hire a lawyer.

Portfolio managers hold their clients’ financial well-being in their hands. By using their investment savvy, these financial pros can keep a family or an institution solvent and prospering. But if they lose focus and make a bad call, suddenly their investors’ prospects can seem bleak. It takes a unique skill set to succeed in such a high-stakes role.

Whether they work with individual investors to increase the value of their retirement portfolios or spend their days safeguarding institutional endowments, a portfolio manager’s efforts can affect the lives of a wide range of individuals and corporations. The best managers know how to analyze vast amounts of data as they navigate daily investment decisions, including which assets to buy and which to sell.

Superlative math skills, strong ethics, and a tolerance for risk are among the most important qualities called for in this often lucrative and in-demand role. Jobs in financial management are expected to increase by 17 percent in the next decade, much faster than the rate of increase for most other jobs.

Though it is most often associated with the financial sector, the title of “portfolio manager” is also sometimes used to describe professionals who manage a collection of accounts or clients in other sectors. Use the portfolio manager job description below to outline your next post for this crucial role. For more ideas on what you might want to include in your job post, take a look at our current portfolio manager job listings for inspiration.

A hiring manager learns how to hire a lawyer.

Portfolio Manager

[Intro Paragraph] Use the introductory paragraph of your portfolio manager job description to describe your company and working environment to the applicant. Emphasize what makes your workplace unique to attract applicants who will be a good fit. Treat these two or three sentences as a recruiting pitch, highlighting to your ideal candidate what sets your company apart from the competition.

Portfolio Manager Job Responsibilities: In this section of your portfolio manager job description you’ll share the day-to-day responsibilities of the position, starting with the most central aspects of the position, so candidates will know what to expect and can decide if they have the experience and background required for the role. For example, you might be looking for a portfolio manager who:

  • Implements an investment strategy for a fund’s assets.
  • Manages day-to-day asset trading on behalf of the fund’s investors.
  • Prepares reports for fund investors and individual clients.
  • Provides financial planning and investment advisory services.
  • Researches and presents investment strategies.
  • Implements risk management and tax planning strategies.
  • Manages client relationships.
  • Identifies and cultivates new clients.
  • Develops and grows a book of business.
  • Opens, transfers, and manages client accounts.
  • Prepares financial policy and procedure documentation.
  • Identifies financial process improvement.
  • Conducts research on investment opportunities to define risk-and-return profiles.
  • Assembles financial models to value debt and equity and implement in investment and financial planning decisions.
  • Creates and delivers presentations for existing and prospective client portfolios.
  • Assists in preparing quarterly reports and letters to clients.
  • Manages client interactions and communications.
  • Researches the tax implications of investment decisions.

[Work Hours & Benefits] Next, you’ll want to include details about the position’s working hours and benefits. In addition, you can use this portion of your portfolio manager job description to tell prospective applicants about the position’s salary range and bonus potential and any perks that set you apart. Outline how much travel may be required as well as the professional growth and development initiatives and remote work opportunities you offer.

Portfolio Manager Qualifications/Skills: In this section of your portfolio manager job description, you should use a bullet list to specify the qualifications you are seeking in an ideal candidate. If the list gets long, consider breaking it into two separate lists labeled as “Required” and “Preferred.” Whether you use one list or two, begin with the most important skills you are seeking first, as illustrated below:

  • Investment insight
  • Strong quantitative research, critical thinking, and analytical skills
  • Risk management
  • Portfolio construction and adjustment
  • Familiarity with financial modeling
  • Knowledge of credit underwriting procedures
  • Comprehensive knowledge of topics related to financial planning
  • In-depth understanding of the securities industry, including investment and insurance products and services
  • Entrepreneurial spirit
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality
  • Experience with financial planning software
  • Strong communication, networking, and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
  • Effective presentation skills
  • Ability to manage time and multiple projects simultaneously
  • Knowledge of relevant regulations related to securities
  • Teambuilding
  • Discretion and integrity

Education, Experience, and Licensing Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics, or similar field (MBA or related graduate degree a plus)
  • Experience as a financial analyst or associate portfolio manager
  • Valid securities license, such as Series 7, 63, and 79
  • CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) or certified financial planner a plus

[Call to Action] End your portfolio manager job description with a “call to action” that encourages candidates to apply for the position and explains how to apply. For example, you might direct prospective candidates to apply online via a link in the job posting, or to email their resume and cover letter to your HR department.

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