Custom Research Analyst

Let’s be #BrilliantTogether

ISS STOXX is seeking a talented and motivated Corporate Governance Custom Research Analyst to join its Custom team based in Brussels.

ISS STOXX's 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 data-driven automation tools 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 market-specific 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.

In addition, the policy gap analyses is also in place 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

- Gather corporate governance data based on information in the company’s public documents

- Actively work with clients to help them updating, developing, or formulating 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

- Lead or participate 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 STOXX's 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 or equivalent through experience

- Experience in corporate governance/capital markets would be considered as an asset

- 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

- Excellent time-management skills: able to deal with high work volumes and strict deadlines, particularly during the proxy voting season.

- 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

What you can expect from us

Our people are the moving force behind ISS STOXX. We are dedicated to hiring the best, most talented people in our industry and empowering them with the resources and support to enhance their career, health, financial and personal well-being. 

We are committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion. We are invested in our people and are working every day to ensure a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.

Let’s empower, collaborate, and inspire one another. 

Let’s be #BrilliantTogether.

About ISS STOXX

ISS STOXX GmbH is a leading provider of research and technology solutions for the financial market. Established in 1985, we offer top-notch benchmark and custom indices globally, helping clients identify investment opportunities and manage portfolio risks. Our services cover corporate governance, sustainability, cyber risk, and fund intelligence. Majority-owned by Deutsche Börse Group, ISS STOXX has over 3,400 professionals in 33 locations worldwide, serving around 6,400 clients, including institutional investors and companies focused on ESG, cyber, and governance risk. Clients trust our expertise to make informed decisions for their stakeholders' benefit. 

Founded in 1985 as Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) Inc., ISS Governance is a leading global provider of independent and objective shareholder meeting research and recommendations, providing multiple voting policy choices as well as end-to-end workflow solutions for institutional investors. More than 1,600 clients worldwide utilize ISS Governance’s actionable expertise to help them make informed investment stewardship decisions, and to help them manage their voting responsibilities. Covering over 50,000 meetings annually, ISS Governance leverages its extensive global footprint, deep experience, high quality data and analysis, unified client support, and technology infrastructure to continuously evolve and extend its innovative suite of solutions to meet clients’ evolving portfolio, fiduciary, and stewardship requirements. 

Visit our website: https://www.issgovernance.com

View additional open roles: https://www.issgovernance.com/join-the-iss-team/

Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”) is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion. It is our policy to prohibit discrimination or harassment against any applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, creed, religion, sex, age, height, weight, citizenship status, national origin, social origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, pregnancy status, marital status, familial status, mental or physical disability, veteran status, military service or status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law (referred to as “protected status”). All activities including, but not limited to, recruiting and hiring, recruitment advertising, promotions, performance appraisals, training, job assignments, compensation, demotions, transfers, terminations (including layoffs), benefits, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment, are and will be administered on a non-discriminatory basis, consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local requirements.