Investment Management Operations Associate

Location: San Antonio, TX

The Challenge

We established the Technology & Operations Associate Program (TOP) in 2000 to develop our next generation of leaders. During this rotational program, Associates experience up to four challenging six-month rotations in a specific track or career path, in this case, Investment Management Operations, before joining a permanent team. Associates will have the unique opportunity to rotate through many areas of the business gaining exposure and visibility across the firm, while benefiting from formalized training and mentorship

Each rotation will require you to learn a new or expand an existing skill set and knowledge base, and/or complete a project that is critical to the success of the group, department or firm. During the program, you will be matched with two mentors who will help with your assimilation into the firm and provide career advice. Upon successful completion of each rotation, you will have the opportunity to present to a committee of senior Operations & Technology executives. Throughout the program, Associates will meet with program leaders to review available career paths and work together to determine their next opportunity (based on the firm's needs and the Associates' interests).

The Team

The Technology and Operations Associate Program will provide you a network of current TOP associates and those who have already graduated from the program. You will work closely with the TOP Associate Program Manager and Coordinator during the entire duration of your rotational program. They will provide you the support you need to have the best experience possible.

The Role

Operations delivers a wide range of middle and back office support to all AllianceBernstein's investment services (equities, fixed income, alternative investments) as well as distribution channels (institutional clients, individuals and private clients). Operations in San Antonio also include AllianceBernstein's Transfer Agency, AB Investor Services (ABIS), a leading provider of client and record keeping services to our Shareholder and Broker Dealer community.

The Program will expose the Associate to various functional areas within Operations, such as:

• Pricing & Valuations: Responsible for timely and accurate valuations of all asset types held in client accounts. A rotation on this team offers the opportunity to deep-dive into quality control and integrity of pricing data
• Operational Risk: Partners with the business to: develop key risk and performance indicators that provide a balanced view of our organization and can be used to improve its processes, ensure proper controls and escalation capabilities are in place globally, and coordinate risk mitigation initiatives. A rotation in this team offers the opportunity to understand the firm's operational risk framework and develop competencies and skills required of a risk professional.
• Private Client Reporting: Responsible for the production and delivery of private client reports. The Associate will develop advanced reporting skills while learning about our monthly brokerage statements, monthly and quarterly portfolio reports, daily confirms, the annual tax package, and custom client reports.
• Private Client Administration: Provides daily support for all Private Client Account specific activity and ad hoc queries such as new account setup and processing, facilitating and tracking of asset transfers, bond analysis and liquid net worth, corporate actions and margin inquiries. A rotation on this team offers a deep dive into the account setup process, asset transfers, bond analysis and liquid net worth, corporate actions, margin inquiries, and the inner workings of our investment vehicles.
• Reference Data Management Services: Responsible for maintaining core data for all of AllianceBernstein, such as security setup, pricing, corporate actions, class actions and proxy. The Associate will gain an understanding of what it takes to establish a security on our security master and how that security in managed throughout its lifecycle as well as the multiple downstream consuming applications and their use of the data.
• AB Defined Contribution Operations: ABDC Operations provides support for our defined contribution products: Custom Retirement Strategies (CRS), Lifetime Income Strategy (LIS), Retirement Strategies, Wealth Strategies as well as our CIT business. The Associate will gain insight into the investment process and learn about our defined contribution products.
• Separately Managed Accounts (SMA) Operations: Supports equity and fixed income portfolio management, trading and sales teams by performing critical daily, weekly and monthly tasks to ensure account data is accurate and accounts are invested properly. The Associate will gain an understanding of and support the SMA business including front, middle and back office processes. The Associate will also partner with management and the team to complete process improvement and risk reduction initiatives.

Transfer Agency Operations

• Domestic and Offshore Financial Control: responsible for reconciliation of all TA related bank accounts and cash movement between funds and TA. This performs additional functions supporting NAV delivery and commission payments and serves as liaison between Global Fund Accounting, Corporate Accounting and our custodian banks.
• Global Operational Risk Management (GORM): responsible for protecting AllianceBernstein and its mutual fund investors through surveillance of activity to identify and prevent fraud or any other unusual activity. This team performs functions to mitigate risk/loss to the firm and a rotation in GORM offers insight to money movement within the financial services industry.
• BADS (Business Application Development Services) provides a diverse set of services to ABIS' Domestic and International business units. The BADs team delivers application support and development services for multiple vendor developed applications (AWD, TA2000 Desktop, SMARTDESK, and STOR QM.) Additionally, the team plays a major role in Process Design and Workflow development, is responsible for ABIS custom report and data - related automation, and provides business analysis and documentation services which facilitate the creation of AllianceBernstein custom applications developed by ABIT (AB Information Technology).

The Skillset

Candidates should be top academic performers, be interested in a career in Investment Management Operations, and meet the following criteria:

• December 2021 or May/June 2022 Bachelor's degree candidates in accounting, finance, economics, business administration or related fields
• Cumulative GPA of 3.3 or better
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Excel
• Eligible to work in the US, without sponsorship
• Excellent attention to detail, verbal and written communication skills

Bonus Points

Besides the best corporate culture in the industry:

• TOP Associates participate in the rotation selection process
• First-hand training and experience with innovative technologies through our apprenticeship model
• Extensive technical and business training opportunities
• Engage with senior leaders through networking events, coffee chats and lunch & learn sessions
• Formal mentorship program
• Tuition reimbursement for CFA, MBA and more!
• 1 on 1 career planning and development sessions
• Opportunity to join multiple Employee Resource and Wellness Groups to connect you with colleagues across the firm

AllianceBernstein's Diversity Statement

People of color, women, and those who identify as LGBTQ people are encouraged to apply. AB does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status or any other basis that is prohibited by applicable law. AB's policies, as well as practices, seek to ensure that employment opportunities are available to all employees and applicants, based solely on job-related criteria.

A Look Ahead

In The First Week, Expect To:

• Onboard to the firm with other TOP associates
• Connect with your project manager and team
• Connect with the TOP program

In The First Month, Expect To:

• Integrate into your first project
• Connect with your mentors
• Check-in with your TOP Manager & Coordinator
• Meet the Head of the Technology and Operations department and Chief Operating Officer
• Attend programming events hosted by Human Capitol and the TOP Associate program

In The First Three Months, Expect To:

• Opportunity to participate in networking events
• Ability to join multiple Employee Resource and Wellness Groups
• Learn new skills
• Feel settled in with the firm and your first project

In The First Six Months, Expect To:

• Conclude your first rotation
• Present your project to senior executives
• Communicate your feedback and share interest for your next rotation with the TOP Manager and Coordinator
• Receive your next rotation assignment

San Antonio, Texas