Operations Associate – Asset Servicing Team

About AQR Capital Management

AQR is a global investment management firm built at the intersection of financial theory and practical application. We strive to deliver superior, long-term results for our clients by looking past market noise to identify and isolate what matters most, and by developing ideas that stand up to rigorous testing. Our focus on practical insights and analysis has made us leaders in alternative and traditional strategies since 1998.

At AQR, our employees share a common spirit of academic excellence, intellectual honesty and an unwavering commitment to seeking the truth. We’re determined to know what makes financial markets tick – and we’ll ask every question and challenge every assumption. We recognize and respect the power of collaboration, and we believe transparency and openness to new ideas leads to innovation.

The Team:

Operations is one of the divisions of the firm that has a diverse set of responsibilities, including correctly settling and recording thousands of transactions per day, identifying and mitigating all operational risk, developing strong client relationships and partnering with technology to realize the full potential of IT. Throughout, the operations department continually seeks ways to improve while actively supporting the development of new business, structures and markets. 

Your Role:

AQR Capital Management is looking for an exceptionally talented individual to join as an Operations Associate on the Asset Servicing team.  The ideal candidate will have 3-5 years of experience specializing in supporting Security Master across both exchange traded and OTC asset classes. Corporate Action and Valuation experience is a plus. 

In this role, you will:

• Be a subject matter expert in the AssetServicing/SecMaster team including supporting all aspects of day-to-day process. 
• Support the build out of the end-to-end operating framework for a new SecMaster. 
• Build effective partnerships with Technology, Market Data, Researchers, PM’s, Risk Reporting teams. 
• Own and manage the end-to-end benchmark data workflow, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and consistency across systems and stakeholders.
• Ensure that all processes are run in the most effective, efficient and timely manner  
• Development/refinement of key controls and ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the environment to mitigate control gaps/deficiencies 
• Ability to get into the details and know the workings of all processes within the stated responsibilities will be key in the successful execution of this role 
• Develop business process knowledge and stay abreast of changes in the regulatory environment as impacting the various processes 
• Determine required IT business solutions and assist in implementing them 
• Conduct requirements-gathering activities, like evaluating services, using a variety of internal and external data and conducting end user interviews 
• Assist in quality control and project management 
• Identify people and systems impacted by functional and non-functional requirements 

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or a related field  
• 3-5 years relevant experience (preferably at buy-side institutions)  
• Strong working knowledge of many of the asset classes listed above with familiarity of the specific reference data/terms and conditions data points for each of them (e.g. what are the key data points that make up a bond?)  
• Ability to interpret and work with financial indices data, including an understanding of how indices are constructed and maintained
• Experience with requirements gathering, business process design, and working with software developers and/or external 3rd party vendors (e.g. Bloomberg, Markit, IDC) 
• Strong excel skills (regular user of advanced functions such as VLOOKUP, INDEX, MATCH, EXACT and pivot tables) 
• SQL database skills (e.g. ability to write sql select/insert/update statements, create complex stored procedures involving subqueries, joins, and transactions), and experience with adhoc data analysis and data quality control is a plus 
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written), a quick learner with demonstrated experiences climbing steep learning curves, have a desire to work in a fast paced high intensity environment.  
• Experience with system integration projects, data analysis and data testing, experience with testing in general (QA/systems test, integration test, UAT) is a plus 
• Experience integrating with OMS for trade processing, and Advent Geneva for accounting is a plus  

Who You Are:

• Detail oriented with extreme drive for accuracy and strong project execution skills  
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and synthesizing skills 
• Adaptable, able to work across teams and functions 
• Experience applying business analysis techniques 
• Ability to interpret a set of technical requirements and develop robust solutions  

AQR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. EEO/VET/DISABILITY

The salary range for this role is expected to be $100,000 to $115,000. This is the range that we in good faith believe is accurate for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, depending upon factors such as skills, experience, location, or other business and organizational needs. This wage range may also be modified in the future.

This job is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus.

We offer comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, 401(k), and any other benefits to eligible employees.

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.