What are the responsibilities and job description for the Investment Analyst position at CWS Apartment Homes LLC?
Investment Analyst – Job Description Position Summary: The Investment Analyst is responsible for analyzing real estate investments, including acquisitions, developments, and existing assets. This role combines traditional financial analysis with advanced technology skills, leveraging Excel and AI tools to enhance data gathering, automate workflows, and support decision-making. The Analyst will report to the Director of Asset Management. Key Responsibilities: Analyze potential acquisition and development sites, preparing complex discounted cash flow models and budgets for a variety of real estate assets. Build, maintain, and automate financial models in Excel; use advanced Excel functions and VBA/macros to streamline analysis. Utilize AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Python-based bots) to: Pull and aggregate market and financial data from multiple sources. Automate repetitive data tasks and reporting. Build simple bots or scripts to support investment analysis and research. Prepare concise summary documents and investor packages that clearly explain the basis of all analyses. Conduct market research using commercial databases, government sources, and AI-powered search tools. Assist with due diligence for acquisitions, including data collection, report preparation, and coordination with third parties. Monitor market trends, risks, and new investment products, using AI to track and summarize relevant news and data. Perform special projects, such as portfolio performance tracking, peer benchmarking, and ad hoc analysis as requested by management. Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in real estate, finance, business, or a related field. Demonstrated proficiency in Excel, including advanced formulas, pivot tables, and automation (VBA/macros). Experience using AI tools for data analysis, research, or workflow automation (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Python scripting, Power Query). Strong written and verbal communication skills. General knowledge of real estate and property management. Ability to work collaboratively with team members, senior management, and external partners. High attention to detail, analytical mindset, and a drive for continuous learning. Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel up to 25%. Preferred Skills: Experience building or deploying simple bots or scripts for data tasks. Familiarity with data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau). Interest in staying current with emerging AI and automation technologies. Who We Are We are honored to be recognized as a multi-award winning organization, including one of the Best Places to Work in Multifamily Housing. At CWS, we recognize these awards are won because our greatest asset is our people. CWS’ competitive advantage is to hire leaders with qualities which allow them to successfully interact with colleagues and others in the workplace and beyond. At the heart of CWS is our volunteer program, BRIDGE. This program was designed to provide employees with the opportunity to give back to their local communities through volunteerism and community involvement. BRIDGE is employee-directed, affording each the opportunity to find their own passion within their community. What We Do Since 1969, CWS has delivered exceptional living experiences for our customers. Over the years, our company has expanded and we’re proud to serve more than 60,000 residents and 800 team members across the country. We believe our success is a product of staying true to who we were at the onset. As a result, our daily actions are designed to deliver on our purpose of “Enhancing Lives the CWS Way!” What We Believe Through “Enhancing Lives the CWS Way,” our five core values we embody are: Honoring Our Word, Ethical Dealings are Paramount, A Respect for People, Requirement for Profitability and Sustainability, A Demand for Excellence with a Sense of Urgency.