Client Relations Associate

Position Summary: 

The Client Relations Associate is responsible for synthesizing, analyzing, and explaining Ariel’s philosophy, processes, and portfolios across a variety of audiences. The Associate will be responsible for understanding Ariel’s investment process and articulating how we use it. This individual will be responsible for generating our marketing and client materials while helping maintain information within our Client Relationship Management system. They will also work on Request For Proposals (RFPs), Requests For Information (RFIs), and Client Due Diligence Questionnaires (DDQs) from prospects, clients, third parties, intermediaries, and financial advisors, while ensuring quality in order to produce superior proposals/responses. This individual will serve as a liaison between Institutional Client & Investor Relations and other departments to ensure consistent messaging across teams. Additionally, this person will play a meaningful part in upholding the firm’s strong reputation by delivering high-quality reporting and service.  Proof of vaccination is required.  The hybrid work model is T-TH in the office, and M & W is generally remote.  In-office time may be required on M & W for business and client needs. 

Responsibilities: 

• Run point on the creation and production of marketing and client materials, including presentation books, client statements, client and meeting briefs
• Maintain marketing materials, organizational charts, staff lists, professional experience, turnover, and diversity documents
• Work with other members of the team on RFP’s, RFI’s, and DDQ’s from receipt to interdepartmental review to proofing, ensuring the completed proposal is sent to the requestor on time.
• Ensure content responses meet the specific needs of each question.
• Manage monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting, ensuring deadlines are honored.
• Responsible for communicating Ariel’s philosophy, process, and performance to external parties.
• Ensure all departmental correspondence is professionally produced and compliant with regulatory standards.

Qualifications: 

 Required: 

• Minimum 1 year (ideally 1-3 years) in Finance
• Experience with the RFP process in the investment management industry, very strong plus
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities of a time-sensitive nature
• Track record of being a strong team player who shows ownership of work outcomes
• Prior writing experience a plus
• Proven ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing 
• Track record demonstrating strong business acumen and the ability to explain problems and solutions effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Demonstrated multi-tasking experience essential

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Will require completion of Series 7 and 63 FINRA registration and licensure within the first 120 days of being in this role.   

Computer Skills Needed to Perform this Job

• Extensive knowledge of Microsoft Suite

Competencies: 

• Time Management - Uses his/her time effectively and efficiently; values time; concentrates his/her efforts on the more important priorities; gets more done in less time than others; can attend to a broader range of activities.
• Process Management - Good at figuring out the processes necessary to get things done; knows how to organize people and activities; understands how to separate and combine tasks into an efficient workflow; knows what to measure and how to measure it; can see opportunities for synergy and integration where others can't; can simplify complex processes; gets more out of fewer resource.
• Action Oriented - Enjoys working hard; is action-oriented and full of energy for the things that he/she sees as challenging; not fearful of acting with a minimum of planning; seizes more opportunities than others.
• Integrity and Trust - Is widely trusted; is seen as a direct, truthful individual; can present the unvarnished truth in an appropriate and helpful manner; keeps confidences; admits mistakes; doesn't misrepresent him/herself for personal gain.
• Communicate Effectively - Is able to clearly and succinctly communicate verbally and in writing in a variety of settings and styles; can get messages across that have the desired effect.
• Learning on the Fly - Learns quickly when facing new problems; a relentless and versatile learner; open to change; analyzes both successes and failures for clues to improvement; experiments and will try anything to find solutions; enjoys the challenge of unfamiliar tasks; quickly grasps the essence and the underlying structure of anything.