Senior Operational Due Diligence Analyst

At M&G our vision is: to become the best loved and most successful savings and investment business and we're looking for people who are excited about joining us on our journey. We're digitally transforming and investing heavily in technology and innovation to develop new and improved customer propositions that really raise the bar for our customers. To help us achieve our vision we're looking for exceptional people who live our values and behaviours and who can inspire others; embrace change; deliver results and keep it simple.

We know that an inclusive environment makes us more accessible and ensures we attract, engage, promote and retain exceptional people. We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender/gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity/nationality, disability, or military service and welcome those who have taken career breaks. We will consider flexible working arrangements or home working arrangements for any of our roles and also offer work place accommodations to ensure you have what you need to effectively deliver in your role.

What you can expect from us:
We are committed to creating an environment where you can be exceptional at all you do. To help us deliver this, we promise to:

• Challenge Your Limits by creating a stimulating working environment and providing opportunities for you to be involved in meaningful and challenging work
• Support Your Aspirations with a commitment to learning and development that helps you achieve and build your experience with people who want you to succeed
• Value Your Input whereby leaders and managers will involve you in key decisions, listen to your thoughts and recognise the important contribution you make
• Balance Your Life through a work life partnership that focuses on making this an inclusive, diverse and friendly place to work and offers the flexibility and support that enables everyone to be at their best

How do we support our employees:
All M&G plc employees will be supported in the workplace through our M&G Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). If you need counselling, confidential financial or legal advice. The service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and offers access to qualified professionals who can provide specialist information, advice and support on many issues. It offers a broad range of services, including help with family issues, maintaining work/life balance and mental health support.

The Role:

M&G Alternatives is the alternative assets management team within M&G plc that currently manages over £9.0 billion of assets across the strategies of Private Equity, Real Assets and Diversifying Strategies. The London based team currently consists of 15 dedicated investment professionals supported by a 12 person team of executives covering operational due diligence, portfolio management and functional support. M&G Alternatives has been investing on behalf of clients since 2000; the breadth of opportunity within alternative assets provides flexibility in deploying capital & generating attractive risk-adjusted returns and continues to be a growing asset class for M&G.
We are looking for a Senior Operational Due Diligence Analyst to join M&G Alternatives team. You will be responsible for delivering operational due diligence reviews (non-investment due diligence) ensuring all alternative investments meet the minimum standards required by M&G to make an investment. The process requires that both pre-investment and on-going due diligence is undertaken ensuring that information is current and relevant on all alternative investments and that the Alternatives Investment Committee is kept fully abreast of any relevant non-investment issues surrounding these holdings.
This role would suit someone with operational due diligence experience in private equity and private market funds. The ODD team at M&G does not operate in silo, they work closely alongside the Investment DD team and Legal DD team to identify any risks associated with the Manager/Fund, this provides the Senior ODD analyst with unique insight into the rational for investment and understanding of potential legal issues that may arise. The investments undertaken within the M&G Alternatives team are diverse and will provide the Senior ODD analyst with new and interesting asset classes for review.

Key Work Level Accountabilities:

Manager or Expert:

• For people managers, accountable for managing and motivating others to ensure quality of delivery to customers and stakeholders
• For technical specialists, accountable for delivering expert advice or service, using specialist knowledge and subject matter expertise
• Applies judgement to deliver outcomes, evaluating a range of potential solutions, considering the impact for customers, cost and risk
• Manages conflicts that may impact delivery
• Challenges upwards given knowledge of delivery and awareness of complex systems and the broader picture
• Identifies and anticipates need for changes to continuously improve quality and efficiency of output
• Manages resources and risks using expert judgment, know-how and experience

Key Responsibilities for this role:

• To work collaboratively with colleagues and take personal accountability to maintain and enhance controls you are responsible for to support improvement of the overall control environment, customers outcomes and a reduction in M&G's operational risk.
• To join the M&G Alternatives team as an experienced ODD analyst undertaking due diligence across the three underlying strategies of Private Equity, Real Assets and Diversifying Strategies. Specific tasks will involve (but are not restricted to) the following:
  • Work closely with the other members of the ODD team to complete operational due diligence on new and existing managers.
  • Present the key findings from pre-investment and on-going DD to the Alternatives Investment Committee.
  • Provide ongoing monitoring of ODD, review of financial statements and operational changes.
  • Assist in corporate actions relating to fund investment, relevant projects, data gathering and reference checks.
  • Stay current with all industry and regulatory developments to ensure the process adapts over time and remains relevant.
  • Ability to communicate to managers improvements in their operational practices.
  • Assist in improving and building out current practices along with supporting junior members of the team.
  • Undertake projects, business change as and when they arise.

Key Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• ODD experience of private equity, Infrastructure funds or diversifying strategies within private markets is sought.
• Comfortable interacting with new people and building relationships
• Strong analytical skills and ability to challenge poor operational practices
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work both individually and as a team member
• A conscientious manner, self-starter with good attention to detail and ability to deliver outputs in a timely manner

Work Level: Manager or Expert
Recruiter Name: Emily Northcott

We live by four behaviours at M&G and we ask all our employees to:

• Inspire Others - Support and encourage each other, creating an environment where everyone can contribute and succeed
• Embrace Change - Be open to change, willing to be challenged and able to adapt quickly and imaginatively to new ideas
• Deliver Results - Focus on outcomes, set high standards and deliver with energy and determination
• Keep it Simple - Cut through complexity and bureaucracy, be clear and decisive and never overcomplicate things