COMPANY STATEMENT:
Founded in Toronto in 1962, Guardian Capital Group Limited (Guardian) is a global financial services company, which provides investment management services to institutional, retail and private high and ultra-high-net-worth clients through its subsidiaries. Guardian is headquartered in Canada and operates in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Caribbean. Guardian is a wholly owned subsidiary of Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc., which is part of the Desjardins Group. To learn more about Guardian, visit www.guardiancapital.com.
JOB STATEMENT:
The SMA Analyst plays a critical role in supporting the day-to-day operation, maintenance, and growth of the firm's Separately Managed Account programs. This position serves as a key liaison between Portfolio Management, Trading, Product, Compliance, Operations, Custodians, and external sponsor platforms to ensure efficient portfolio implementation and a superior client experience.
The successful candidate will oversee model portfolio administration, account onboarding and maintenance, portfolio monitoring, cash management, trading support, reconciliations, and reporting activities. This individual will contribute to process enhancements and scalable operational practices to support the continued expansion of the firm's SMA business.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
SMA Platform & Model Portfolio Management
- Maintain and administer model portfolios across multiple SMA sponsor and dealer platforms.
- Coordinate model updates with Portfolio Managers, Product Management, and Trading teams.
- Ensure timely and accurate implementation of model changes, rebalancing instructions, and portfolio adjustments.
- Monitor model integrity across platforms and investigate portfolio drift, allocation variances, and implementation exceptions.
- Support platform launches, model onboarding, and product enhancements.
- Act as the primary operational contact for external SMA sponsors, custodians, and technology vendors.
Trading & Portfolio Implementation Support
- Support model-driven trading activities and portfolio rebalancing initiatives.
- Establish and maintain trade orders within Charles River or other portfolio management systems.
- Review trade files and validate alignment with approved portfolio models.
- Investigate and resolve trade breaks, cash exceptions, and settlement issues.
- Work closely with Traders and Portfolio Managers to ensure efficient implementation of investment decisions.
Account Administration & Lifecycle Management
- Support the onboarding and setup of new SMA accounts, model assignments, and client restrictions.
- Process account updates including investment restrictions, client-directed changes, account transfers, and terminations.
- Maintain accurate client and account documentation in accordance with regulatory and internal requirements.
- Monitor account activity to ensure adherence to investment mandates and client guidelines.
Portfolio Oversight & Cash Management
- Reconcile daily cash balances, holdings, and transactions with custodians and sponsor platforms.
- Monitor cash levels and communicate funding, redemption, or trading requirements to Portfolio Managers and Traders.
- Review portfolios for compliance with investment guidelines, client restrictions, concentration limits, and regulatory requirements.
- Investigate and resolve discrepancies identified through reconciliation and monitoring processes.
Reporting & Data Management
- Produce regular and ad hoc reports relating to portfolio activity, cash movements, trading, restrictions monitoring, and SMA assets.
- Generate and maintain reconciliation reports for internal stakeholders and external partners.
- Support business intelligence and management reporting related to SMA program growth, platform assets, and operational metrics.
- Ensure the accuracy and integrity of account, portfolio, and model-related data.
Stakeholder Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Portfolio Management, Trading, Product, Compliance, Client Service, Fund Operations, and Technology teams to support SMA initiatives.
- Act as a resource for internal and external inquiries regarding SMA accounts, model implementation, and operational processes.
- Participate in new product launches, platform integrations, and strategic business initiatives.
- Contribute to process improvement initiatives designed to enhance scalability, efficiency, and risk controls.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned, to support departmental and organizational objectives.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:
- Undergraduate degree in Finance, Commerce, Business Administration, Economics, or a related discipline.
- 3-7 years of experience within asset management, investment operations, fund administration, portfolio administration, SMA operations, or institutional investment management.
- Experience working with separately managed accounts, model portfolios, mutual funds, ETFs, or institutional mandates is considered an asset.
- Progress toward or completion of the CFA, CIM, CSC, or related industry designation is preferred.
Technical Knowledge
- Strong understanding of portfolio management, trading workflows, and investment operations.
- Knowledge of Canadian investment products including mutual funds, ETFs, and separately managed accounts.
- Familiarity with portfolio accounting systems, Charles River (CRD), Bloomberg, custodial platforms, and reconciliation tools is an asset.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and strong analytical skills.
COMPENSATION:
- The base salary range is expected to be between $65,000 - 75,000 CAD, with eligibility for a discretionary bonus.
Please Note:
All applications submitted are reviewed in detail by our HR team. In certain aspects of the hiring process artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be used, specifically for screening and assessments. These tools support our team and are used to help bring relevant criteria to the foreground and do not replace human judgment. We are committed to using AI responsibly, fairly, and in compliance with applicable employment and anti-discrimination laws. We regularly review these tools to help prevent bias or discrimination.
