Portfolio Manager Equities

Role Overview

This role is centered on overseeing portfolio management activities to ensure risk-adjusted returns align with the Investment Policy Statement (IPS), regulatory mandates, and Asset–Liability Management (ALM) goals. Responsibilities include strategic portfolio construction, selecting securities, executing trades, continuous surveillance, reporting, and optimization within approved asset categories.

Primary Duties

• Design and execute portfolio strategies that reflect IPS, ALM balance, liquidity requirements, capital limits, and expected returns.
• Build and maintain diversified portfolios across authorized asset types such as government bonds, corporate debt, money market instruments, listed equities, collective investment schemes, and permitted alternative assets.
• Manage portfolio duration, credit risk, sector exposure, and currency risk to align with liability structures and the institution’s risk tolerance.
• Spot market opportunities and adjust tactical positioning within established boundaries.
• Conduct fundamental and quantitative investment analysis including macroeconomic trends, interest rate predictions, creditworthiness, and equity valuation.
• Perform thorough due diligence on issuers, funds, brokers, and counterparties; maintain an approved entities list and monitor exposure levels.
• Prepare detailed investment notes and recommendations for review by the Board and Management Investment Committee.
• Carry out trade execution adhering to mandate guidelines, best execution policies, and delegated authority limits.
• Establish and nurture productive relationships with market participants such as banks, brokers, fund managers, custodians, and rating agencies to facilitate liquidity and gain market insights.
• Coordinate with operations and custody teams to ensure accurate trade recording, confirmations, and settlements.
• Monitor various portfolio risks — including market, credit, liquidity, concentration, duration, and counterparty risks — ensuring compliance with limits and regulatory investment rules.
• Adhere strictly to internal policies (including IPS, trading, conflict of interest, related party rules) as well as regulatory frameworks governed by IRA, CMA, etc.
• Support and participate in stress testing, scenario simulations, and ALM reviews, implementing remedial measures as necessary.
• Continuously track portfolio performance against benchmarks and objectives, analyze return drivers such as allocation, security selection, carry, duration, and credit spreads.
• Produce and present periodic investment performance, risk, compliance, and ESG reports for management, the Investment Committee, and Board.
• Ensure accurate valuation inputs, collaborate with Finance for month-end processes, IFRS 9 classifications, and forecast investment income appropriately.
• Collaborate with Actuarial, Risk, Finance, and other business units to synchronize investment strategies with product guarantees, reserve assumptions, and liquidity considerations.
• Facilitate audits, regulatory requests, and internal assurance by providing prompt and thorough data, documentation, and clarifications.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of 5 to 8 years’ professional engagement in portfolio management, treasury functions, investment research, or asset management within financial services.
• Verified experience managing fixed income and/or multi-asset class portfolios with a solid grasp of benchmarks and return attribution.
• Prior exposure to insurance investment environments (including ALM, liquidity supervision, and regulatory investment restrictions) is beneficial.
• Educational background with a bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Actuarial Science, Accounting, Mathematics, Statistics, or related disciplines is mandatory.
• Comprehensive knowledge of financial markets, fixed income instruments, and investment risk control.

Desirable Credentials

• Progress towards or completion of CFA Level II or III.
• Financial Risk Manager (FRM) certification or other recognised risk management qualifications.
• Advanced degrees such as MBA or MSc in Finance.

Technical and Leadership Competencies

• In-depth understanding of investment regulatory frameworks, permissible assets, concentration restrictions, and governance protocols.
• Expertise in ALM principles including duration matching, liquidity management, stress testing, and solvency/capital impact analysis.
• Awareness of capital markets regulation and market conduct standards.
• Proficiency in portfolio construction, asset allocation, rebalancing, fixed income analytics (duration, convexity, yield curves, spread risks), credit evaluation, equity valuation, and macro-market analysis.
• Capability in performance measurement, return attribution, and managing benchmarks.
• Advanced skills in Excel and financial modeling; experienced use of portfolio management systems and data services such as Bloomberg or Refinitiv.
• Exhibit high integrity with a meticulous risk and control orientation.
• Exercise sound judgment under uncertainty and maintain disciplined decision-making practices.
• Strong stakeholder communication skills to effectively explain portfolio performance, associated risks, and strategy to diverse audiences.
• Detail-focused, analytical, and accountable with respect to outcomes.

Employment Details

Position is offered by Equity Group Holdings as a full-time day job at their Kenya location at manager level.