INVESTMENT ANALYST 3

Code: 52485 Unknown Unknown Hire up to Step 9

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under the general direction of a supervisory official in the Division of Investment, Department of the Treasury, is responsible for monitoring detailed analyses of stocks, bonds, and other types of securities, the preparation and distribution of Supervisory Bulletins and Fund Analyses in accordance with schedules set by the State Investment Council, and for the training and supervision of Investment Analysts 1, 2, Trainees, and Investment Technicians. Investment Analysts 3 generally follow a greater number of company stocks and bonds than Investment Analysts 1 and 2. The work of Investment Analysts 3, and their supervision of the work of other analysts in the Division of Investment, has direct impact on the value of assets of the State's pension fund. Supervises staff and work activities. Prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees. Prepares comprehensive reports on securities containing statistical information, descriptions, breakdowns of company activities, earnings outlook, financial position, conclusions, and recommendations on buying or selling these securities. Prepares and supervises the preparation and distribution of Investment Supervisory Bulletins using knowledge of companies, financing, and New Jersey laws and regulations. Approximately 10 bulletins are issued annually reviewing particular groups of stocks and bonds held by the State of New Jersey Investment Funds and provides conclusions and recommendations to the State Investment Council. Supervises the preparation and distribution of Fund Analyses of State of New Jersey funds. Is responsible for the analytical supervision of bond holdings of various New Jersey Funds, closely monitoring potential changes in quality credit ratings, and communicating opinions to investment staff involved with portfolio management. Communicates results of financial analyses to investment staff and the State Investment Council through annual presentations, memoranda, reports, and consultation with investment officers who sit on the Equity Committee. Develops and maintains sources of information on financial health of companies by attending outside meetings and conferences, and conferring with brokers, industry analysts, and other sources, and analyzing a wide range of written materials. Obtains information on the financial health of companies by arranging meetings with top corporate officials and preparing detailed questions for those meetings based on knowledge of the industry and company. This may require frequent travel and overtime. Uses ongoing financial analysis to identify stocks and securities from smaller, less well-known companies. This requires additional detailed financial research because financial information on smaller companies is less readily available from brokerage houses and other sources. Supervises the work of Investment Analysts 1, 2, Trainees, and Investment Technicians by assigning a schedule of Investment Supervisory Bulletins and Fund Analyses to be prepared; trains them in financial analysis, assists them in complex problems such as interpreting a company's new accounting system or a bond indenture, and organizing, assigning, and supervising work on short-term projects such as preparing biannual projections on earnings of New Jersey companies for use by the State Division of Taxation. Prepares detailed correspondence in the course of official duties. Maintains essential records, reports, analyses, and files. Supervises the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate, and up-to-date reports on complex investment and securities matters. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Knowledge of modern investment practices, procedures, problems, and analysis. Knowledge of statistical theory, practices, and techniques and their application to security analysis. Knowledge of the methods used to evaluate and monitor the quality of activities and operations of public and privately held companies, including criteria for ranking companies. Knowledge of balance sheets, profit and loss statements, cash flow statements, 10-k reports, cost accounting, and other corporate documents. Knowledge of financial, economic, regulatory trends, and information sources in assigned industries. Knowledge of mortgage backed securities. Knowledge of the Federal Tax Code as it relates to the corporate sector. Knowledge of foreign currency. Knowledge of American Depository Receipts (ADR). Knowledge of mathematics to check financial ratios calculated by brokerage houses. Knowledge of computers and computerized databases as a means of obtaining financial data, including current financial data and economic forecasts. Knowledge of the methods utilized in developing economic models and financial protections. Knowledge of laws of New Jersey, the pertinent regulations of the Federal Government, and rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures of the Department of the Treasury pertaining to State Investments. Knowledge of methods and techniques used by companies to finance growth both short and long term involving bank borrowing, commercial paper, and so forth, sale of debt and/or equity, and the resulting impact on corporate strength and earnings. Knowledge of companies whose securities are held by the State of New Jersey. Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit. Ability to organize assigned financial analysis, and develop effective work methods to carry out the analysis. Ability to analyze, interpret, and apply laws and regulations governing financial analysis and financial transactions. Ability to obtain accurate, timely financial information from a variety of sources. Ability to judge accuracy of statements and information provided by company officials in meetings. Ability to plan, organize, and supervise investment research activity. Ability to present well-documented opinions and recommendations both orally and in written form to senior members of the Division of Investment staff. Ability to analyze and evaluate high risk investments. Ability to develop recommendations concerning State of New Jersey securities holdings. Ability to monitor and evaluate economic trends and fundamental conditions of individual securities within assigned industry groupings. Ability to conduct ongoing financial analyses of the status of stocks, bonds, and other securities. Ability to make continuing studies and analyses of assigned investment projects to determine all pertinent facts. Ability to develop financial projections using econometric models. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical material dealing with common stocks and convertible security holdings. Ability to keep current with changes in accounting practices and the impact these changes have on corporate balance sheets, earnings, and cash flow. Ability to read and interpret research reports and keep supervisory staff advised of investment recommendations. Ability to evaluate and monitor quality of activities and operations of publicly and privately-owned companies on a fundamental basis. Ability to evaluate and interpret the balance sheet, Profit and Loss Statement, any litigation, cash flow statement, 10-K reports, annual reports, and other pertinent corporate documents. Ability to conduct interviews with top corporate officials and other individuals and groups. Ability to maintain statistics and charts of common stocks in current conditions. Ability to prepare correspondence in the course of official duties. Ability to prepare clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative financial reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Eight (8) years of professional experience with a public or private entity such as a bank, insurance company, public or private pension fund, or professional money management organization engaged solely in institutional investment research activity, which shall have been within the most recent eight (8) year period; including or supplemented by eighteen (18) semester hour credits in any one or combination of the following areas: accounting, finance, money and banking, statistics, economics, or investments. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, including or supplemented by eighteen (18) semester hour credits in any one or combination of the following areas: accounting, finance, money and banking, statistics, economics, or investments; and four (4) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, which shall have been within the most recent eight (8) year period. OR A Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Business Administration (M.B.A.), Accounting, Finance, Economics, or related field; and four (4) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, which shall have been within the most recent eight (8) year period. Experience involving retail investment and retail research will not be acceptable. Experience as a registered representative for individuals is not acceptable for this position. "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions.