Alternatives Investment Intern (Finance)
ABOUT COLORADO PERA
Colorado Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA) provides retirement and other benefits to the employees of more than 500 government agencies and public entities in the state of Colorado. Established by state law in 1931, Colorado PERA invests more than $65 billion of retirement and Health Care Trust Fund assets for the sole benefit of the Plan's members. State law gives responsibility for the investment of PERA's funds to the PERA Board of Trustees.
JOB SUMMARY
Colorado PERA seeks an Alternative Investment Intern to temporarily join the Alternatives asset class team within the broader Colorado PERA investments function for a minimum of two academic semesters or up to six months. The Alternatives asset class manages 6% of the total plan assets with a focus on investing in Real Assets and Private Credit. The Intern will provide support to Portfolio Managers and the Director of the Alternatives Group.
The Intern will gain valuable experience participating in fast growing areas within the private markets. The Intern should expect to be involved in meeting leading investment managers and completing analysis of various topics within the space.
Internship candidates should be progressing towards a bachelor's or master's degree in Finance, Economics, Mathematics, or another quantitative field with a desire to participate in the financial services industry. Candidates must be available to work from Colorado PERA's offices in Denver, Colorado for 15-20 hours per week.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
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Assist with the review and evaluation of existing investments and prospective investment opportunities.
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Assist the team with the creation of Dashboards in PowerBI and other Tools to assist Portfolio Managers and Directors in evaluating opportunities and portfolio performance.
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Maintain various databases related to the investment process at Colorado PERA.
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Perform financial modeling to assist the investment team in forecasting.
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Active participation in conference calls and in-person meetings with investment managers, vendors, or other stakeholders.
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Completion of a final project to be presented to Colorado PERA leadership.
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Develop a working knowledge of PERA's asset allocation, investment process and internal performance reports.
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Perform other duties and tasks assigned by Alternatives staff, including duties customarily performed by a junior analyst or an administrative assistant.
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Strong work ethic, with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage simultaneous projects
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Uncompromising integrity and attention to detail and accuracy
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Excellent computer skills with experience using word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation software
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Strong verbal and written communication skills
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Ability to work independently, take initiative, and deliver quality work on schedule
QUALIFICATIONS
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Experience using PowerBI to create dashboards
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Formal training in Microsoft Office suite of products
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Excellent academic record along with a passion for independent research, capital markets and investments
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Candidates should possess an eagerness to learn about alternative investments and multi-asset class investing
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Career interest in research related to asset allocation, manager selection and risk management (Note: this position is not focused on individual security analysis)
WORKING CONDITIONS
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Standard office environment with regular computer and phone use
HYBRID WORK OPTION
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Opportunity to work from home as well as in office. Eligibility dependent upon factors detailed in PERA's Work from Home Policy.
JOB DESCRIPTION DISCLAIMER:
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of an employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or new ones may be assigned with or without notice.
Unfortunately, at this time, we cannot consider candidates that require sponsorship (now or in the future) or are located outside of the US.
All Colorado PERA employees are subject to PERA's Ethics Policy and some employees are subject to the Personal Trading Policy. These policies include restrictions on outside business activities and employment and have certain requirements on personal trading. You may request copies of these policies from PERA's talent acquisition team and any questions can be answered by PERA's Investment Administration team.
INTERESTED CANDIDATES
Complete the employment application online at https://www.copera.org/careers. Please have copies of your resume and cover letter available to upload. Please review the following questions. You will be asked for a response to these as part of your application:
- What specific courses or projects have you completed that directly relate to the responsibilities of this internship?
- How have your academic experiences influenced your decision to pursue this field or industry?
- How does this internship fit into your professional goals?
ABOUT COLORADO PERA
Looking for a career where you can make a difference? Colorado PERA offers benefit services to public employees across Colorado, including teachers, state troopers, snowplow drivers, correctional officers and many others who provide valuable services. As Colorado's largest pension plan, we serve and educate over 600,000 members who are former and current public employees.
At PERA you will earn more than a paycheck. PERA is a culture where you can grow your potential and work in an inclusive environment, where diverse perspectives are valued. We hire exceptional employees and recognize that our people are our best asset. Not only do we make sound investments for our members, PERA invests in our employees' growth through training and leadership opportunities.
To promote wellbeing, we offer hybrid or flexible working options for most roles and a total rewards and benefit program including health, dental and vision coverage - eligibility starts the first day of the month following the date of hire for most plans; generous paid time off and volunteer hours; pension and retirement plans, including PERA's defined benefit plan, 457 defined contribution plan, and 401(k) employer match, as applicable; tuition assistance; free, convenient on-site parking or RTD subsidy; free on-site fitness center to stay active; employee assistance program; training, leadership and mentoring programs and more. PERA is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness qualifying employer.
To learn more about life at PERA, watch this video or visit www.copera.org/careers.
Position Title: Alternatives Investment Intern
Division: Investments - Alternatives
Reports to: Manager/Director of Alternatives
Job Status: Internship / Part-time / Non-exempt
Salary: $25 hourly
Posting Dates: 01/03/2025 - 01/19/2025
