Asset Manager, Japan Real Estate

Job Description

Who we are

Aberdeen Investments is part of Aberdeen Group plc, one of the UK’s leading Wealth & Investments groups.

Strengthening talent and culture is one of our strategic priorities. We strive to make Aberdeen a great place to work so that we can attract and retain the industry’s best talent.

Our people put our stakeholders at the heart of everything they do by helping us to make a positive difference to the lives of our clients, customers, colleagues, shareholders and society.

We are repositioning our specialist asset management business to meet client demand and are committed to providing excellent client service, supported by leading technology and talent.

As a global business, Aberdeen consists of three divisions: Investments, Adviser, and interactive investor (ii). Each division is dedicated to meeting and adapting to our clients' evolving needs.

Our Asia Pacific Investments business has a large, dedicated and highly experienced investment team which has been investing across the region since 1985, and manages all our Asian products, including regional, country, smaller companies, and sustainable investing propositions.

The team has a strong regional footprint with offices in Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul, and Sydney. This breadth gives us close proximity to the companies we own and the markets we invest in. Our APAC operations have been based in Singapore since 1992. We invest in Asian companies to grow with them and to help them to become better investors.
 

Role Description: Japan Real Estate Senior Asset Manager and Transaction Manager is committed to build and manage real estate portfolio that meets with investors’ requirements to fullfill the Team’s responsibilities as the fund manager and the asset manager of properties in order to maximise the value of properties.  He or she is also expected to take leadership in acquisition related initiatives and responsibilities such as deal sourcing, underwriting, deal negotiations, loan procurement, assisting the team in conducting due diligence and closing of transactions as well as preparing presentation in order to obtain approvals from investors.

Reporting functionally to the Head of Japan Real Estate with a dotted line to the Country Head Japan.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

She or he shall perform the following responsibilities under instructions and supervision by Head of Japan Real Estate.

Asset Management

• Manage the invested assets, monitor revenue and expense, instrut property managers to maximize the value of assets.
• Set up value addition strategies for each Property with respect to leasing, rent review.
• Prepare annual business plan, leasing plan, capex plan and operating budgets for each asset
• Approve leasing proposals and capital expenditures submitted by property managers and monitor the cash flow from properties
• Review, approve and process monthly operational expense payment requests by property managers
• Prepare and process quarterly payments by the asset holding GKs and TMK such as loan interests, asset management fees, administration fees and other fees
• Ensure monthly and quarterly reporting requirements as required in the trust agreements and the loan/project agreements to trust banks and lenders are fulfilled timely on due dates
• Compile quarterly KPI figures for quarterly asset management reports for submission to investors.
• Obtain appraisal reports and submit it to lenders and investors
• Procure and execute non-recourse loan refinancing (once every 5 years)  and conduct due diligence and documentation as required
• Plan ESG related actions, obtain budget approval from investors and execute them. 
• Compiling data for submissions to GRESB (Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark) survey once a year.

Real Estate Transaction Management

• Source and underwrite properties for acquisition
• Manage and lead investment process by negotiating with sellers, brokers and lenders.
• Responsible for preparing quick scan (UW file) and investment memo for submissions to investors.
• Responsible for leading due diligence processes from registering pipeline properties to the list, executing confidentiality agreements, receiving data, arranging due diligence venders such as tenants AML screening vender, engineering surveyors, appraisers, boundary surveyors and judicial scrivener.
• Arrange and attend on-site visits by due diligence venders, lenders and trust banks.
• Provide data to and respond queries from due diligence venders, lenders and trust banks.
• Input key figures including rent roll information into underwriting excel files
• Procure non-Resources loans from lenders
• Prepare and execute closing documents and closing payment

Risk Management

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of compliance and dealing procedures
• Comply with all regulatory, legal, corporate and client mandates

Training and Development

• Build and maintain knowledge of abrdn internal operational process
• Participate and attend Continual Professional Development opportunities in order to maintain knowledge and skills

Key Attributes for the Role

• A good bachelor’s degree
• Excellent command of Japanese both in writing and speaking.   
• Over 7 years’ experience in the real estate industry
• Results-oriented and able to multi-task effectively in an extremely fast-paced environment, and work well within a team as well as independently
• High attention to detail and an excellent problem solver
• Be flexible and willing to learn from both internal team members as well as external counterparties.
• Collaborative nature as Portfolio Manager will work with various external counterparties such as accounting firms, property managers, lenders and trust banks
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Team player with ability to manage own workload
• Flexibility, adaptability, and respect for others’ views

We’re committed to providing an inclusive workplace where all forms of difference are valued and which is free from any form of unfair or unlawful treatment.  We define diversity in its broadest sense – this includes but is not limited to our diversity of educational and professional backgrounds, experience, cognitive and neurodiversity, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion or belief and ethnicity and geographical provenance.  We support a culture that values meritocracy, fairness and transparency and welcomes enquiries from everyone.

If you need assistance or an adjustment due to a disability please let us know as part of your application and we will assist.