ISSGovernance

Index Product Research & Development Principal

London, UK Full time

Let’s be #BrilliantTogether

ISS-STOXX is seeking a Senior Equity Specialist to join the Factor and Quantitative Index R&D team in London.

The Factor and Quantitative Index R&D team helps build and maintain systematic strategies by leveraging STOXX's flagship indices and Axioma's proprietary portfolio optimizer, factor-based risk models, and quantitative expertise. The group interacts with asset managers, asset owners, ETF providers, and investment banks to generate customized strategies to suit their investment needs.  The specialist will work closely with other members in the team on developing quantitative factor and sustainability (ESG and climate) equity indices at ISS-STOXX.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Develop quantitative factor and sustainability equity indices at ISS-STOXX.

  • Maintain the existing code and software processes in GitHub using industry standards and best practices for archival, revision control, peer review, and release management.

  • Manage the existing book of STOXX flagship and iSTOXX client driven optimized indices.

  • Research factor and sustainable value propositions for clients including asset managers, asset owners, and ETF providers and present them in research papers and blog posts.

  • Deliver timely response to client index inquiries and troubleshoot complex client issues.

  • Understand STOXX’s flagship benchmark offerings and Axioma’s product offerings including the portfolio optimizer, factor risk models, and performance attribution.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Quantitative finance background. Prior Industry experience is a plus. Advanced degree such as a master’s degree in quantitative finance, Computer Science, or Operations Research or a professional certification such as CFA is a plus.

  • Understanding passive investing, smart-beta, and sustainable investment themes in equities.

  • Understanding of mean-variance optimization (MVO) portfolio construction techniques, and risk modeling techniques including the use of factor models. 

  • A minimum of five years’ experience with Axioma’s flagship product offerings including Axioma Portfolio Optimizer (APO), Axioma factor risk models, and Axioma Portfolio Analytics (APA).

  • Prior experience in back testing passive quantitative strategies either in an industry role or in a research project, especially ones used in generating factor and sustainable equity indices.

  • A minimum of five years coding experience in Python and SQL including the use of REST APIs.

  • Experience in C++ and Java is a plus.

  • Strong analytical programming and data manipulation skills, ideally including handling of large/ noisy / incomplete ESG data sets.

  • Team player with collaborative and strong people skills.

  • Leadership skills including the ability to supervise junior team members on client projects.

  • Ability to quickly understand existing approaches and apply them to new problems.

  • Effective communication and documentation skills including the ability to present technical concepts to a wide range of audiences and work effectively across teams.

#LI-TG1 #STOXX #DIRECTOR

What You Can Expect from Us

At ISS STOXX, our people are our driving force. We are committed to building a culture that values diverse skills, perspectives, and experiences. We hire the best talent in our industry and empower them with the resources, support, and opportunities to grow—professionally and personally.

 

Together, we foster an environment that fuels creativity, drives innovation, and shapes our future success.

 

Let’s empower, collaborate, and inspire.

 

Let’s be #BrilliantTogether.

About ISS STOXX

ISS STOXX GmbH is a leading provider of research and technology solutions for the financial market. Established in 1985, we offer top-notch benchmark and custom indices globally, helping clients identify investment opportunities and manage portfolio risks. Our services cover corporate governance, sustainability, cyber risk, and fund intelligence. Majority-owned by Deutsche Börse Group, ISS STOXX has over 3,400 professionals in 33 locations worldwide, serving around 6,400 clients, including institutional investors and companies focused on ESG, cyber, and governance risk. Clients trust our expertise to make informed decisions for their stakeholders' benefit. 

STOXX® and DAX® indices comprise a global and comprehensive family of more than 17,000 strictly rules-based and transparent indices. Best known for the leading European equity indices EURO STOXX 50®, STOXX® Europe 600 and DAX®, the portfolio of index solutions consists of total market, benchmark, blue-chip, sustainability, thematic and factor-based indices covering a complete set of world, regional and country markets. STOXX and DAX indices are licensed to more than 550 companies around the world for benchmarking purposes and as underlyings for ETFs, futures and options, structured products, and passively managed investment funds. STOXX Ltd., part of the ISS STOXX group of companies, is the administrator of the STOXX and DAX indices under the European Benchmark Regulation. 

Visit our website: https://www.issgovernance.com       

View additional open roles: https://www.issgovernance.com/join-the-iss-team/      

Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”) is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion. It is our policy to prohibit discrimination or harassment against any applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, creed, religion, sex, age, height, weight, citizenship status, national origin, social origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, pregnancy status, marital status, familial status, mental or physical disability, veteran status, military service or status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law (referred to as “protected status”).  All activities including, but not limited to, recruiting and hiring, recruitment advertising, promotions, performance appraisals, training, job assignments, compensation, demotions, transfers, terminations (including layoffs), benefits, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment, are and will be administered on a non-discriminatory basis, consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local requirements.