Client Services Associate

Lazard is one of the world’s leading financial advisory and asset management firms. Our people make the difference. With just over 3,000 employees, our tight-knit community allows for professionals eager to learn and willing to teach to connect and grow together. We believe that inclusion, diversity, equity and allyship are not just business imperatives- they are central pillars ofour employee experience. Our entrepreneurial culture and flat structure allow creative ideas and original concepts to drive our business forward – and for careers to take flight.

The purpose of our asset management business is to help our clients invest for the future- whether it’s for retirement, to grow and preserve inter-generational wealth, or to benefit the organizations that make our world smarter, healthier and more sustainable.

Department: Institutions Client Service Team

Position: Client Service Associate (CSA)

Reporting to:  Co-Heads of Client Service (UK)

As part of the Client Service Team, this role entails day-to-day support to a team of Client Relationship Managers (CRMs) on their client portfolios of predominantly UK, European and Middle East institutional clients.  The specific client mandates range from developed and emerging markets equity and debt strategies, with sustainable investments, quantitative equity and emerging markets debt forming the largest growth component of our business.  

We’ll trust you to:

• Be the daily point contact for circa 10-20 clients and will be expected to contribute to the client experience at Lazard. This will range from Lazard fund invested clients to fully discretionary segregated client mandates.
• Work directly with our clients and their investment consultants on all queries and requests for information.
• Provide a prompt response to client queries which will require you to coordinate with multiple internal stakeholders across our global business to obtain accurate and timely information for Portfolio Management, ESG/Sustainable, RFP/Marketing, Legal & Compliance and Operational teams, whereby you will be expected to work closely with these departments as our internal clients and build long term relationships with these teams.
• Be responsible for all service & reporting requirements for your clients. From oversight of Lazard’s outsourced providers’ periodic reports to the production of quarterly investment reviews and other regular or custom reporting. As part of this, you will be required to work closely with our Client Reporting Specialist and IT Development teams with respect to any automation.
• Ensure all tasks are fulfilled within the required timeframes.
• Coordinate and assist in the production of client meeting books, ensuring any materials and meetings notes are captured in Salesforce.
• Participate with client transitions; working as part of a team to ensure the successful and timely onboarding of new client mandates.
• Ensure client records and documentation is maintained and is accurate in our Client Relationship Management System (Salesforce) as well as our Client Reporting Database.
• Carryout general client account administration, working with our NY-based Account Services Group to ensure all the required legal and regulatory documentation is held on file.
• Be actively involved with existing and new projects both related to our clients directly, and to the wider client requirements.

You’ll need to have:

The role requires someone who has demonstrated strong client service excellence, who can build and maintain good relationships both internally and externally with clients. The individual is both diligent and proactive with an excellent eye for detail. Crucially, the right person will have a flexible mindset and comfortable working both independently and collaboratively on all tasks and projects.

The candidate should have 3 to 5 years’ experience (or equivalent) of working within an institutional client service team for an active asset manager with the ability and desire to work closely with the investment teams to develop a good understanding of our strategies and communicate clearly to clients the characteristics of their investments and the factors driving returns.

• Proven experience in institutional asset management in a client service / reporting role
• Good understanding of different asset classes and both active fundamental and quantitative investment approaches
• Excellent communication skills and confidence in dealing with clients and internal stakeholders
• Strong emphasis on relationship building, client satisfaction and service, including responding to clients on a timely basis
• Attention to detail and accuracy in all matters
• Strong analytical ability and in depth understanding of detailed investment reports, portfolio valuations, transaction statements, etc
• Good time management skills, flexible mindset and adaptability to cyclical nature of role
• Able to meet demanding periodic reporting deadlines
• Desire to further career in institutional client relationship management
• Genuine interest in asset management and finance
• Ideally candidate would hold the Investment Management Certificate (IMC) qualification or be prepared to obtain it within 18 months of joining
• Advanced Excel (Macros/VLookup functions desirable), MS Office including PowerPoint 
• Familiarity with Seismic, Salesforce, Appian/Atlassian applications would be advantageous

What’s in it for you?

We strive to enhance the total health and well-being of our employees. Our goal is to support and enable our people to balance their commitments to career, family and community.

We believe in an employee experience that is a highly individualized. We listen to what our people need and want, and create programs and initiatives designed to inform, include, and connect. When you work for Lazard, you are working for an organization that will continue to invest in your career and development.

Does this sound like you?

Apply! We’ll get in touch on the next steps.

Diversity and Inclusion at Lazard

Lazard is an intellectual capital business focused on delivering the best advice and solutions to clients. Achieving these objectives requires us to identify, develop and retain the best talent. A workforce comprised of people with varied backgrounds and experiences creates a rich diversity of thought that empowers us to challenge conventional wisdom, as diverse perspectives lead to better decisions.

Our appreciation of diversity’s strength is ingrained in our multi-cultural heritage. As a global firm that has grown organically from local roots in different countries, we have a deep tradition of respect for individual differences, which has been core to our success for several decades. The ongoing cultivation of diversity and an inclusive, equitable culture are essential to our continued growth.

We are committed to sustaining an environment in which all employees – regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation (known as "Protected Characteristics" – can bring their whole selves to work to maximise their individual potential and our collective success.

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