The posting
About StepStone
We are global private markets specialists delivering tailored investment solutions, advisory services, and impactful, data-driven insights to the world's investors. Leveraging the power of our platform and our intelligence across sectors, strategies, and geographies, we help identify the advantages and answers our clients need to succeed.
StepStone (Nasdaq: STEP) is a global private markets specialist overseeing over US$723 billion of private capital allocations, including approximately US$199 billion of assets under management.
StepStone Portfolio Analytics and Reporting ("SPAR") maintains the Firm's private markets data universe and delivers the analytics, reporting, and portfolio monitoring that underpin StepStone's investment and client service platform. The team works across the Firm's Data and Risk Operations ("DARO"), Client Relationship Management, Accounting, and Investor Relations functions to produce accurate, reliable, and consistent data for clients and the investment team.
Position Overview
StepStone is seeking candidates with strong quantitative, analytical, and interpersonal skills for a Senior Associate position within SPAR in the Firm's Singapore office.
The Senior Associate will work as part of the Data and Risk Operations team and will be accountable for the Fundamental Core responsibilities described below, working closely with Client Relationship Managers ("CRMs"), Accounting, and Investor Relations to support client deliverables and provide analytical support to the Firm's investment teams.
Beyond core operations, the Senior Associate is expected to take on leadership responsibilities. The role owns reviewer mandates, develops and improves core operating processes, contributes to documentation and compliance standards, and provides ongoing guidance to preparers and interns. The Senior Associate will also participate in Rotational Learning Opportunities ("RLO") and Expanded Scope Opportunities on a progressive basis while maintaining accurate, reliable, and consistent results across all Fundamental Core responsibilities.
The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field, together with relevant experience in private markets data operations, fund accounting, investment reporting, or a related area. The Senior Associate will adhere to high ethical standards and demonstrate sound professional judgement, reliability, and strong attention to detail.
Job Functions
- Contribute to the overall success of the SPAR private markets data universe, including cashflows, NAV reconciliations, asset-level (portfolio company) data, and portfolio company metrics, with a focus on verification.
- Process data from private markets general partners, including the entry, review, and reconciliation of capital account statements, cashflows, financial statements, and reported operating metrics.
- Complete daily assigned work supporting team-wide goals, including additional reviewer mandate items as needed to support and enhance the impact and effectiveness of the global team.
- Act as an owner, leader, and improver of the DARO reviewer program, demonstrating independence, awareness, and a strong contribution to quality.
- Lead and develop core operations teams and processes, contributing to team-wide efforts relating to documentation, compliance, promotion of best practices, and continuous improvement within core operations.
- Serve as local operational leadership where required, supporting others and improving the global DARO function, and provide ongoing guidance and support to preparers and interns.
- Develop meaningful contributions outside the core operations space, which may include expanded scope responsibilities, RLO leadership, additional initiatives such as the Catalyst series or Local Roundup, and recurring DataSquad participation.
- Maintain quality standards and prioritise tasks to ensure deadlines are met while performing Fundamental Core data processing responsibilities. Escalate in advance to Functional Team Captains and client teams where there are concerns that a deadline may not be met.
- Identify areas of concern arising from insufficient or inaccurate information while processing private markets data and escalate these to the appropriate Functional Team Captains and client teams.
- Follow DARO protocols to contact general partners where necessary to clarify unclear data and request supplemental information, while maintaining appropriate professional standards.
- Develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully complete all Fundamental Core responsibilities and qualify for Expanded Scope Opportunities.
Rotational Learning Opportunities and Expanded Scope Opportunities May Include
- Volunteering to assist with specific team-wide and department-wide projects and identifying initiatives that contribute to the overall success of SPAR and the Firm.
- Mentoring and assisting other members of the SPAR Analyst Program in their continued professional development and acquisition of relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities.
- Participating in elected rotational learning opportunities and performing other duties as requested or as responsibilities dictate.
Leadership Opportunities May Include
- Volunteering to assist with or lead specific campaigns.
- Serving as an owner within the DARO leadership team, providing daily operational direction to global teams and ongoing training and development to team members.
- Developing new and updated procedural improvements that benefit the global DARO system.
Technical Skills
Specific technical skills, with the level of knowledge and proficiency required to successfully perform the Fundamental Core responsibilities, include:
- Building and maintaining data models and measures in DAX and developing reporting in Power BI to support portfolio analytics and client deliverables.
- Using Excel Power Query Editor to extract, transform, and load private markets data from general partner source documents.
- Writing SQL to query, reconcile, and validate data held in the SPAR private markets data universe.
- Reconciling capital account statements, cashflows, and financial statements from private markets general partners and reviewing the work of preparers for accuracy and completeness.
- Applying working knowledge of financial accounting to interpret partnership financial statements, NAV movements, and portfolio company operating metrics.
- Using Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Power BI to prepare analyses, reconciliations, and reporting materials.
Education and Experience Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field.
- At least 7 years of relevant experience in private markets data operations, fund accounting, investment reporting, or a related area within financial services.
Other Requirements
- Team-oriented, with strong follow-up skills and attention to accuracy and detail.
- Strong ability to manage multiple priorities and time effectively in a detail-oriented, deadline-driven environment.
- Self-starter with the ability to identify and investigate issues or inconsistencies in data.
- Demonstrated initiative, independence, adaptability, and a strong work ethic.
- Strong analytical, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to represent the Firm professionally in written and interpersonal communications.
- Interest in global financial markets and flexibility to perform multiple functions as the Firm continues to grow and develop.
Equal Opportunity
At StepStone, we believe our people are an important part of our success. We strive to create an environment that empowers employees and allows them to be heard, regardless of title or tenure. Our organisational community features multiple Employee Resource Groups as well as mentorship programs to enhance the employee experience.
StepStone is committed to fair and merit-based employment practices. We provide equal employment opportunities and assess candidates based on their skills, qualifications, experience, and suitability for the role.
