Maud Cuenin

• Supporting Portfolio Managers by:
- Providing input in the determination of how a new strategy could be implemented (i.e.: describing the implications of implementing an extension strategy synthetically, in securities or through a pooled fund subscription),
- Helping ascertain whether certain types of investments are eligible for their portfolios,
- Preparing drafts and input for their investment guidelines,
- Coordinating the production of the required analysis for the Investment Strategy Committee and helping prepare their board memos,

• Negotiating contracts with underlying investment manager firms based globally for funds or separate accounts including the launch of a USD 4bn and a USD 3bn multi-asset class (including alternative investments such as commodities).

• Reviewing pooled funds prior to investing (fee structure, redemption terms, liability etc), briefing the portfolio managers on the implications of investing in pooled funds and having input in the procedure for subscribing to external funds.

• Explaining internally and externally the different methodologies used for performance fees (hurdle, high watermark, payout ratio) and having input in the procedures in relation to these.

• Working across departments including Operations, Compliance, Legal, Marketing, Sales and Investment Management to ensure hires of underlying investment managers in the Russell funds are implemented effectively.

• Speaking about underlying investment manager hires at board meetings,

• Working on Russell’s in-house stable of ISDA agreements with external counsel and coordinating with the underlying investment firms to enable them set up their own ISDA and clearing agreements.

• Giving internal and external presentations on various topics such as investing in pooled funds, risk controls or what my team does.

• Providing assistance to the client relationships / sales departments for RFPs and letters.

My team was doing the monitoring of all funds? investment restrictions.
These restrictions included cash and near cash levels, asset allocation, counterparty exposure, bond ratings, eligibility of issuers / markets / exchanges, cover, hedges, average duration of portfolio etc and also FSA regulations for regulated funds. Most restrictions were monitored on a daily basis and potential issues such as portfolio rebalancing are also discussed daily with Fund Managers.

Winner of an asset allocation game at Morley out of a group of 20 people having recently joined the company.

The department performs the compliance monitoring of Fund Managers’ transactions in accordance with the FSA Regulations.
Managed a portfolio of clients: Baring Asset Management, ING Real Estate Investment Management (pension fund) and T. Bailey Fund Managers.
Liaised with custodians on a daily basis for tax documentation, account opening/closing, trade settlement and tax reclaims.
* Won business from a competitor: 10 Baring Asset Management funds were transferred to us nine months after I started in the role.