StepStone is seeking candidates with excellent quantitative, qualitative and interpersonal skills for an Analyst position on StepStone’s Real Estate team, based in the Firm’s Singapore office. The Analyst’s primary role is to engage in sector-focused research across the real estate private equity industry — including opportunistic, value-add, core and credit strategies — with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region.
The Analyst will work in a team environment with other Research and Investment team members to target and perform due diligence on selected real estate private equity fund managers; analyze PPMs, financial statements and investment returns; and conduct reference calls and personal interviews. In addition, the Analyst will work with the co-investment and secondary teams to source, diligence and execute transactions. The Analyst will have the opportunity to present recommendations, with the investment team, to the Firm’s Real Estate Investment Committee.
StepStone prides itself on the Firm’s collegial atmosphere, encouraging team-building initiatives and a collaborative approach to accomplishing projects. The Analyst will have exposure to all levels of the Firm, from Partners to fellow Analysts, daily, and will often interact with many of the top fund managers in the real estate private equity industry.
The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor’s degree and a background in real estate, private equity, investment banking, consulting or other relevant industries. The Analyst will adhere to the highest ethical standards, as well as demonstrate maturity, reliability and attentiveness to detail.
Essential Job Functions
- Perform market research using publicly available information and proprietary databases to identify, quantify and analyze macroeconomic and real estate trends across Asia-Pacific markets and property sectors
- Interpret financial analyses prepared by target fund managers, including investment track records, financial statement analysis and fund models; perform valuation and underwriting analyses on underlying assets
- Support senior Research and Advisory staff on sourcing and managing the inflow of investment opportunities
- Assess marketing and supporting materials of prospective fund managers to identify key value drivers and important areas for further investigation
- Conduct phone interviews with senior executives to gather insights regarding the style and effectiveness of target fund managers
- Form an independent opinion about the attractiveness of a sector or investment opportunity
- Construct an argument around an opinion and efficiently communicate that argument both verbally and in written materials; defend a position in a team environment, including Investment Committee meetings
- Use creativity to source and analyze data and to test hypotheses regarding the attractiveness of specific sectors and investment opportunities
- Prepare for and participate in meetings with managers and conduct on-going due diligence
- Perform financial modeling and sensitivity analyses related to co-investment and secondary opportunities
- Draft investment memorandums and presentations related to fund, co-investment and secondary diligences
- Analyze and monitor the performance of the Firm’s existing fund managers and underlying portfolio companies
Education and/or Work Experience Requirements
- BA/BS from a leading university in Real Estate, Finance, Economics, Accounting, Law or equivalent relevant field; top-quartile academic background
- Demonstrated track record of academic and professional success
- Prior internships or work experience in private equity real estate, investment banking, consulting or other relevant field (1+ years preferred)
- Availability to travel regionally throughout Asia (Greater China, Korea, Japan, India, Australia, Southeast Asia, etc.
Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Flexibility to work within StepStone’s dynamic and entrepreneurial organization; all professionals are expected to perform multiple functions as the firm continues to grow and develop
- Developing investment judgment and general understanding of risk/reward trade-offsAbility to represent the Firm credibly in written and interpersonal communications
- Demonstrable analytical capabilities, including strong quantitative/modeling skillsLeadership potentialHigh proficiency in Word, PowerPoint and Excel
- Applied experience in valuation and investment analysis
- Promote and demonstrate a positive, team-oriented attitude
