The investment research section is in charge of creating proposals for portfolio managers on companies and industries that they track. There are various investment research careers which include junior research associate, junior research analyst, senior research analyst and research associate.
Generally senior analysts who work on the sell-side have a minimum of three years research experience after MBA or more than six years experience after graduation. While on the buy-side, fresh graduates in MBA get the senior analyst position.
The research associate or analyst is mostly a sell-side job position for fresh MBA graduates. These job positions are occupied for many years. Both types of companies, buy-side and sell-side hire research associates who are mostly fresh college graduates. Usually, it takes two to three years to be at a senior position.
Investment Research Associate:
Investment research associates perform along side senior research analysts or associate-analysts in bidding investment proposals for portfolio managers. Fresh college graduates will work for 2-3 years as associates. Though, most successful investment research associates are frequently encouraged to be an associate-analyst.
The investment research associate assist in supervising the firms and updates within organizations covered in the industry and to revise financial models consequently. Investment research associates gather information for industry data services, company meetings, calls as well as surveys. Investment research associate offers support to the senior analyst in the building of proposal reports which are forwarded to the portfolio managers. In particular, the investment research associates revises charts and also statistical parts of the report.
Investment research associates need a good quantitative knowledge along with primary working information about accounting, financial analysis, financial markets and statistics. Along with a strong quantitative background, research associates should be detail oriented, have analytical problem solving skills, industrious, and excellent communication skills. Mostly, investment firms are seeking candidates with finance or accounting as majors for such jobs.