Baillie Gifford
Senior Portfolio Risk Analyst
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Job Title
Senior Portfolio Risk Analyst
Department
Investment Risk, Analytics and Research-BG-UK
Overview of Department
Investment Risk, Analytics & Research provides independent, investment-relevant insight, oversight and constructive challenge that strengthen portfolio decision-making, support accountability and reinforce confidence with clients, boards and the firm. The function operates as an independent second line of defence with a front-office mindset: it does not manage portfolios; it engages directly with investment teams and brings judgement, analytical rigour and challenge to the investment process, enabling investors to act with conviction and continuously improve.
The function's mandate and remit are purpose-based: any feature, factor or behaviour of a portfolio is in scope where independent oversight adds value. Concentration and clustering; factor and style exposures; valuation and growth expectations; scenario and stress behaviour; thematic exposures such as AI and climate; and behavioural patterns.
The function is lean by design and increasingly AI-enabled. Routine production, standard data provision and first-pass analysis are increasingly scaled through platforms, automation and AI-enabled workflows, releasing senior time for the work that creates distinctive value: second-order analysis, forward-looking research, judgment-led oversight, constructive challenge, strategy engagement and client-relevant articulation.
Purpose of Role
Reporting to a senior member of Investment Risk, Analytics & Research, the Senior Portfolio Risk Analyst provides independent, experienced insight, oversight and constructive challenge on investment risk and portfolio construction, as part of a second line of defence with a front-office mindset. The role leads risk engagement with designated investment strategies, produces research and bespoke analysis that adds value to the investment process, contributes to and leads projects that advance the function's analytical tools and AI-enabled ways of working, and articulates risk credibly to investors, client-facing colleagues, clients, boards and governance forums, with the purpose of improving decision-making and outcomes for clients.
This position has been deemed a Certified role within the FCA's Senior Manager and Certification Regime. As a result occupants details will be displayed on the FCA register and both initial and annual fitness and propriety assessments must be completed.
Responsibilities
- Lead independent oversight, insight and constructive challenge for a designated group of investment strategies (including a preferred opportunity to oversee engagement with Emerging Markets and related strategies), engaging directly with investment teams on portfolio risk characteristics and portfolio construction, so that risks are intentional, understood, proportionate and aligned with strategy philosophy and client expectations.
- Produce and present risk reporting, deep-dive analyses and bespoke research that are insightful and decision-relevant, combining quantitative techniques with qualitative judgement and concluding with an explicit ‘so what’ rather than data-only reporting.
- Originate and lead research on portfolio construction, thematic and emerging risks, and market behaviour, directing work towards material topics and translating findings into engagement that lands with long-term, fundamental investors.
- Contribute to and lead projects that advance the function's analytical toolkit, automation and AI-enabled workflows, converting repeatable analysis into scalable, governed tools and raising the quality, consistency and reach of the function's output.
- Prepare and present material for investment risk discussions with investment strategies, product groups, committees, boards and governance forums; raise and track risk actions; and escalate unresolved concerns through the appropriate routes in a timely and evidenced way.
- Communicate investment risk to a broad range of stakeholders (investment teams, client-facing colleagues, clients, boards, and external academics and practitioners), including training, client meetings and occasional external presentations.
- Mentor and develop Analysts and Associate Analysts within coverage pods, strengthening the depth, resilience and talent density of the function.
- Where staff management responsibilities are delegated to the job holder, manage the relevant team members, including clear and appropriate apportionment of responsibilities and resources and management of staff, including training, development and appraisals.
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Your knowledge and experience:
- A substantial track record in investment risk, investment or portfolio analysis, portfolio construction, quantitative research or a closely related investment discipline.
- Experience engaging with, influencing and constructively challenging senior investment decision-makers, with the credibility and independence of thought to hold a view under pressure and to leverage evidence-based insights.
- A record of combining quantitative insight with qualitative judgement to influence investment processes and outcomes.
- Fluency in modern approaches to working with data: strong Python and SQL (or close equivalents), comfort with large datasets.
- Practical experience using AI, including large language models and agentic or automated workflows.
- Experience originating and producing research that is influential with sophisticated audiences.
- Sound knowledge of financial mathematics, portfolio theory, company fundamentals and financial statements.
- Direct investment experience (for example, as an investment analyst or portfolio manager), supporting the translation of quantitative risk measures for long-term, fundamental, bottom-up investors (preferred).
- Knowledge of Emerging Markets, Asia-Pacific and China equity markets, including country, currency, liquidity, governance and benchmark dimensions (preferred).
- Experience with commercial factor risk models (for example, MSCI Barra or equivalent), scenario analysis and performance attribution (preferred).
- Experience designing, building or governing automated and AI-enabled analytical workflows in an investment context (preferred).
- Line management, mentoring or analyst development experience (preferred).
- An established network of researchers, academics and practitioners, and experience curating third-party research relationships (preferred).
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Qualifications:
- Relevant graduate or postgraduate qualifications - degree disciplines, particularly ones with analytical skill sets or adept with thematic and critical thinking, are highly relevant (including, but not limited to, Maths, Sciences, Economics, Finance or Computing). Topics such as Economics, Economic History, Political Economy, Finance, Investment Strategy, or Quantitative Finance are advantageous.
- Full IMC or to be completed within 12 months
The type of candidate that we’re looking for:
- An independent thinker, you communicate with constructive candour and bring a practical, solutions-focused mindset. You are comfortable challenging ideas, grounding your views in evidence and helping discussions move forward.
- Able to connect models, portfolio construction, fundamentals, market context and behavioural patterns to identify what really matters. Strong judgement is essential: you’ll understand the limits of models and AI, validate outputs carefully and challenge conclusions that sound convincing but lack depth.
- You communicate clearly with a wide range of audiences, from portfolio managers and boards to consultants and clients. You bring curiosity, a desire to keep learning and a focus on improving processes, tools and systems. You relish teamwork, contributing to vibrant analytical debate that supports mutual acceleration and enhancement – both within the team and across stakeholders.
- Above all, you work well with others while maintaining independent judgement, taking ownership and delivering high-quality work to deadlines.
Critical skills (not limited to):
- Systems thinking
- Openness & discernment
- Data literacy
- Storytelling
- Digital effectiveness (including AI)
Closing Date
August 13, 2026
Should you choose to use AI tools to support your application, we ask that you do this thoughtfully. We encourage you to ensure your application reflects your own voice, experience, and motivations. We value authenticity and want to understand your individual strengths and perspectives.
At Baillie Gifford, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful culture in which each of our colleagues can thrive and develop. We believe that our clients are best served by a diverse workforce with the experiences, ideas and perspectives that this brings.
If you are currently working at Baillie Gifford as an employee or contractor please apply to this job from the firm's Workday internal career site.
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