Research & Development Manager at City Code Mortgage Bank Limited

Job Summary

• The Research & Development Manager leads the firm's investment research function, delivering high-quality macroeconomic analysis, equity research, fixed income coverage, and sector intelligence to support investment decision-making across portfolio management, stockbroking, and business development teams.
• The role also drives product development initiatives — identifying and structuring new investment products, funds, and financial solutions that meet evolving client needs and market opportunities. The R&D Manager is the intellectual engine of the investment division, translating market data and research insights into actionable strategies and competitive offerings.

Key Responsibilities
Investment Research & Market Analysis:

• Lead the production of high-quality, timely research reports, including equity research notes, fixed income analyses, macroeconomic outlooks, and sector reports.
• Conduct in-depth fundamental and quantitative analysis of listed equities, bonds, money market instruments, and alternative assets.
• Develop and maintain financial models, including DCF valuations, comparative analyses, dividend discount models, and earnings forecasts for covered companies.
• Monitor and interpret macroeconomic indicators — GDP, inflation, MPR, exchange rates, fiscal policy — and assess their implications for markets and portfolios.
• Track regulatory developments, corporate actions, earnings releases, and market-moving events and communicate their investment implications promptly.

Research Output & Publication:

• Oversee the production and timely distribution of daily market reports, weekly investment notes, monthly economic reviews, and quarterly outlook publications.
• Ensure all research outputs are accurate, well-structured, and meet the highest standards of analytical rigour before dissemination to clients and internal teams.
• Maintain a research calendar and ensure the team delivers coverage on all priority sectors, companies, and macroeconomic themes on schedule.
• Present research findings and investment views at client meetings, investor forums, and internal investment committee sessions.

Product Development & Innovation:

• Identify gaps in the firm's product offerings and develop proposals for new investment products, including collective investment schemes, structured notes, managed funds, and thematic portfolios.
• Conduct feasibility analyses and market sizing studies for proposed products, assessing demand, competitive landscape, and potential returns.
• Lead the end-to-end development of new products from concept design through regulatory approval, structuring, and commercial launch.
• Collaborate with the legal, compliance, and operations teams to ensure new products are structured in line with SEC regulations and the firm's risk appetite.
• Monitor post-launch product performance and recommend enhancements or product modifications based on market feedback and performance data.

Strategic Intelligence & Investment Committee Support:

• Provide strategic market intelligence and investment recommendations to the Investment Committee, CIO, and Portfolio Managers to inform asset allocation and trading decisions.
• Prepare Investment Committee papers, strategy briefs, and market outlook presentations for Board and management review.
• Develop and maintain the firm's house views on key asset classes, sectors, and geographic markets, updating positions in response to new data and events.
• Support the Portfolio Management team with bespoke research on specific securities, issuers, or market themes as required.

Team Leadership & Research Standards:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of research analysts, setting clear work plans, quality standards, and professional development goals.
• Establish and enforce research methodology standards, model integrity protocols, and peer review processes across the team.
• Foster a culture of intellectual curiosity, analytical rigour, and commercial awareness within the research function.
• Manage external data subscriptions, research tools, and vendor relationships to ensure the team has access to best-in-class data and platforms.

Client Engagement & Thought Leadership:

• Represent the firm as a thought leader in capital markets through publications, media interviews, investor seminars, and industry conferences.
• Present research insights and investment views directly to institutional clients, HNW investors, and corporate clients on request.
• Develop client-facing research portals, newsletters, and digital content that enhance the firm's research brand and client value proposition.

Key Performance Indicators

• Quality and accuracy of research outputs — measured by internal review scores and client feedback.
• Research publication timeliness — adherence to the research calendar with zero missed deadlines.
• Number of new investment products developed, approved, and successfully launched per year.
• Investment recommendations accuracy — performance of buy/hold/sell recommendations vs. benchmarks.
• Portfolio Manager Satisfaction with research quality and investment committee support.
• Team development — analyst promotions, training completion, and retention rates.
• Thought leadership visibility — media appearances, publications, and conference presentations per quarter.

Qualifications & Experience

Education:

• B.Sc. / B.A. in Economics, Finance, Accounting, Statistics, or related discipline. M.Sc. in Finance, Economics, or MBA with Finance specialisation is strongly preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum of 7–10 years' experience in investment research, equity analysis, or financial markets, with at least 3 years in a research leadership or senior analyst role.

Certifications:

• CFA designation is strongly preferred. FRM, CAIA, or equivalent research/investment qualifications are an added advantage.

Technical Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Bloomberg Terminal, financial modelling (Excel/VBA), statistical tools (R, Python, or SPSS), and presentation/reporting software.

Personal Attributes:

• Exceptional analytical and writing skills, intellectual curiosity, commercial awareness, strong communication, and the ability to distil complex data into clear, actionable insights.

Core Competencies:

• Investment research & equity analysis
• Financial modelling & valuation
• Macroeconomic & sector intelligence
• Fixed income & credit analysis
• Product development & innovation
• Research writing & publication
• Team leadership & analyst development
• Investment committee advisory
• Data analytics & statistical tools
• Client engagement & thought leadership