Portfolio Manager Equities at Equity Bank Kenya

Role purpose:

• Responsible for managing the portfolio to achieve risk-adjusted returns consistent with the Investment Policy Statement (IPS), regulatory requirements, and Asset–Liability Management (ALM) objectives; This will cover portfolio construction, security selection, execution, monitoring, reporting, and ongoing optimisation across approved asset class.

Key responsibilities:

Portfolio Construction & Strategy

• Develop and implement portfolio strategies aligned to the IPS, ALM position, liquidity needs, capital constraints, and target returns.
• Construct and rebalance portfolios across approved asset classes (e.g., government securities, corporate bonds, money market, listed equities, collective investment schemes, alternatives where permitted).
• Optimise duration, credit exposure, sector allocation and currency (if applicable) to meet liability profile and risk appetite.
• Identify market opportunities and implement tactical positioning within approved limits.

Research, Security Selection & Due Diligence

• Perform fundamental and quantitative analysis to support investment decisions (macro, rates, credit, equity valuation, issuer analysis, et.c.
• Conduct due diligence on issuers, funds, brokers and counterparties; maintain approved list and monitor exposures.
• Prepare investment notes and recommendations for the Board and Management Investment Committee as required.

Trade Execution & Market Engagement

• Execute trades in line with mandates, best execution principles, dealing policies and delegated authorities.
• Build and maintain relationships with market counterparties (banks, brokers, fund managers, custodians, rating agencies) to access liquidity and market intelligence.
• Ensure accurate trade capture, confirmations, and settlement instructions in collaboration with Operations/Custody.

Risk Management, Compliance & Controls

• Monitor portfolio risks (market, credit, liquidity, concentration, duration, counterparty) and ensure adherence to limits and regulatory investment guidelines.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies (IPS, dealing, conflicts of interest, related party rules) and relevant regulatory authorities, i.e, IRA, CMA.
• Support stress testing, scenario analysis and ALM reviews; implement corrective actions where required.

Performance Measurement & Reporting

• Track performance versus benchmarks and objectives; attribute returns and explain drivers (allocation, selection, carry, duration, credit spread moves).
• Produce periodic investment reports for management, the Investment Committee and Board (performance, risk, compliance, ESG where applicable).
• Ensure accurate valuation inputs and collaborate with Finance on month-end processes, IFRS 9 classifications (where applicable), and investment income forecasting.

Stakeholder Management

• Partner with Actuarial, Risk, Finance and Business Units to align investment strategy to product guarantees, reserving assumptions and liquidity needs.
• Support audits, regulatory engagements and internal assurance reviews by providing timely data, documentation and responses.

Qualifications

Experience Requirements:

• 5–8 years’ experience in portfolio management, treasury, investments research, or asset management (financial services environment).
• Demonstrated experience managing fixed income and/or multi-asset portfolios, with clear understanding of benchmarks and performance attribution.
• Experience in an insurance investment environment (ALM, liquidity management, regulatory investment limits) is an added advantage.

Academic Qualifications and Certifications:

Must- Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Actuarial Science, Accounting, Mathematics/Statistics, or related field.
• Strong understanding of financial markets, fixed income instruments, and investment risk management.
•  Nice to Haves( as added advantage)
• CFA (Level II/III) or progress toward CFA is an added advantage.
• FRM or other recognised risk qualification is an added advantage.
• Postgraduate qualification (MBA/MSc Finance) is an added advantage.

Key Technical Skills and Leadership Competencies:

Investment regulatory framework

• Knowledge of investment regulations, admissible assets, concentration limits, and governance requirements.
• Strong understanding of ALM concepts (duration matching, liquidity, stress testing, solvency/capital impacts).
• Familiarity with capital markets regulations and dealing/market conduct standards.

 Technical Skills

• Portfolio construction, asset allocation and rebalancing techniques.
• Fixed income analytics (duration/convexity, yield curves, spread risk) and credit analysis.
• Equity research and valuation; macro and market analysis.
• Performance measurement, attribution, and benchmark management.
• Strong Excel/financial modelling; proficiency with portfolio/dealing systems and data tools (e.g., Bloomberg/Refinitiv or equivalents where available).

 Leadership & Behavioural Competencies

• High integrity and strong risk and controls mindset.
• Sound judgement under uncertainty; disciplined decision-making.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication (ability to explain performance, risk and strategy to non-technical audiences).
• Analytical, detail-oriented, and accountable for outcomes.