The strategy group

There are two main teams within the Strategy Group and more detailed descriptions of each are provided below.

If you chose to apply to the Strategy Group you can express an interest in a particular team at interview, or we will allocate you to the team we think you are most suited to.

The reality is though that we like people to gain a broad understanding of how our different areas function so, if you join the Strategy Group, you will probably spend time in both teams.

Watson Wyatt Investment Core Strategy Job Profile

Why consider a career in Core Strategy at Watson Wyatt?

The primary role of an associate in Watson Wyatt’s core investment strategy team is to give advice to clients, mainly UK-domiciled pension funds, on high-level investment decisions, including setting the asset allocation for their portfolio, and monitoring the changing levels in risk over time. This involves stochastic modelling of various asset classes and the liabilities of the fund, to analyse the risks and rewards of different investment strategies, and consulting with the client to come up with a solution that satisfies their objectives and needs.

Our team has seen a rapid growth in the past couple of years. The recent success of our team is in large part due to our friendly and supportive atmosphere as well as developments in the market place. You will get opportunities to help develop cutting-edge strategy solutions for global clients and work with colleagues who are market experts and whose views are highly regarded by the financial market and media alike.

What skills do you require?

Technical and mathematical skills – As an analyst in the team, most of the day-to-day work involves stochastic modelling using Watson Wyatt proprietary software. Mathematical and excel skills are therefore essential.
Intellectual curiosity – As part of the role all new associates will be expected to study for the Actuarial or Chartered Financial Analyst professional qualification, as this will help with understanding the investment and pensions issues faced by the clients.
Team working – There is a steep learning curve at the beginning and continuous on-the-job learning. An enthusiastic attitude, flexibility and team-skills will go a long way in managing these challenges.
Communication and client skills – Good communication (both verbal and written) is necessary in a dynamic consulting environment. As an analyst develops into a consultant, he or she will attend meetings with clients more frequently and develop the skills needed to not only come up with sound technical analysis, but also communicate these results and recommendations effectively to clients.
Organisation – Analysts will work simultaneously on multiple projects and continue their intellectual and professional development. Good organisational skills are required to balance demands on your time from work and study.

What will you be involved in?

Analysis and modelling – Analysts in the team spend most of their time modelling the expected future movements of assets and liabilities using stochastic simulation and proprietary software and assumptions. This involves analysing the risk and reward of various portfolios for the specific client concerned, and how changes to any of the assumptions or strategies affect the outcomes.
Drafting reports and advice – As the client is essentially concerned with advice, most value is added by drafting advice from the analysis and consulting to this. Each client has a unique position and it is important to understand each client’s position and needs when formulating advice.
Client meetings – With time and experience, analysts will accompany consultants to client meetings and get the opportunity to present some of the results of the analysis and advice.
Internal meetings/ Presentations – This is a great way to get an overview of what has been happening both inside and outside the team. We often arrange social events in the evening to catch up with colleagues.

Watson Wyatt Investment Structured Products Job Profile

Why consider a career in Structured Products at Watson Wyatt?

The primary role of an associate in Watson Wyatt’s structured products team is to help design and then monitor derivative-based investment strategy solutions, for mainly UK-domiciled pension funds. Such solutions are often aimed at risk management of pension fund’s liabilities as well as tailored, more efficient deployment of the growth (ie risk-taking, return-seeking) portfolio.

What skills do you require?

Mathematical – Valuation of derivatives involves advanced mathematics. A degree in mathematics, physics or engineering would be ideal.
IT – Excel is de-facto modelling platform and this skill is requisite. Experience of programming would be useful (eg VBA or MATLAB).
Team working – There is a steep learning curve at the beginning and continuous on-the-job learning. An enthusiastic attitude, flexibility and team-skills will go a long way in managing these challenges.
Communication and client skills – Good communication (both verbal and written) is necessary in a dynamic consulting environment. As an analyst develops into a consultant, he or she will attend meetings with clients more frequently and develop the skills needed to not only come up with sound technical analysis, but also communicate these results and recommendations effectively to clients.
Organisation – Analysts will work simultaneously on multiple projects and continue their intellectual and professional development through studying to qualify as an actuary or CFA. Good organisational skills are required to balance demands on your time from work and study.

What will you be involved in?

Analysis – There is such a wide range of analysis to be done. At the basic level, this starts from modelling and analysing interest rate and inflation risk sensitivity of liability cashflow data, through to charting market price movements of bonds, interest rate and inflation derivatives, to valuation of complex derivatives and assessment of trade execution.
Developing methodology – As you develop knowledge of swaps and derivatives markets, you will assist more experienced team members to design and critically evaluate different liability-based investment solutions and monitor their performance.
Drafting reports – Reports form an integral part of advising clients. Each client has a unique position and it is important to understand each client’s position and needs when formulating advice.
Client meetings – With time and experience, analysts will accompany consultants to client meetings and get the opportunity to present some of the results of the analysis and advice.
Internal meetings/ Presentations – This is a great way to get an overview of what has been happening both inside and outside the team. We often arrange social events in the evening to catch up with colleagues.
Research meetings – Derivatives market is constantly changing to meet new needs of investors and this involves us going out to meet with asset managers and investment banks and discussing their ideas, business and people. You will be involved in preparing the meeting agenda, writing-up meeting notes and evaluating asset managers and investment banks on their capabilities to deliver