The Income team manages the firm's fixed income and multi-asset income strategies.
Purpose of RoleThe Income team is changing how it researches investment ideas and reaches decisions, building capability that pairs investment judgement with data, AI, and analytical tools.The role holder will produce fundamental credit research as part of their day to day work and will participate in discussion and debate on the research produced by other analysts across the team, helping to shape investment decisions and portfolio construction in credit portfolios. It is not, however, a purely traditional research role.
Just as important is what they contribute beyond research itself: finding where data, AI, and other tools can sharpen how the team monitors holdings and makes decisions, then building or bringing in those tools.
They will work with portfolio managers and analysts to test new approaches to research and idea generation, and with other teams in the firm to get new capability into daily use on the desk. Over time, there is scope for the role to grow into greater portfolio construction responsibility, or into a more senior position shaping how data and AI are used across the team's research process.
Occasional travel for company meetings, industry events, or engagement with data and technology providers, though this is not a major part of the role.
This position has been deemed a Certified role within the FCA’s Senior Manager and Certification Regime. As a result, occupant’s details will be displayed on the FCA register and both initial and annual fitness and propriety assessments must be completed.Responsibilities
- Produce high-quality fundamental credit research, including assessment of business quality, capital structures, relative value and investment risk.
- Develop well-reasoned investment views and contribute to decisions on security selection and portfolio construction.
- Participate actively in team discussion and debate, constructively challenging your own research and that of colleagues.
- Identify where data, AI and analytical tools can improve research, monitoring and investment decision making.
- Build, adapt or help implement practical tools and workflows using technologies such as Python, SQL and AI/ML.
- Work with portfolio managers and analysts to test new approaches to research, idea generation and portfolio monitoring.
- Take ownership of improving existing investment processes, from identifying opportunities through to implementing solutions.
- Collaborate with colleagues across the firm to bring new data, technology and analytical capability into day to day use on the investment desk.
- Communicate investment research and technical work clearly to both investment colleagues and those without a specialist data background.
- Contribute to the continued development of the team’s investment process, with scope over time to take on greater responsibility for portfolio construction and the use of data and AI across research.
Qualifications:
- Full IMC (or to be completed within 12 months)
- CFA Level 1 (or to be completed within 18 months)
Your knowledge and experience:
- Strong investment analysis skills, or clear aptitude to develop them, with the ability to produce sound fundamental investment research.
- An understanding of, or ability to develop expertise in, assessing capital structures, relative value and investment risk.
- Practical experience using data, programming or analytical tools, such as Python, SQL or AI/ML, to solve real investment problems.
- The ability to identify opportunities to improve research and investment processes, and the initiative to develop or implement practical solutions.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present investment research clearly and explain technical concepts to colleagues without a data or technology background.
- Genuine intellectual curiosity, both in forming investment judgements and in exploring how data and AI can improve research and decision-making.
- A proactive, hands-on approach, with the confidence to take ownership of ideas and see them through to implementation.
- We are open to candidates at different stages of their investment career; strong practical data and AI capability may be as valuable as more extensive traditional research experience.
What success looks like
- The production of high quality and credible research which is decision useful for portfolio managers.
- Successful adoption of new tools and approaches by the team, that become embedded in ways of working.
- Measurable improvements to research or decision workflows as a result of the introduction of new tools and approaches.
- Increased collaboration across Income, and other teams in the firm including Investment Analytics, and Innovation.
The type of candidate that we’re looking for
We’re looking for someone with sound investment judgement, however this has been developed, and the aptitude to build credit specific expertise on the job. You’ll be comfortable analysing complex information, forming well reasoned views and discussing and debating both your own research and that of others, with a focus on achieving the best outcomes for clients.
You may already have experience producing fundamental investment research or be earlier in your investment career with a clear aptitude to develop these skills. You’ll be able to build an understanding of areas such as capital structures, relative value and investment risk.
You’ll also bring genuine curiosity and a hands on approach to data, programming and AI tools, such as Python, SQL or AI/ML, with an interest in using them to improve research, test ideas and support better investment decisions.
You’ll be naturally collaborative, positive and proactive, with the confidence to take initiative and take ownership of practical improvements. Strong communication skills will also be important, both in explaining your investment thinking and in making technical ideas accessible to colleagues without a specialist data background.
We’re open to candidates with different levels of investment experience. Strong practical data and AI fluency, combined with sound judgement and the ability to learn quickly, may matter more than extensive traditional credit research experience.
Critical Skills:
- Data literacy
- Adaptability
- Improvement mindset
- Systems thinking
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.
