Operations Specialist - Performance Measurement AVP

Employer:             DWS Group

Title:                      Operations Specialist- Performance Measurement AVP

Location:               Madrid

Job Code:              placeholder for LinkedIn job wrapping

About DWS:

Today, markets face a whole new set of pressures – but also a whole lot of opportunity too. Opportunity to innovate differently. Opportunity to invest responsibly. And opportunity to make change.

Join us at DWS, and you can be part of an industry-leading firm with a global presence. You can lead ambitious opportunities and shape the future of investing. You can support our clients, local communities, and the environment.

We’re looking for creative thinkers and innovators to join us as the world continues to transform. As whole markets change, one thing remains clear; our people always work together to capture the opportunities of tomorrow.

As investors on behalf of our clients, it is our role to find investment solutions. Ensuring the best possible foundation for our clients’ financial future. And in return, we’ll give you the support and platform to develop new skills, make an impact and work alongside some of the industry’s greatest thought leaders. This is your chance to achieve your goals and lead an extraordinary career.

This is your chance to invest in your future.

Read more about DWS and who we are here.

Team / division overview

The COO Division is a key enabler for DWS and is integral to the future success of the company by delivering world-class services across a set of key functions. It covers essential Technology and Operations capabilities to deliver a platform which is efficient, scalable, resilient and agile.

As part of the COO function, the Global Reporting & Performance Measurement department plays a central role in delivering high-quality performance measurement, attribution analysis and related insights across the full DWS Active, Passive and Alternatives business. The Performance Measurement team provides accurate, timely and controlled performance calculations and multi-level attribution across equity, fixed income and multi-asset portfolios. It works closely with Portfolio Management, Client Relationship Managers and other internal stakeholders to explain performance drivers, alpha generation, allocation and selection effects, and risk-adjusted returns.

As part of this agenda, the successful candidate will actively contribute to the Smart Middle Office by applying automation, AI-enabled analytics, data-driven controls and intelligent workflow design to improve calculation quality, accelerate analysis, strengthen exception management and enhance transparency, while maintaining sound governance and auditability.

Your responsibilities –

As an Operations Specialist- Performance Measurement AVP, you will:

• Act as a subject matter expert and perform daily and monthly performance calculations and multi-level attribution, including Brinson, factor-based, equity and fixed income attribution.
• Calculate, analyse and deliver monthly performance attribution in coordination with Portfolio Management and other internal teams and stakeholders.
• Provide clear analysis of alpha generation, allocation and selection effects, factor contributions and risk-adjusted returns across equity, fixed income and multi-asset portfolios.
• Partner with Portfolio Managers and Client Relationship Managers to explain performance results, investigate material movements and resolve data or methodology-related questions.
• Drive enhancements in performance and attribution methodologies, ensuring consistent application across asset classes and alignment with industry standards.
• Ensure performance measurement processes and outputs comply with GIPS standards, internal policies and applicable requirements.
• Define and maintain procedures, operating processes, controls and documentation in line with functional and industry specifications, and continuously improve their effectiveness and scalability.
• Investigate calculation breaks, data-quality issues and attribution anomalies, coordinating remediation across Operations, Investment teams, Technology and data providers.
• Contribute to the Smart Middle Office agenda by identifying opportunities to apply AI, machine learning, workflow automation and advanced analytics to performance calculation, validation, commentary generation and exception management.
• Translate performance measurement pain points into clear automation or AI use cases, partnering with Technology, transformation teams and operational SMEs to deliver controlled, scalable and measurable solutions.

We are looking for 

• Successfully completed degree in finance, economics, mathematics, business administration or a comparable qualification.
• At least five years of professional experience in performance measurement, performance attribution or a closely related asset management function.
• Strong practical knowledge of performance calculation and attribution methodologies, including Brinson, factor-based, equity and fixed income attribution; multi-asset experience is advantageous.
• Good understanding of GIPS standards and their application within performance measurement processes.
• Broad understanding of asset management operations, investment products and the interaction between Investment, Client, Operations, Data and Technology functions.
• Experience with platforms and data tools such as Aladdin, State Street StatePro, FactSet or Bloomberg would be a significant advantage.
• Professional certifications such as CFA, CIPM or CA are advantageous.
• Advanced analytical and structured thinking, with the ability to interpret complex performance results, identify root causes and communicate conclusions clearly.
• Fluent written and spoken English; German language skills would be advantageous but are not required.
• Strong Excel skills; knowledge of Python, data analytics, automation or AI-enabled tooling is advantageous.
• Proven ability to leverage AI tools to enhance productivity, optimise workflows to solve business problems, while applying critical judgment to ensure responsible and ethical use of data and AI outputs.

What we’ll offer you:

At DWS we’re serious about diversity, equity and creating an inclusive culture where colleagues can be themselves and it’s important to us that you enjoy coming to work - feeling healthy, happy and rewarded. At DWS, you’ll have access to a range of benefits which you can choose from to create a personalised plan unique to your lifestyle. Whether you’re interested in healthcare, company perks, or are thinking about your retirement plan, there’s something for everyone.

DWS’ Hybrid Working model is designed to find the right balance between in-person collaboration and engagement in the office, which is core to our working culture, and working from home. Each business group varies on the split between time spent in the office and at home, but this will be discussed and made clear as part of your application and interview process. We will continue to review and evolve our working environments and methods to ensure that we are working in the best way possible for our people.

If you require any adjustments or changes to be made to the interview process for any reason including, or related to a disability or long-term health condition, then please contact your recruiter and let them know what assistance you may need. Examples of adjustments include providing a change to the format of the interview, or providing assistance when at the DWS office. This will not affect your application and your recruitment team will discuss options with you.

Our values define the working environment we strive to create – diverse, supportive and welcoming of different views. We embrace a culture reflecting a variety of perspectives, insights and backgrounds to drive innovation. We build talented and diverse teams to drive business results and encourage our people to develop to their full potential. Talk to us about flexible work arrangements and other initiatives we offer.

We promote good working relationships and encourage high standards of conduct and work performance. We welcome applications from talented people from all cultures, countries, races, genders, sexual orientations, disabilities, beliefs and generations and are committed to providing a working environment free from harassment, discrimination and retaliation.

We at DWS are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, one that embraces dialogue and diverse views, and treats everyone fairly to drive a high-performance culture. The value we create for our clients and investors is based on our ability to bring together various perspectives from all over the world and from different backgrounds. It is our experience that teams perform better and deliver improved outcomes when they are able to incorporate a wide range of perspectives. We call this #ConnectingTheDots.