Associate – Corporate Strategy

About the job

FS Investments (“FS”) is a global alternative asset manager dedicated to delivering superior performance and innovative investment and capital solutions. The firm manages over $75 billion in assets for a wide range of clients, including institutional investors, financial professionals and individual investors. FS Investments provides access to a broad suite of alternative asset classes and strategies through its best-in-class investment teams and partners. With its diversified platform and flexible capital solutions, the firm is a valued partner to general partners, asset owners and portfolio companies. FS Investments is grounded in its high-performance culture and guided by its commitment to building value for its clients, investing in its colleagues and giving back to its communities. The firm has more than 500 employees across offices in the U.S, Europe and Asia and is headquartered in Philadelphia.

The Corporate Strategy Associate will play a key role in shaping and executing the strategic direction of the firm’s business. The team partners with Senior Leaders in the various business and functional areas to support development and execution of strategic initiatives within those areas.  The Associate will help identify growth opportunities and ways to leverage the firm’s competitive edge, conduct market and competitor analysis, integrate acquired companies and drive strategic initiatives. This role offers an opportunity to work on high-impact projects, including market entry strategies, product development, and mergers & acquisitions (M&A) activities. The ideal candidate will have a strong analytical background, exceptional problem-solving skills, and a keen understanding of the asset management landscape.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning & Analysis: 

• Support project-based strategic evaluations of various growth and development opportunities for the Firm.
• Support the development and implementation of the firm’s corporate strategy and multi-year plan, focusing on long-term growth and market positioning.
• Partner with business leadership teams to develop and assess the strategic initiatives that will have greatest impact on each business.
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify trends, risks, and opportunities within the asset management industry.
• Analyze the global economic environment and regulatory changes to assess potential impacts on the firm’s strategy.

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Support:

• Assist in identifying and evaluating acquisition targets, partnerships, and joint ventures in relation to fit with overall firm strategy.
• Support post-acquisition integration efforts by working closely with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment with the firm’s strategic goals.

Business Performance Evaluation:

• Monitor and report on the performance of strategic initiatives, tracking key metrics and KPIs to ensure alignment with business goals.
• Collaborate with finance and other departments to develop financial projections and evaluate the potential return on strategic investments.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Work with teams across the firm, including portfolio management, sales, operations, and finance, to align business objectives and drive the execution of strategic projects.
• Assist in the preparation of presentations and reports for senior management and the board, summarizing strategic recommendations and findings.

Growth & Innovation Initiatives:

• Contribute to initiatives focused on expanding the firm’s product offerings, such as new investment strategies.
• Help identify opportunities for digital transformation and technology adoption to enhance client experience, operational efficiency, or to create competitive edge.

Candidate Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree (MBA or relevant advanced degree is a plus).
• 3-5 years of experience in strategy consulting, corporate strategy, corporate development, management consulting, or investment banking. Ideally with top-tier management consulting firms or in strategy functions in other financial service companies.
• Strong knowledge of the asset management industry, including trends, competitors, and regulatory environment is a plus.
• Proven experience in financial analysis, including financial modeling, valuation, and business case development.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesize large amounts of data and provide actionable insights.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively across teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience preparing executive-level presentations and reports.
• Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint is required; experience with data analytics tools is a plus.

Key Skills:

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to identify long-term opportunities and challenges and align initiatives with the firm’s objectives.
• Analytical Expertise: Strong financial modeling and/or business case development with the ability to evaluate complex business problems.
• Project Management: Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
• Communication: Excellent presentation and writing skills to convey strategic recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Collaboration: Ability to work across teams and build relationships to drive strategic outcomes.