Front Office Functions in Asset Management (2024)

How is the front office divided?

The front office is divided into manufacturing and distribution. Manufacturing is the ‘engine’ of the company. It is where the PM’s and the support staff put their views into action. There are four steps involved; research and analysis, model portfolio construction, order management and compliance, and execution.

Distribution is the side of the business that makes existing and potential investors aware of what is available at the company, this involves using various sales teams.

How does the manufacturing process work?

Research and analysis:
This is where ideas are formed. The first part of any analysis involves a fundamental understanding of top-down drivers (macroeconomic and geopolitical developments) alongside a bottom-up analysis of individual stocks, bonds, commodities etc. Alongside the fundamental analysis, it is essential to be aware of the technical factors in the market (market positioning, sentiment ec). Research can be quantitative or qualitative.

Model portfolio construction:
Once views and ideas are established, building a portfolio is next. It combines the outlook from the research and analysis with the client or fund’s risk return characteristics and guideline restrictions. The investment team decides the allocation of underlying assets given market conditions.

Order management and compliance:
This step prepares the necessary trades required to ensure the model portfolio is achieved, such as selling existing holdings, buying new holdings or taking certain currency positions.

Execution:
Once the trading desk has received the order from the order management system it will execute the trade in line with best execution practices. The trading desk executes the positions across an appropriate number of counterparties to ensure that price, liquidity and timing are optimised.

How does distribution work?

For the asset management company to make investors aware of the services and products it provides it needs sales teams. Sales teams are segregated by client type as well as geography.

As well as promoting the products, the teams provide feedback to the manufacturing and business development side of the business as to what products should be the priority going forward.

Front Office Functions in Asset Management (2024)

FAQs

Front Office Functions in Asset Management? ›

The front office relates to the part of the asset management firm that is in close proximity to clients. It is split into manufacturing, who are responsible for investing investors money, and the distribution side, which deals with existing and potential clients, selling the asset management company's capabilities.

What is the function of the front office? ›

The function of front office is to directly get in touch with customers, and is usually the first place that customers get to when they arrive to the company. The front office can discover more information about the customer by asking them questions, also helping the customers out.

Which of the following activities is the responsibility of the front office of an asset management firm? ›

While the front office is responsible for performing sales and client service functions, the middle office is responsible for managing risk and corporate strategy, and the back office provides analysis, technical, and administrative support services.

What are the functions of the middle office in asset management? ›

It includes risk management, legal and compliance, performance measurement and attribution, marketing, client reporting, request for proposal teams, and administration and support.

Is sales in asset management front office? ›

Front office jobs may include portfolio management, trading, hedging, analysis and research. There would typically be a separate sales and marketing department as well. Middle office jobs would include risk management, financial reporting and control. Back office would typically include settlement and cash management.

What is the basic function of front office manager? ›

Front Office Manager responsibilities are:

Training and supporting office staff. Handling complaints and specific customers requests. Monitoring stock and order office supplies and troubleshooting emergencies. Managing mail distribution.

What is the goal of the front office? ›

The front office as the name suggests is the first and last point of a contact for a guest and its unique roles are to: 1)sell hotel rooms through systematic methods of reservations as revenues from the sale of rooms contribute to fifty percent or more to a hotel's profit. 2)register guest and assign rooms to them.

What is the front office function in asset management? ›

The front office relates to the part of the asset management firm that is in close proximity to clients. It is split into manufacturing, who are responsible for investing investors money, and the distribution side, which deals with existing and potential clients, selling the asset management company's capabilities.

What is the main function of asset management? ›

Asset management is the practice of increasing total wealth over time by acquiring, maintaining, and trading investments that have the potential to grow in value. Asset management professionals perform this service for others. They may also be called portfolio managers or financial advisors.

What is office asset management? ›

In the simplest, most straightforward terms, it's any process a company or organization uses to keep track of the equipment and inventory vital to the day-to-day operation of their business.

What are the roles in asset management? ›

The job role of an asset manager involves the following duties:
  • Maximising profitability.
  • Running and analysing inventories of all assets.
  • Liaising with suppliers to obtain the best price for assets.
  • Investing money for upcoming projects.
  • Working with asset management systems and tracking technologies.

What is the front office role in private equity? ›

As we suggested, the front office of a Hedge Fund or Private Equity Fund can be thought of as the group of employees that directly drives revenue. That is, the group serves clients directly, offering them financial products that they can buy or helping them trade in these products.

Why are front office services important? ›

Front office staff plays a significant role in guest service, ensuring a positive encounter with the company's goods and services. Second, they provide a direct link between customers and the company's internal systems. They are responsible for managing customer data, processing orders, and providing customer service.

What are the functions of front office in the guest cycle? ›

The front office department in the hotel is among the main revenue-earning departments. Their performance will determine the hotel's profitability and growth. This department provides valuable services to the guests at all stages of the guest cycle - Pre-arrival, arrival, Occupancy, and departure.

What is the function of front office accounting? ›

A front office accounting system is a set of procedures used to prepare, maintain, monitors, record the transactions of guests and groups, and other non-guests using the hotel facilities and services.

What is the function of the front office of a bank? ›

The front office of a finance company or investment bank is the department dedicated to helping the organization make money. This office includes corporate finance and sales personnel. They service clients directly to offer financial products for clients to purchase or trade to generate revenue for the organization.

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