Coronation's Institutional Business team manages relationships with South Africa's most sophisticated institutional investors; pension funds, medical aids, insurance companies, and public-sector entities, as well as a growing number of global allocators.
The Client Fund Manager is the primary relationship owner for a defined portfolio of institutional clients. This role exists at the intersection of investment expertise and client service: you are the trusted point of contact who ensures clients understand Coronation's thinking, are invested in appropriate mandates, and receive a consistently high standard of engagement. Success in this role requires intellectual credibility in investment markets, genuine client orientation, and the organisational rigour to manage multiple complex relationships simultaneously.
Within twelve months, you would be expected to ensure that clients in your portfolio feel well-served, well-informed, and confident in Coronation as their investment partner. Mandate retention is high. Relationships with key consultants are active and productive. Internal stakeholders from investment to operations regard you as a reliable, high-quality partner. And you have begun identifying and pursuing opportunities to deepen and grow the book.
Client Relationship Management:
- Act as primary custodian and relationship owner for a defined portfolio of institutional clients, including pension funds, asset consultants, and institutional allocators.
- Build and maintain deep, trust-based relationships with clients, their boards of trustees, and key decision-makers within consultant organisations.
- Ensure each client is invested in the most appropriate Coronation product for their specific liability profile, risk appetite, and investment horizon.
- Proactively engage clients on portfolio positioning, market events, and Coronation's investment views; anticipating questions before they are asked.
- Manage all client-facing communication with professionalism and precision, including written reports, presentations, and ad hoc queries.
Investment Insight & Market Communication:
- Maintain a deep and current understanding of Coronation's investment philosophy, portfolio positioning, and performance drivers across all relevant asset classes.
- Translate complex investment concepts into clear, compelling narratives for trustees and lay audiences; without sacrificing intellectual rigour.
- Present to client boards, investment committees, and consultant panels with authority, clarity, and composure under scrutiny.
- Keep clients informed of significant market developments, regulatory changes, and their implications for portfolio strategy on a regular and timely basis.
Mandate & Product Coordination:
- Coordinate and manage the full mandate lifecycle, from initial scoping and legal documentation through to onboarding and ongoing compliance monitoring.
- Maintain awareness of Coronation's full product range and proactively identify opportunities to align clients with suitable products as their needs evolve.
- Serve as the internal conduit between investment teams, operations, compliance, and legal on all client-related matters, ensuring seamless execution.
- Monitor mandate compliance and flag deviations or concerns to the relevant internal teams promptly.
Client Development & Retention:
- Identify and pursue incremental opportunities within the existing client base, deepening relationships, expanding mandates, and strengthening Coronation's position as a preferred manager.
- Engage actively with asset consultants to maintain visibility, share performance attribution, and participate in formal manager reviews.
- Support new business development by contributing to RFP responses, pitch materials, and prospective client engagement alongside the broader team.
Reporting & Process Management:
- Produce and oversee the delivery of high-quality, accurate client reports; including quarterly investment reviews, attribution analyses, and ad hoc reporting requests.
- Maintain up-to-date client records, mandate documentation, and interaction logs within Coronation's CRM and reporting systems.
- Champion internal processes for client onboarding, query resolution, and reporting workflows, identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.
- Atleast 5 years’ experience in the South African institutional investment industry; in a client service, relationship management, or investment-adjacent role.
- Experience presenting to sophisticated audiences, including investment committees and boards of trustees, with confidence and credibility.
- Familiarity with South African retirement fund legislation, Regulation 28, and the broader regulatory environment governing institutional mandates.
- An investment or finance-related university qualification
- A CFA designation or progress toward it is a meaningful advantage.
- Builds genuine relationships; trusted by clients not only for access to Coronation's investment capabilities, but for objective insight.
- Proficient in MS Office, particularly PowerPoint and Excel.
- Experience with CRM or portfolio reporting systems is advantageous.
