Daniel Sandler is an investment analyst at Everest Babcock & Brown (Everest), a Sydney-based fund of hedge funds manager with approximately A$2 billion in assets under management. He joined Everest in early 2004. He has a BCom from the University of New South Wales with majors in accounting and finance, is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and has completed the CFA program.
What’s a typical day like?
As an investment analyst, the bulk of my day is taken up researching hedge funds for inclusion in one of our fund of hedge fund portfolios. We talk with investment managers on a day-to-day basis, including international hedge fund managers located predominantly in the US and London.
How did you come to work for a hedge fund?
I joined CC Amatil on a finance graduate program, but after 12 months I realized I wanted to enter investment management. I joined Everest more by luck than by design. I came across an ad for a junior analyst, applied, but was initially unsuccessful. They contacted me a few weeks later about a back office position which involved such things as fund accounting and trade settlements. I came aboard with the intention of joining the investment team as soon as possible and after nine months I got the opportunity to move across to the analyst position.
What do you like about the hedge fund sector?
The sector is dynamic, and extremely fast moving. There is a wide array of strategies to get involved in and to learn about. At Everest we are looking to invest with the best hedge fund managers in the world and as a result we get the opportunity to talk to some of the best investment managers in the world about their investment strategies and positions. It provides a fascinating insight and is an excellent learning path.
What’s the most exciting thing you’ve got coming up?
The best part of the job is getting the opportunity to converse with the very top investment professionals in the world on a daily basis about their investment strategies and how they are running their portfolios and organizations.And what’s the least exciting thing on the horizon? Writing up the notes after the calls with those managers.
What’s been biggest challenge for you so far?
The hardest thing initially was getting my head around the wide array of different investment strategies in the hedge fund universe. As a fund of hedge fund analyst you have to be a generalist.
Daniel's tips:
- You need to be flexible enough to analyse a wide array of different investment strategies and asset classes.
- Don’t be afraid to join a small firm, because the experience you will gain will typically be more hands on.
- Read a lot and study hard in order to develop and maintain the requisite skills necessary to stay ahead.
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