Position Overview
Employer: DWS Group
Title: ESG Associate
Location: London
Job Code:
R0191871
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. That’s why we are ‘Investors for a new now’.
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
This role will sit in the DWS Infrastructure business, which acquires and manages Debt and Equity investments in businesses that provide essential Infrastructure services such as ports, toll roads, airports and utility companies.
The DWS Alternatives business is a diversified set of business activities including Private Equity, Private Real Estate, Private Infrastructure, Liquid Real Assets (Real Estate/Infrastructure and Commodity Securities), Sustainable Investments and Hedge Funds. The global team invests on behalf of a global client base that includes governments, corporations, individuals and institutional investors.
ESG Associate Investments
The firm is looking for an Associate to work with the Infrastructure Head of ESG and the deal and asset management teams in supporting the implementation of the ESG Strategy across the portfolios. This will include due diligence of new transactions, data gathering, analysis and reporting, as well as working with the portfolio companies to drive sustainability performance and providing updates to investors on the ESG performance of assets.
What we’ll offer you:
At DWS we’re serious about diversity, equity and creating an inclusive culture where colleagues can be themselves sand 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.
Some of our core benefits:
- 30 days’ holiday + bank holidays, with the option to purchase additional days
- A non-contributory pension scheme, up to 10%
- Physical and Mental Health Well-Being benefits including (but not limited to) Private Medical Cover, a complimentary GP service and the support of Mental Health First Aiders
- Family friendly benefits including generous parental leave packages (supporting all variations of family set-ups), to healthcare plans and travel insurance
- The opportunity to support our CSR strategy which is focused on combatting climate change and achieving greater social justice. You can make donations to our partner organisations or take part in corporate volunteering opportunities in your local communities by providing on hand support.
DWS’ Hybrid Working model in the UK 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. Employees who wish to sign-up to our Hybrid Working model are required to work in the office two days a week, and given the flexibility to work from home for the remaining three.
Some business groups may need you to spend more time in the office, 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.
Role Details;
As an ESG Associate you will;
- Analyse potential investment opportunities to determine the alignment with the fund sustainability objectives and policies;
- Work with investment teams on the sustainability due diligence workstream during the acquisition process, with the assistance of external advisers, and identify the top priority ESG items that will need to be worked on following acquisition;
- Assist in developing and implementing ESG/Sustainability roadmaps and action plans for portfolio companies. This involves liaising with portfolio company management teams on a regular basis to support the improvement of ESG/sustainability practices, performance and risk management, to ensure a consistent approach is taken across the portfolio and the Fund’s sustainability objectives are met;
- Help collect and validate sustainability data at the asset level on an annual basis;
- Lead SFDR/TCFD reporting and work on including any potential gaps from the reporting into the sustainability action plan of each portfolio company;
- Assist with the reporting of ESG progress to investors. This includes but is not limited to client questionnaires and reporting, the firm's website, UNPRI reporting, annual ESG reports, GRESB submissions, TCFD reports and others that may become relevant. This involves liaising with portfolio companies’ management teams and reviewing the information they have prepared, ensuring quality check and consistency of approach across the portfolio;
- Provide support for client engagement and reporting on sustainability matters, including ad-hoc support to investor queries, RFPs, pitches.
Your skills and experience:
- University degree or postgraduate university degree (related to finance, sustainability, or a related field);
- 3 to 5 years of experience working in a private equity or infrastructure investment manager or in a sustainability consultancy firm;
- Prior experience and strong interest in monitoring and improving the sustainability performance of the assets;
- Prior experience conducting ESG due diligence during investment processes;
- Good knowledge of sustainability trends and regulations in Europe and willingness/interest in learning further;
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and to carry out multiple duties and responsibilities at the same time;
- Strong analytical, written and oral communication skills;
- Proactivity and adaptability;
- Willingness to travel from time to time;
- Native-like fluency in English (fluency in additional European languages preferred).
Our commitment to equal employment opportunity
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. DWS is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from talented people from all cultures, countries, races, genders, sexual orientations, disabilities, beliefs and generations. We are committed to providing a working environment free from harassment, discrimination and retaliation.
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.
Visit Inside Deutsche Bank to discover more about the culture of Deutsche Bank including Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Leadership, Learning, Future of Work and more besides.