BMO Seeks Research Director for Hedge Fund Manager Selection

BMO Financial Group is recruiting a research director within BMO Wealth Management to lead manager selection and due diligence for its third-party hedge fund platform. The role sits inside the wealth management arm of the bank, which oversees about $1.08 trillion (CAD 1.5 trillion) in assets.

The research director will identify managers and investment strategies for inclusion on the platform and shape the platform’s manager selection strategy. Responsibilities include qualitative and quantitative assessment of prospective funds, covering investment approach, management teams, risk controls and performance records.

The role also requires ongoing monitoring of managers already on the platform to confirm they remain aligned with their stated strategies and risk parameters. The post will focus on vetting third-party hedge fund managers used in client portfolios.

The position has a client-facing element. The research director will take part in portfolio construction and strategy discussions, attend client meetings and collaborate with internal teams to develop and promote the hedge fund offering across the wealth management business.

The search is part of the bank’s expansion of its alternatives capabilities and is intended to strengthen the firm’s manager research and due diligence processes used to select and monitor funds for client accounts.