Daily tasks/routine activities

1. Manage investment funds to maximize return on client investments.

2. Select specific investments or investment mixes for purchase by an investment fund.

3. Monitor financial or operational performance of individual investments to ensure portfolios meet risk goals.

4. Select or direct the execution of trades.

5. Develop or implement fund investment policies or strategies.

6. Perform or evaluate research, such as detailed company or industry analyses, to inform financial forecasting, decision making, or valuation.

7. Present investment information, such as product risks, fees, or fund performance statistics.

8. Develop, implement, or monitor security valuation policies.

9. Meet with investors to determine investment goals or to discuss investment strategies.

10. Attend investment briefings or consult financial media to stay abreast of relevant investment markets.

11. Prepare for and respond to regulatory inquiries.

12. Evaluate the potential of new product developments or market opportunities, according to factors such as business plans, technologies, or market potential.

Key knowledge areas

The following knowledge areas are key to an investment manager to carry out his/her duties;

Economics and Accounting — Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Administration and Management — Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Skills

The skillls below are relevant in enabling an investment manager execute his/her duties; 

Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Abilities

Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).