A recruiter called me out of the blue and asked if I would be interested in this position at this incredible firm based out of Chicago. However, he said, the position was to be in the US Virgin Islands. I will admit I had no idea what or where they were! I had just moved to the US from hot, sunny Zimbabwe a couple of years prior so when the offer came in January, in the middle of winter, when I was living in Boston, it was quite an easy decision and one of the best I’ve ever made.
I am responsible for the calculation and presentation of investment performance reporting of our accounts/portfolios managed by the firm, including responsibility over the firm’s compliance with the Global Investment Performance standards (GIPS® standards). I started my career in public accounting with a brief stint at a brokerage firm but I happened to almost accidentally fall into performance reporting in the very early days of the GIPS standards and have enjoyed working in this space ever since. Additionally, I oversee the portfolio accounting function for our separately managed accounts.
Based on the title of my job, Performance Reporting, the usual assumption is that it is an HR related job! I say that I report how the individual accounts we manage are doing, how much the investments in those accounts are worth to confirm the overall value of each account and then we bill them for our services. I measure how our investment strategies measure up against a benchmark for internal and external reporting. I am also able to report the firm’s total assets under management at any one time. Essentially, I say I’m just the messenger!
Do your research and embrace the culture, customs, even the language without necessarily losing yourself. Remember your reasons for making such a change and what you hope to get out of the experience. Will it be terrifying sometimes, absolutely, but it will also be thrilling and so rewarding. Just go with it. It will be worth it.
No real difference except that it was great to be able to interact in- person with the rest of the firm once I was in Chicago. This was long before Zoom or Teams! It was neat to see that the culture was the same in both locations even though they were so far apart. The firm made sure that regardless of your role or location, you felt seen and that came through in each place.
I may be biased but it’s the high caliber of my colleagues past and present. I am the professional I am today due in large part to the influence of the people around me, who have inspired me and challenged me daily to be and do better. The long tenure of employees also speaks for itself, and I have been blessed to have made life-long friends here and watched my colleagues mark incredible milestones along the way.
All of my favorite memories are wrapped up in any occasion we got to spend time with Richard outside of work, particularly in the USVI where he came up often. He was incredibly kind, generous, down to earth and a ton of fun. I will forever remember his laugh!
Giving Richard a ride home once in St Thomas might be the most memorable. It was last minute, in my very old car not at all clean and quite sandy from trips to the beach. He and some analysts he was with had to sit scrunched up in my small car and make do. However, he didn’t seem to care, was completely relaxed, chatting away while I was quietly freaking out and driving way too slowly to make sure my precious cargo was safe.
I love to travel, love to read, love the theatre! I enjoy all and any of the performing arts but dance has got to be my favorite. We are fortunate to live in a city that is home to so many great dance companies. My book club which I have been a part of for over 15 years is very precious to me. My latest passion is photography, particularly landscape photography which I am fortunate enough to be able to indulge in through my travels.
That’s easy, I would travel the world with my camera. Perhaps bring along some of the people I love!
Director of Performance Reporting
Hometown: Harare, Zimbabwe
Began at Driehaus: 2003
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