Analyst, Product Development

Company Overview

Cerulli Associates (CA) is a research and consulting firm, headquartered in Boston, specializing in product and distribution analysis for the global asset management industry. Since 1992, we have blended primary research and data analysis to bring perspective to current market conditions and forecasts for future developments.

With a suite of research publications, an interactive data platform, and custom research and consulting offerings, we provide financial services firms with unparalleled guidance in strategic positioning and new business development.

Cerulli Associates is a 2023, 2024, and 2025 Boston Globe Top Places to Work. We are proud to be recognized for our outstanding employee engagement, management, work-life balance, and benefits.

Our clients include virtually all the top 50 global asset management firms, as well as industry service providers, management consulting companies, banks, broker/dealers, insurance companies, investment consulting firms, and private equity firms.

Position Overview

This analyst position is based in the Boston office, and it reports into the Senior Analyst responsible for private markets product development research.

The position’s primary role is to support lead research analysts and collaborate with other members on the product development team to provide quantitative analytical support and written commentary for CA’s research and publishing needs as well as to support consulting projects. The position will also work as needed with other practice members across other research teams such as institutional and wealth management.

Successful candidates for this position are hardworking, persistent, enthusiastic, and analytical individuals with a passion for financial services industry research and analysis.

Cerulli’s Product Development Practice

Cerulli’s U.S. Product Development practice focuses on trends related to asset managers’ product development and management, including:

• Competitive analysis of financial products in the asset management industry
• Assessing opportunity for product development across asset classes, strategies, and vehicles
• Market sizing and projections of various retail and institutional investment products
• Distribution and product positioning for investment products sold through intermediaries (e.g., financial advisors, DC retirement consultants/aggregators, and institutional consultants/OCIOs.
• Evaluation of emerging product trends to determine long-term viability

Responsibilities and Duties

• Work with SimFund, Pitchbook as well as other third-party databases to size the mutual fund, ETF, and other landscapes – supporting multiple Product Development practice reports.
• Draft insightful analyses based on trends gathered via survey data and executive interviews for publication in Cerulli research
• Assist lead research analysts in the development and analysis of proprietary surveys, interfacing with Survey Analyst to administer surveys, analyze data, and chart results.
• Help develop focused research panels, calling and emailing targeted participants to increase survey participation
• Collaborate with other analysts across Cerulli practices on monthly and quarterly publications.
• Duties include data‐gathering, analysis, chart creation and assembly, and writing commentary
• Help build and maintain relationships with financial institutions, investment asset managers, industry trade associations, and third‐party data vendors
• Propose and develop new analyses to expand Cerulli’s proprietary research
• Support consulting projects via project management and research tasks
• Update presentations based on new survey data and insights
• Support senior executive interviews about emerging industry trends.
• Create insightful presentations that highlight key industry trends in an easy to understand format

The position offers significant industry exposure, including interactions with senior executives throughout the industry, coverage in industry publications, and potentially presenting at conferences and events.

Qualifications

• 2-3 years’ experience in financial services, preferably in a product strategy, product development, product management, research, or analytical role; Understanding of retail and/or institutional distribution channels is helpful
• Must be hardworking, persistent, and enthusiastic and have a passion for the financial services industry and research and analysis
• Knowledge of both mutual funds and exchange‐traded funds (ETF) vehicles. Preferred knowledge of other investment vehicles (e.g., collective investment trusts, private commingled funds, interval funds). Understanding of alternative investment asset classes is a strong plus.
• Understanding of active and passive investment philosophies and processes
• Outstanding project and time management skills, and strong attention to detail
• Ability to multi‐task and to change course quickly as needed
• Proficient in Excel; able to manipulate, and analyze sizeable amounts of data
• Aptitude for synthesizing research, identifying trends, and providing commentary on relevant industry issues
• Superior verbal and written communication skills. Strong presentation skills with enthusiasm to deliver research findings.
• Interest in financial‐services‐related market research with an eye toward developing into a Cerulli Report writer
• Interest in cultivating a network of industry contacts for research purposes
• Capacity to respond productively to feedback and make ongoing improvements to approach and process
• Preference is for a candidate with a bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics or English/journalism

Compensation

70,000 – 80,000