Associate, Real Estate Asset Management Operations

Job description

Over the last 20 years, Ares’ success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by our core values – Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy – and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and employee-focused programming, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry. Job Description Role Overview The Associate will support the Asset Management Operations function in embedding effective processes, data structures and reporting tools across Asset Management. The role is focused on helping the business produce and present operational, financial and asset-level information accurately, consistently and efficiently, supporting better decision making and enabling the platform to scale. Working closely with Asset Management, Portfolio Management, Finance, Data & Analytics and other functional teams, the Associate will help develop and manage core AM Operations products including Sector Data and KPI packs, property cash flow processes, master Asset Management slide materials and country call content. Key Responsibilities Support the delivery and ongoing management of AM Operations products across sectors, including Sector Data & KPI packs, property-level cash flow and returns processes, master Asset Management slide materials and country call content. Partner with Asset Management deal leads and country teams to collect, validate and organise operational and financial inputs, ensuring outputs are accurate, consistent, meeting-ready and aligned to business requirements. Help strengthen and standardise quarterly and monthly processes for data, reporting and business planning, embedding clear timelines, ownership, controls and repeatable ways of working. Support the development and rollout of property cash flow processes, including business plans, reforecasts, scenario analysis and sensitivity analysis, while working with teams to improve consistency and accuracy of cash flow and returns outputs. Assist with the build-out of AM Operations capabilities for Retail, Office and, Residential real estate sectors, drawing on the established Industrial real estate operating model and adapting it for sector-specific needs. Work with Data & Analytics, Finance and other stakeholders to improve source data, data artefacts, reporting outputs and system-enabled processes, including Anaplan, Yardi, Power BI and related tools. Contribute to the transition of existing Excel-based processes into scalable systems and standardised reporting frameworks, improving automation, efficiency and quality control wherever possible. Prepare clear, high-quality analysis, dashboards, reporting packs and presentation materials for internal stakeholders, including country calls, quarterly reviews and Asset Management reporting forums. Maintain strong business partnering relationships with Asset Management and cross-functional teams, helping instil discipline, ownership and accountability around data quality, process adherence and deliverable timelines. Identify process gaps, data issues and opportunities for improvement, proactively proposing practical solutions that support operational scalability, better decision making and more reliable reporting. Candidate Profile Key Skills & Qualifications 2 - 3 years’ experience in asset management operations, financial planning and analysis or an adjacent analytical role within real estate. Bachelor’s degree or higher in Finance, Economics, Real Estate or another relevant quantitative or commercial discipline. Strong business partnering skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across Asset Management, Finance, Data & Analytics, Portfolio Management and other internal stakeholders. Advanced Excel and financial modelling capability, including experience working with property-level cash flows, business plans, reforecasts, scenario analysis and sensitivity analysis. Strong process development mindset, with experience improving workflows, documenting ownership and creating repeatable, scalable ways of working. High degree of data literacy, including the ability to work with large datasets, reconcile information across systems, identify data quality issues and translate data into clear reporting outputs. Comfort working with systems and reporting tools such as Anaplan, Yardi, Power BI or similar platforms; direct experience is preferred but not essential. Working knowledge of real estate investment, asset management, portfolio reporting, property operations and related financial processes. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, concise and executive-ready reporting materials and presentation outputs. Highly organised and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple deliverables, coordinate stakeholders and meet recurring monthly and quarterly deadlines. High level of AI literacy and strong willingness to leverage AI tools extensively to improve efficiency and quality, while applying sound judgement, confidentiality and appropriate validation. Reporting Relationships Managing Director, Real Estate Equity There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.