Stephen Shank

Experience

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  Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement System (PennSERS)

  Jan 2003 - Aug 2003

  Intern, Alternative Investments

  Worked in the private equity & venture capital asset class area and gained experience in the day-to-day operations including processing daily drawdowns, distributions and valuations into Private i software and running various performance reports.Assisted in monitoring existing fund manager relationships.Reached out to fund managers to inquire for further detail of transactions.Corresponded with accounting in execution of wire transmissions with custodian post entry into Private i. This included executing liquidation/sale of in-kind stock distributions from GPs.Assisted with preparation of write-ups and materials for board meetings.Entered key information (track record, etc) from private placement memorandums into internal system to maintain which partnerships SERS had performed due diligence on and at what stage it was decided to either move forward or not. Show less

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  Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement System (PennSERS)

  May 2004 - Aug 2004

  Intern, Alternative Investments

  Same responsibilities as first internship continuing to further increase industry knowledge learning from the same members of the then alternative investment team.Provided opportunity to perform active due diligence of a local prospective fund manager including on-site visit to prior funds' holdings

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  MSCI Private Capital Solutions

  Feb 2005 - Jun 2022

  FKA Burgiss.Responsible for management and client retention across particular set of accounts using (SaaS) Private i and/or Caissa platforms.Trained client base on existing/new enhancements to software and data on the Private i platform. Ensure all are aware of functionality which assist with portfolio oversight from due diligence to fund/portfolio performance, peer benchmarks, public comparison benchmarks, exposures (geo/industry/individual holdings) and cash flow forecasting.Worked closely with Burgiss Applied Research team to promote adoption, implement and train clients on how to apply bespoke benchmarking calculations at both portfolio and asset class levels which leverage the Burgiss Manager Universe dataset. These calculations include (simulated) Portfolio Ranking and (allocation weighted) Pooled Benchmarking for IRR and TWRR measures.Implemented/streamlined recurring client reporting needs via report packages within the user interface and/or customizing data/visual summaries of interest via Excel Add-in tool.Served as client advocate working closely with internal client coverage and product teams to ensure client voice is heard based upon their needs.Reviewed and resolved invoice issues between accounting and client. Show less FKA Burgiss.Collaborated as team supporting daily inquiries, webinar and onsite training across all Burgiss tools.Provided best practice advice in utilizing the Private i software to track private equity cash flows, unfunded commitment and performance measures (IRR, TWRR, various multiples, public market comparison, peer group comparison).Ensured retention by promoting utilization of data offerings which include transparency (holdings data) and benchmarking tool.Assisted with increasing overall product knowledge across team members to the extent that they felt comfortable leading onsite training sessions across client base. Show less FKA Burgiss.Actively managed book of business across particular set of existing clients. At one point this book of business included all west coast based accounts.Responsible for deepening relationships and preventing attrition by maximizing clients' knowledge across existing subscriptions while also responsible for up selling of other tools including Portfolio Management (Private i), Transparency Data (fka Private Informant) and Universe Data (fka Private iQ).Negotiated contract renewals with existing clients including top twenty endowments and foundations investing in private capital. Show less FKA Burgiss.Collaborated with client service team in serving client base in maintaining and reporting across their private capital portfolios via Private i portfolio management software.Conducted 120+ on-site client training sessions, including international travel, demonstrating how to track and report performance on their investments using the Private i software.Presented upwards of 50% of content across presentations of two-day multi-client events held in major cities worldwide two to three times annually. Each event provided exposure to twenty to forty individuals across client base that participated to be initially trained or re-familiarize themselves with Burgiss solutions.Assisted with converting data of new clients from Excel into the Private i software and quality assurance by testing new releases. Show less

  • Relationship Manager

    Mar 2019 - Jun 2022

  • Client Service (Portfolio Management, Transparency Data, Universe Data)

    Jan 2015 - Feb 2019

  • Client Executive

    Sept 2011 - Dec 2014

  • Implementation Manager

    Oct 2009 - Aug 2011

  • Client Service (Portfolio Management)

    Feb 2005 - Sept 2009
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  Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement System (PennSERS)

  Jul 2022 - now

  Serve as principal contact for SERS Private Equity fund managers as delegated. Plan/implement/evaluate the Private Equity program consistent with delegated authority from the DCIO, CIO and Board-approved Investment Policy.Source and recommend fund managers (commitments to), as well as dispositions of funds with support of outside consultants. Ensure the research, evaluation, and selection of Private Equity managers aligns with mandate.Monitor/evaluate investment performance, risk exposure, and compliance of SERS Private Equity fund managers. Report significant events and/or compliance violations. Recommend changes in program strategy and fund manager status as warranted. Show less Assist investment team across all asset classes.Work collaboratively in supporting the Portfolio Manager (Private Equity) and team in monitoring and evaluating investment managers and the ongoing management of existing private capital portfolio. Assist with oversight of research, evaluation, and selection of Private Equity managers to align with SERS' overall objective, risk tolerance and mandates from CIO and Board.Perform qualitative and quantitative analyses across the portfolio, individual funds and aggregate fund manager performance. Develop and maintain private market information systems used by SERS Investment Office. Assist with ensuring data in private market information systems is accurate/complete/timely. Manage relationships with external providers of these private market information systems. Train internal staff to use systems.Develop industry "best practice" procedures to monitor and measure investment performance and risk exposures in the Private Equity program, as well as diversification among constituent sub-asset classes.Serve as a contact for SERS Private Equity fund managers as delegated by the Portfolio Manager and Deputy CIO issuing instructions on investment guidelines and coordinating contributions and withdrawals to fund managers.Assist in planning, developing, coordinating, and maintaining of a cash flow analysis to ensure understanding of liquidity needs and impacts.Manage portfolio data in collaboration with SERS’ sub custodian, general partners, and consultants to ensure information is accurate and complete.Travel to conduct due diligence with key fund manager and consultant personnel. Attend annual fund manager meetings. Show less

  • Portfolio Manager (Private Equity)

    Sept 2023 - now

  • Senior Investment Analyst (Private Equity)

    Jul 2022 - Aug 2023