Reuters seeks hedge fund reporter in London

Reuters is looking for an energetic journalist to cover the hedge fund industry in London as part of the EMEA funds team.

The role offers a fantastic opportunity for a reporter with a proven track record in initiative reporting to get under the skin of perhaps the most secretive of all industries. The hedge fund correspondent will need to get into the funds’ heartland of expensively understated offices and plush eateries in London’s Mayfair to report on which funds are on the rise, which are declining, and crucially the personalities behind them.

Key Responsibilities
This is a demanding role and the successful candidate will be expected to drive initiative reporting on hedge funds, building strong sources and breaking news on the industry, including new funds being set up or closing, fund performance, investment trends and the hedge fund managers themselves. There is no shortage of color and intrigue, but it will take constant source-building, persistence and charm to prise it out of those who make their living from playing their cards close to their chests.

The correspondent will need to work closely with other reporters in London, across the region and in the U.S. and Asia. They will need to share tips and leads in order to get the most of our sources in the markets team, IFR and investment banks, who still provide the prime brokerage services hedge funds need to operate.

The correspondent will also need to establish contacts among the funds which invest in hedge funds, including fund-of-funds, in order to get hold of the “investor letters” which hedge funds send out to their clients detailing their performance. Applicants should have a good understanding of how hedge funds and investment banks work, a proven ability to develop sources and break exclusive news and a collegiate approach which will allow them to provide sector specialist correspondents and bureaus with guidance and input when hedge funds get involved in buying or selling a company’s shares or bonds or a sovereign’s debt or CDS.

They have played a central role in situations such as the Greek debt work-out and other restructurings and an ability to get to grips with often complex financial puzzles will be key to success.

The Hedge Fund Correspondent will work as part of the EMEA funds team and will be expected to jump in and help cover long-only funds as well as hedge funds, while also contributing to our coverage of investment banking in the region through their contacts with the prime brokers. Close collaboration with counterparts in the U.S. and Asia is also critical.

The successful candidate will need to be able to put developments in the industry, such as the impact of regulation of the so-called shadow banking sector, into a European and global context, cut through technical jargon to write for a broad audience and balance spot news with a regular stream of regular incisive stand back pieces on themes, trends and personalities within the hedge fund industry.

To apply, go here.