Buy Side Recruitment

Unparalleled market knowledge

Our recruitment consultants have deep expertise in buy side sectors such as investments, asset management, private equity, insurance, hedge funds, and more. We offer a range of industry insights, including compensation guides, surveys, and the latest hiring trends. With a thorough understanding of the challenges within these sectors, we are able to identify professionals with the precise skills and experience required for success.

Tailored buy side recruitment strategies

Finding the right talent is just the beginning; keeping professionals engaged and ready to join as your business grows is key. With over 20 years of experience in the buy side industry, we have developed tailored recruitment strategies to identify top talent, nurture long-term relationships, and ensure your team has the right professionals when you need them most.

Global buy side network

Finding the right buy side talent can be challenging, especially when it comes to matching skills with company culture. Through our global buy-side network, we connect with both active and passive professionals, leveraging strong relationships with top financial firms to identify the best candidates. Our approach ensures we align with your team’s needs and goals.

Valued long-term partnerships

Our goal is to do more than just source talent—we focus on building strong partnerships with our clients. By offering continuous support and customized strategies, we address the dynamic needs of your team and organization, ensuring access to top professionals with emerging buy side skills to drive growth and achieve long-term success.

Selby Jennings partners with a diverse range of buy-side institutions globally, including but not limited to:

• Hedge Funds (Long/Short, Macro, Quant, Multi-Manager)
• Private Equity Firms (Growth, Buyout, Sector-Specific)
• Venture Capital Funds (Early-Stage to Growth)
• Asset Managers (Traditional, ESG, Thematic)
• Family Offices (Single & Multi-Family)
• Fund of Funds & OCIO Platforms
• Institutional Allocators (Pensions, Endowments)
• Direct Investment Teams at Sovereign Wealth Funds

…and many more specialized investment platforms across both alternative and traditional strategies.

Looking to grow your team?
Request a call back and speak with one of our specialist consultants today.

Selby Jennings partners with leading buy-side firms globally to deliver top-tier talent across investment, research, and distribution functions. Roles we typically support include, but are not limited to:

• Investment Analyst
• Research Analyst (Equity, Credit, Macro)
• Quantitative Analyst
• ESG Analyst
• Portfolio Analyst
• Trader (Execution / Systematic)
• Risk Analyst
• Data Analyst
• Client Services Associate
• Investor Relations Associate
• Product Analyst
• Capital Raising Associate

We connect high-performing professionals with hedge funds, private equity firms, asset managers, and family offices where performance and precision drive long-term success.

Selby Jennings offers various workforce solutions tailored to your specific objectives.

• Permanent hires - Our permanent search service, whether through contingent or retained buy side recruitment, helps you secure the professionals who can truly make an impact.
• Contract hires - Our extensive network of contractors and interim managers integrate seamlessly into companies to drive short term goals.
• Multi-hire projects - We take a consultative approach with our clients, managing the entire recruitment process from sourcing to hiring across the entire project.

We support hiring across front, middle and back office functions. This includes roles in investment analysis, portfolio management, trading, quant research and development, investor relations, operations, risk, compliance and data science.

Firms usually hire from investment banking, equity research, consulting, Big 4 transaction services or other funds. Most expect a strong academic track record. Technical skills like financial modelling, Python or SQL are increasingly valued, especially in quant and trading teams.

Processes vary by firm. Most include a resume screen, technical interviews, case studies or investment pitches, and final interviews with senior stakeholders. Hedge fund processes can take around two weeks. Private equity and venture capital hiring is more structured and often takes one to three months.

It is highly competitive. Teams are lean and hiring is selective. Candidates need top-tier credentials, clear investment thinking and strong cultural alignment. Firms prioritise relevant experience, technical execution and long-term commitment to the buy side.

Hiring is active in multi-strategy hedge funds, private credit, quant funds and secondaries. Base salaries remain stable. Bonuses vary significantly by performance. Carry is a key component in private markets. There is growing demand for candidates who combine investment, data and technical expertise.

Time to hire depends on the firm, role and seniority. Hedge funds tend to move quickly, often completing processes in two to four weeks. Private equity and asset management roles typically take longer, often four to twelve weeks. Senior hires or multi-stage processes can extend beyond that, especially when multiple decision-makers are involved.