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ALM/Derivatives Associate

Northwestern Mutual · Milwaukee, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 17, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about an analysis you did that led to a portfolio repositioning recommendation.

What they are checking: Whether their work has driven real investment action.

Tell me about a time you caught an error in your analysis before it reached a decision-maker.

What they are checking: Whether they have the attention to detail this job demands.

How are you working toward the CFA or a similar credential, and what has been most useful?

What they are checking: Whether they are committed to building expertise in this field.

What would you do

An actuary's liability cash flows don't match your expectations. How do you work it out?

What they are checking: Whether they can collaborate with actuaries to resolve modeling differences accurately.

About the work

What is key rate duration, and why would you use it instead of just effective duration for an annuity portfolio?

What they are checking: Whether they understand how yield curve shape changes can create risk even when overall duration is matched.

How would you match the assets backing a fixed annuity block to its liability cash flows?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the core asset liability management problem for annuities.

How does a spread lending program work, and what risks does it create?

What they are checking: Whether they understand funding agreement and spread business mechanics and their liquidity and rate risks.

How would you use interest rate swaps to hedge a duration mismatch?

What they are checking: Whether they know how derivatives adjust portfolio risk and what costs they add.

What risks come with holding private and structured assets in an ALM portfolio?

What they are checking: Whether they understand cash flow uncertainty and liquidity limits in less liquid assets.

How would you support a derivative trade execution from start to finish?

What they are checking: Whether they understand pricing, documentation, collateral and settlement steps.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Mutual.

About the Job: This role will support the Derivatives Management and Asset Liability Management (ALM) division of the Public Investment department, with a focus on spread lending, annuity product ALM, and hedging programs. What You'll Do: • Perform ALM analysis for spread lending and annuity products, including duration, key rate duration, and cash flow assessments used to inform investment decisions • Develop recommendations for ALM activity and repositioning to drive value for annuity products and spread lending program • Assist with derivative strategy analysis and execution support, and develop knowledge and skill set to execute derivative transactions • Provide modeling and analytical support related to portfolio assets and liabilities, including private and structured assets • Partner effectively with portfolio managers, traders, actuaries, accountants, and other stakeholders involved in product and portfolio management • Maintain a high level of attention to detail, intellectual curiosity, and ownership in delivering accurate analysis for investment decisions What You'll Bring to the Role: • Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, actuarial science, or a related field required; CFA designation (or progress towards) or master’s degree preferred • 3–5 years of relevant experience in asset allocation, annuity product ALM, derivative execution support, private asset modeling, or related investment analytics roles • Strong quantitative and analytical skills, with the ability to work with complex data, build insightful analyses, and translate results into clear investment implications • Experience with Bloomberg, Aladdin, SQL, Python, and/or Snowflake is beneficial • Strong investment and finance background and passion, with a willingness to ask thoughtful questions and an ability to work collaboratively • Demonstrates initiative, motivation, and good judgment • Works well independently, while promoting and contributing to a strong team dynamic • High ethical and professional standards Skills You Will Have: • Adaptive Communication: Formulates strategies to be used to convey complex information about services, products, systems, or processes to targeted audiences; communicates and liaises between technical and non-technical audiences. • Attention to Detail: Focuses on specific details to spot and correct errors in advance of them being found and surpass quality expectations. Performs work with thorough proofreading for presentation, content, accuracy, and overall quality. • Cross Functional Partnering & Planning: Facilitates collaboration, communication, coordination, and planning with individuals and teams from different functions within the organization, and who have different areas of expertise, to achieve common goals. • Financial Market Monitoring: Consistently tracks and analyzes financial market data and news, evaluates trends and events that may impact investment portfolios or financial decisions, and makes informed decisions based on this information. Stays up to date on economic indicators, market news, and global events, and understands how they relate to investment opportunities and risks. • Industry Knowledge: Demonstrates extensive knowledge of common practices, regulatory considerations, market trends and the competitive landscape within a particular industry / sector to better understand and address unique client requirements, challenges, and context. • Storytelling through Data: Communicates insights and opportunities from a dataset, using narratives, visualizations, and analysis. Compensation Range: We believe in fairness and transparency. It’s why we share the salary range for most of our roles. However, final salaries are based on a number of factors, including the skills and experience of the candidate; the current market; location of the candidate; and other factors uncovered in the hiring process. The standard pay structure is listed. Grow your career with a best-in-class company that puts our clients' interests at the center of all we do. Get started now! Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes talented individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which each employee can contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, assume leadership and continue to focus on meeting and exceeding business and personal objectives. If you work or would be working in California, Colorado, New York City, Washington or outside of a Corporate location, please click here for additional information pertaining to compensation and benefits.

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