About this role
At Goldman Sachs, we connect people, capital and ideas to help solve problems for our clients. We are a leading global financial services firm providing investment banking, securities and investment management services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. For us, it’s all about bringing together people who are curious, collaborative and have the drive to make things possible for our clients and communities.
OPERATIONS
Operations is a dynamic, multi-faceted area that partners with all parts of the firm to provide banking, securities, and asset management services to clients around the world. Operations also provides essential risk management and controls to preserve and enhance the firm's assets and reputation. For every new product launched and every transaction executed, Operations develops and manages the processes and controls that enable business flow.
YOUR IMPACT
The AWM Alternative Private Operations team is seeking an Associate to support and help lead Post Close Operations across the private alternatives platform. The role requires strong knowledge of alternative products and closed-end fund structures, independent ownership of complex operational workflows, and the ability to analyze issues, review work, coordinate stakeholders, strengthen controls, and drive items to resolution across a varied private-markets portfolio.
OUR IMPACT
AWM Alternative Private Operations professionals are subject matter experts within Operations. The Post Close Operations team partners closely with the business and supports private-market strategies including Corporate Credit, Corporate Equity, Growth Equity, Infrastructure, Real Estate Equity, and Real Estate Credit. The team provides centralized, front-to-back operational support across cash, positions, transaction data, valuations, reconciliations, fund-related journals, lifecycle events, and downstream reporting.
HOW YOU WILL FULFILL YOUR POTENTIAL
- Independently manage accurate and timely execution of post-close operational activities across alternative investment products and closed-end fund structures.
- Own complex transaction processing and shadow-booking workflows, position and security setups, data maintenance, and lifecycle events across credit, equity, infrastructure, and real estate strategies.
- Perform and review cash, position, cost, fair value, proceeds, income, and other completeness reconciliations; challenge unexplained differences and drive breaks to supported resolution.
- Prepare and review journal entries and supporting memos for fund payments, fees, invoices, taxes, credit facilities, interest, liquidity movements, and other investment or fund activity.
- Apply advanced Excel skills to analyze large datasets, build and review reconciliation logic, identify trends and anomalies, improve controls, and deliver decision-ready analysis.
- Use sound analytical judgment and critical thinking to interpret transaction structures, evaluate data across multiple sources, identify root causes, assess downstream impact, and propose practical solutions.
- Develop and maintain a strong front-to-back understanding of closed-end funds, fund structures, cash flows, valuations, accounting treatment, and the operational lifecycle of private-market investments.
- Serve as a knowledgeable point of contact for internal stakeholders across Portfolio Management, Fund Accounting, Investment Accounting, Servicing, Deal Teams, Engineering, Controllers, and Operations.
- Review work performed by Analysts or peers where assigned, provide clear guidance, and support knowledge sharing, cross-training, and consistent execution across the team.
- Proactively identify, communicate, and escalate risks, control gaps, capacity constraints, and potential delays, with clear impact assessment and recommended next steps.
- Lead or materially contribute to process improvement, workflow standardization, documentation, system enhancements, automation, and migration of new PCO functions.
- Maintain strong governance through procedure adherence, maker-checker controls, evidence retention, tracker accuracy, timely escalation, and readiness for audit or control review.
SKILLS & COMPETENCIES
- Strong working knowledge of alternative investment products and closed-end fund structures, including private credit, private equity, growth equity, infrastructure, and real estate strategies.
- Strong analytical and critical-thinking capability, with the ability to assess complex issues, challenge assumptions, evaluate downstream impacts, and communicate a clear recommendation.
- Advanced Excel skills, including complex formulas, XLOOKUP/INDEX-MATCH, SUMIFS, pivot tables, data validation, reconciliation design, exception analysis, and efficient review of large datasets.
- Understanding of fund accounting and administration concepts, including journal entries, liquidity, valuations, interest calculations, fund payments, reconciliations, and investment lifecycle events.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex issues clearly and work effectively across levels, functions, and regions.
- Demonstrated ownership, initiative, organization, accountability, and ability to prioritize multiple time-sensitive deliverables.
- Strong risk and control mindset, including disciplined documentation, independent review, escalation, and root-cause analysis.
- Ability to coach junior team members, share product and process knowledge, and promote consistent execution.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification with a strong academic record.
- Typically 2-5 years of relevant experience in alternative investments, fund accounting, investment accounting, fund administration, financial operations, asset management, or a related field; equivalent experience will be considered.
- Demonstrated experience with alternative products, closed-end funds, private-market transaction lifecycles, and operational or accounting controls is strongly preferred.
- Experience independently managing reconciliations, journal entries, valuations, payments, position setup, exception resolution, or related fund operations workflows is preferred.
- Advanced Excel proficiency is required; experience with PowerPoint, Word, workflow tools, data visualization, automation, or process re-engineering is beneficial.
ABOUT GOLDMAN SACHS
At Goldman Sachs, we commit our people, capital and ideas to help our clients, shareholders and the communities we serve to grow. Founded in 1869, we are a leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm. Headquartered in New York, we maintain offices around the world.
We believe who you are makes you better at what you do. We're committed to fostering and advancing diversity and inclusion in our own workplace and beyond by ensuring every individual within our firm has a number of opportunities to grow professionally and personally, from our training and development opportunities and firmwide networks to benefits, wellness and personal finance offerings and mindfulness programs. Learn more about our culture, benefits, and people at GS.com/careers.
We’re committed to finding reasonable accommodations for candidates with special needs or disabilities during our recruiting process. Learn more: https://www.goldmansachs.com/careers/footer/disability-statement.html
Goldman Sachs is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veterans status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.