How to hire a lead portfolio manager

How to hire a lead portfolio manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step lead portfolio manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a lead portfolio manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new lead portfolio manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a lead portfolio manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the lead portfolio manager you need to hire. Certain lead portfolio manager roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect lead portfolio manager also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents lead portfolio manager salaries for various positions.

   Type of Lead Portfolio Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Lead Portfolio Manager	Financial managers are responsible for the financial health of an organization. They produce financial reports, direct investment activities, and develop strategies and plans for the long-term financial goals of their organization.	$39-99
   Finance Administrator	A finance administrator is responsible for supporting the financial operations of an organization, handling the accuracy of financial transactions, and resolving discrepancies in the company's financial statements. Finance administrators analyze the company's financial performance, including its losses and revenues, writing financial reports, and providing recommendations for cost-reduction processes to minimize financial risks... Show more	$18-38
   Manager Finance Planning And Analysis	A manager finance planning and analysis oversees the daily operations of a company's financial planning department. They typically have administrative duties such as setting goals and guidelines, establishing timelines and budgets, delegating tasks among teams and staff, and reviewing financial reports regularly... Show more	$36-71

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Project Management
   • Financial Models
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • ROI
   • Portfolio Management
   • Business Development
   • Cloud
   • Client Facing
   • Governance
   • Management Processes
   • Strong Analytical
   • KPIs
   • Leadership Role
   • PMO

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage internal pricing system for exchange trade securities and over-the-counter instruments by verifying all instruments have valid daily closing exchange price.
   • Push accountability to appropriate levels through transparent dashboards and KPIs accessible across the dispersed organization.
   • Collaborate with cross sector portfolio managers on overall public fix income allocation decisions and deep dives into pertinent global macro issues.
   • Start a consistently profitable duration-neutral credit arbitrage portfolio invest in investment grade corporate bonds.

   More lead portfolio manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your lead portfolio manager job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A lead portfolio manager can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, lead portfolio managers' average salary in nebraska is 48% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level lead portfolio managers 60% less than senior-level lead portfolio managers.
   • Certifications. A lead portfolio manager with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a lead portfolio manager's salary.

   Average lead portfolio manager salary

   $131,603yearly

   $63.27 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level lead portfolio manager salary

   $83,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average lead portfolio manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$162,344	$78
   2	New York	$151,475	$73
   3	Massachusetts	$144,911	$70
   4	Delaware	$138,198	$66
   5	Florida	$137,887	$66
   6	New Jersey	$135,348	$65
   7	District of Columbia	$134,315	$65
   8	New Mexico	$134,070	$64
   9	Connecticut	$133,529	$64
   10	Virginia	$131,562	$63
   11	Maryland	$130,906	$63
   12	Illinois	$128,295	$62
   13	Arizona	$123,137	$59
   14	Ohio	$122,151	$59
   15	Georgia	$121,729	$59
   16	Wisconsin	$119,200	$57
   17	Texas	$118,955	$57
   18	North Carolina	$110,781	$53
   19	Colorado	$105,185	$51
   20	Iowa	$102,952	$50

   Average lead portfolio manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Deutsche Bank	$181,045	$87.04	8
   2	BNP Paribas	$177,885	$85.52
   3	Genentech	$169,743	$81.61	6
   4	Google	$169,183	$81.34	27
   5	Databricks	$165,834	$79.73	4
   6	Barclays	$161,562	$77.67
   7	AstraZeneca	$157,491	$75.72
   8	Hoffmann-LA Roche Inc	$153,380	$73.74	1
   9	Sanofi US	$153,141	$73.63	1
   10	Citi	$152,640	$73.38	15
   11	Salesforce	$151,766	$72.96	14
   12	Novartis	$147,782	$71.05	1
   13	Goldman Sachs	$146,383	$70.38	6
   14	JCPenney	$139,576	$67.10
   15	Capgemini	$138,139	$66.41	4
   16	Cisco	$138,024	$66.36	1
   17	Electronic Arts	$136,566	$65.66	1
   18	RealPage	$136,386	$65.57
   19	AXA	$130,150	$62.57	1
   20	J. J. Keller & Associates	$130,147	$62.57

4. Writing a lead portfolio manager job description

   A lead portfolio manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a lead portfolio manager job description:

   Lead portfolio manager job description example

   Lead Portfolio (Hybrid) - (POR000550) HGV Now Offers Day One Team Member Benefits - eligible for health benefits and 401k as of Day 1 of employment!
   HiltonGO employee discount program - stay at Hilton Hotels for as low as $35 per night!
   
   Hilton Grand Vacations is a leader in the vacation ownership industry, operating with an unwavering commitment to innovation, quality, and continued growth. At the core of our company's success are our Team Members. The foundation of our way of life has been about making memorable experiences and a positive impact within our industry and the communities in which we live and thrive.
   
   The Portfolio Lead delegates workload, maintains quality assurance and acts as supervisory backup.
   
   What will I be doing?
   
   Manages various department email boxes and provides monthly totals
   Manages closing exceptions directly with escrow
   Assigns and tracks Customer Action Tracking (CAT) assignments for department
   Coordinates and processes loan cancellations
   Processes payment refund and transfer requests.
   Ensures audit compliance and prepare audit samples.
   Reviews contract documents, loan details and board loans
   
   Why do Team Members Like Working for us:
   
   Day 1 Benefit Eligibility: medical, dental and vision insurance, 401K plan
   Recognition Programs and Rewards
   Discounted Hilton hotel rates worldwide!
   401(k) program with company match.
   Paid Time off
   Paid Sick Days
   Employee stock purchase program
   Numerous learning and advancement opportunities
   
   Our dedication to excellence is recognized and celebrated by some outstanding accolades including being named to Newsweek's Most Loved Workplaces list in 2021, a Stevie American Business Awards Gold winner for Company of the Year in Hospitality and Leisure, ranked a top company by LinkedIn in Travel & Hospitality on its 2022 Top Companies Industry Edition list and becoming a Great Place to Work certified company, earning our 2022 certification.
   
   What are we looking for?
   
   A minimum of three (3) years of experience in the vacation ownership field with financial/back-office operations required
   Ability to analyze and thoroughly research difficult scenarios
   Ability to maintain a balance of cordiality while enforcing department objectives.
   Ability to learn new concepts and procedures quickly.
   Working knowledge of Atlas, Clarity, and Harland.
   Computer proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
   Ability to interpret and create spreadsheets.
   
   We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
   Primary Location: United States-Nevada-Las VegasWork Locations: DRI Center Crossing 1450 Center Crossing Road 89144Job: Portfolio ServicesOrganization: CC-Portfolio - 18000419Schedule: Full-time Shift: Day JobJob Type: StandardJob Level: Team LeaderJob Posting: Oct 13, 2022, 6:17:58 PM

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right lead portfolio manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with lead portfolio managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit lead portfolio managers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your lead portfolio manager job on Zippia to find and recruit lead portfolio manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit lead portfolio managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new lead portfolio manager

   Once you've selected the best lead portfolio manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new lead portfolio manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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