Associate, Real Estate Asset Management

Over the last 20 years, Ares’ success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by our core values – Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy – and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and employee-focused programming, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry.

Job Description

Role Overview The Associate – Asset Management (Retail & Office) will support the Asset Management team in driving value creation, monitoring performance, and executing business plans across a diversified portfolio with a focus on pan-European retail and offices. The role will partner closely with senior asset managers, investment teams, finance, and third-party operators/servicers to ensure high-quality analysis, reporting, governance, and disciplined execution throughout the asset lifecycle.

While reporting to a designated Principal or above, the Associate will work day-to-day with different senior members of the Asset Management team across the portfolio.

Based in London, this position supports assets across Europe, working across the full range of strategies and structures (direct holdings, joint ventures, and Co-Invest vehicles).The Associate will contribute to acquisitions onboarding, ongoing asset oversight, financing and refinancing processes, and exit execution, with a focus on rigorous financial analysis, data integrity, and clear communication to internal and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities Asset Management & Value Creation Manage asset-level business plans in partnership with wider Deal Team and external operating partners, ensuring clear priorities, measurable milestones, and accountability.

Monitor operating performance (NOI, occupancy, leasing velocity, renewals, arrears, opex) and proactively address underperformance through agreed action  annual budgeting and Quarterly IRR reforecasting processes with operating partners, ensuring timely delivery, appropriate assumptions, and alignment to portfolio targets.

Help identify and execute value creation initiatives including revenue management, ancillary income, pricing optimisation, cost control, and unit/amenity upgrades.

Monitor capital expenditure programmes (maintenance and value-add), including scope definition, prioritisation, procurement oversight and delivery tracking.

Third-Party Management, Data & Governance Act as a critical Ares’ day-to-day asset management interface with external operating partners, property managers and key third-party service providers.

Endorse and maintain governance rhythms (weekly/monthly operating reviews, quarterly business reviews), ensuring clear decision-making and documented follow-ups.

Review and advise on partner reporting, KPIs and assumptions to ensure consistent reporting standards across sector is maintained.

Prepare materials for weekly/monthly operating reviews and quarterly business reviews, including dashboards, KPI packs, and meeting minutes/action trackers as required.

Drive the standardisation of reporting templates and definitions across the sector to enable consistent portfolio aggregation and performance comparisons.

Market, Commercial & Portfolio Analytics Maintain awareness of market parameters (rents/pricing, vacancies, supply pipeline, cap rates, comparable transactions) and apply towards actionable insights for business plans.

Support valuation processes by compiling inputs, updating cash flow assumptions, and coordinating with third-party valuers where relevant.

Maintain awareness on key macro, regulatory and sector-specific developments relevant to the assets and ensure relevant actions for asset strategy and risk management.

Prepare ad hoc analysis in support of asset-level decisions (capex prioritisation, leasing/commercial strategies, restructuring options, hedging considerations as applicable). Reporting & Stakeholder Management Prepare recurring asset and deal level reporting packs…