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Vice President, Applied Analytics

Employer
BlackRock
Location
London, United Kingdom
Salary
Competitive
Closing date
Oct 30, 2021

View more

Job Function
Banking
Industry Sector
Finance - General
Employment Type
Full Time
Education
Bachelors
Description

About this role

About BlackRock

BlackRock is one of the world's largest asset management firms and a premier provider of global investment management, risk management and advisory services to institutional, intermediary and individual investors around the world. BlackRock offers a range of solutions - from rigorous fundamental and quantitative active management approaches aimed at maximizing outperformance to highly efficient indexing strategies designed to gain broad exposure to the world's capital markets. Our clients can access our investment solutions through a variety of product structures, including individual and institutional separate accounts, mutual funds and other pooled investment vehicles, and the industry-leading iShares® ETFs.

Business Unit Overview:

BlackRock's ETF and Index Investments (EII) business is the leading index investment engine in the world. We help investors build better portfolios with the industry's leading suite of index investment tools. We enable them to replace individual securities, to take short-term market views, to invest cash rapidly, to execute more efficiently than swaps, futures, or individual bonds, to take long-term core positions and to construct efficient portfolios. We are the best in the world at building and managing efficient index tools for our clients. We serve every kind of investor: pensions, insurers, sovereign wealth funds, central banks, asset managers, wealth advisors and individual investors.

Job Purpose/Background:

The BlackRock EMEA Portfolio Analysis and Solutions (BPAS) team is part of BlackRock's global Portfolio Consulting group which partner with clients across geographies to help them achieve their portfolio outcomes using BlackRock alpha-seeking, factor and indexed products and solutions across public and private markets.

As investors shift from product to portfolio solutions, BlackRock is heavily investing in the EMEA region to ensure we can fulfil our client needs while remaining in sync with their evolution - whatever the business model and approach they choose to implement.

BPAS is our answer for clients choosing to retain control of their asset allocation and implementation choices (i.e., not willing to out-source), whilst needing a partner in selecting products to achieve a given portfolio outcome. As such, BPAS interacts in the region with large portfolio builders across all segments: from CIO of pension funds and insurance companies - to head of discretionary propositions, head of advisory books, managers of unit linked products and fund of fund managers - and complements the offering of our Client Portfolio Solutions Group (CPS), which services clients wishing to outsource.

Leveraging BlackRock's unique Aladdin® risk platform and the BlackRock Investment Institute's macro insights, the team help investors understand better their existing portfolio risk factor exposures and overall portfolio efficiency and help evolve client portfolios towards the desired outcome. Furthermore, the team helps clients design new investment propositions and solutions.

As part of the BPAS Innovation and Research, the Senior Portfolio Consultant will play a pivotal role in accelerating and scaling the research effort and evolution of the consulting team service offering - working closely with the BPAS Innovation and Research head and the rest of the team. He/she will lead on specific projects, in particular with respect to Alternatives, with the mandate to advance our support to institutional and wealth clients wishing to gain more exposure to this asset class. In his/her role, the Senior Portfolio Consultant will partner closely with the BPAS Consulting and Technology teams, country iShares and Wealth (iS&W) sales teams across all client channels spanning Wealth, Retail and Institutional, the Institutional and Consulting Coverage teams (ICB and GCR), BlackRock Alternatives Specialists (BAS) and BlackRock Alternative Investors (BAI) teams among others.

In this role, he/ she will be responsible for developing and commercializing the BPAS Alternatives strategy, narrative and portfolio construction analysis content and analytics across all countries and client segments, as well as the execution of client portfolio engagements with a particular focus on Alternatives in Switzerland.

He/she will design customised, outcome-oriented, or product-oriented client portfolio solutions leveraging the BlackRock Alternatives platform, will develop thought leadership and research and will conduct engagements around portfolio construction and risk management with Alternatives to assist with asset allocation, portfolio structure, and implementation decisions.

In addition to the Alternatives focus, the Senior Portfolio Consultant will be responsible for helping build out further and scaling the team's efforts around broader portfolio construction and asset allocation research, analytics development and portfolio and market insights.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead and develop the service offering for BPAS in Alternatives, contribute to the broader portfolio insights and research service offering . He/she will focus on scaling and accelerating our delivery in Alternatives via an increased volume of research, through leadership, client portfolio construction solutions, portfolio analyses and consultations delivered. This will entail:
  • Interacting directly with clients to understand their needs and objectives with a focus on Alternatives and their role in the whole portfolio. He/ she must have an ability to interpret the client discussion, construct and shape impactful analysis and credibly deliver the findings. The successful candidate must have an interest and an ability to fluidly move through each one of these engagement stages.
  • Lead and contribute to key portfolio innovation projects focused on broader portfolio construction insights, market insights, and the analytics research & development agenda of the BPAS Innovation and Research team.
  • Understanding and implementing macroeconomic and asset-class themes with a focus on Alternatives but also traditional asset classes within portfolio construction to drive investment into portfolio solutions.
  • Closely collaborating and co-ordinating key initiatives with stakeholders in BAS/BAI and product specialists, the BPAS Consulting and Technology teams, and Sales teams, to deliver portfolio research and construct portfolio and product-related solutions tailored to regional client requirements.
  • Serve as an investment specialist in Alternatives for client discussions.
  • Managing strategic projects and delivering innovation and scale to BPAS' offering in Alternatives tailored to specific countries, client segments, product (through a portfolio lens) and analytical dimensions.


Knowledge/Experience:
  • 7+ years' experience in Solutions / Product / Quant roles within investment management, consulting or sell side firms a must.
  • Specialist knowledge in Alternatives (liquid and illiquid), and sub-strategies in Alternatives (hedge funds, private equity, infrastructure, real estate), and their role in portfolio construction a must.
  • Proven track record in client interaction in Alternatives a must.
  • Excellent analytical skills - PhD or BA/BS in a quantitative/analytical, finance or economics discipline a must.
  • CAIA /CQF/CFA/FRM certification highly desirable but not required.
  • Strong understanding of portfolio construction and optimisation processes and models - including drivers of return, risk control and portfolio construction techniques a must.
  • Practical econometrics / research experience or familiarity with a portfolio view relative to liabilities or cash flow-based modelling a plus.
  • Prior experience with risk management / portfolio construction systems (e.g., Barra, Axioma, Aladdin etc) a plus.
  • Effective communication skills, both written and verbal. The successful candidate must have the confidence and credibility to persuasively interact with colleagues, management, and clients.
  • Ability to work efficiently and multi-task effectively in a fast-paced and collaborative environment.
  • Prior experience leading a team an advantage.
  • Proven knowledge of any of the following: Python, SQL, VBA, C++, Linux, Matlab, R preferable.
  • Prior experience in macro / investment strategy is an advantage.
  • Fluent English is a prerequisite.


Our benefits

To help you stay energized, engaged and inspired, we offer a wide range of benefits including a strong retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, comprehensive healthcare, support for working parents and Flexible Time Off (FTO) so you can relax, recharge and be there for the people you care about.

About BlackRock

At BlackRock, we are all connected by one mission: to help more and more people experience financial well-being. Our clients, and the people they serve, are saving for retirement, paying for their children's educations, buying homes and starting businesses. Their investments also help to strengthen the global economy: support businesses small and large; finance infrastructure projects that connect and power cities; and facilitate innovations that drive progress.

This mission would not be possible without our smartest investment - the one we make in our employees. It's why we're dedicated to creating an environment where our colleagues feel welcomed, valued and supported with networks, benefits and development opportunities to help them thrive.

For additional information on BlackRock, please visit careers.blackrock.com | www.blackrock.com/corporate | Instagram: @blackrock | Twitter: @blackrock | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock

BlackRock is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, and other statuses protected by law.

BlackRock will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in a manner consistent with the requirements of the law, including any applicable fair chance law.

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