Associate – Transition Management

About this role

Business Unit Overview

BlackRock’s Transition Management (TRIM) team manages more than 300 transitions a year from hubs in London, Budapest, New York, San Francisco, Tokyo, Singapore, and Hong Kong across equity, fixed income and multi-asset class transitions. The transition service encompasses detailed analytics, portfolio and risk management and trading implementation to achieve bespoke client objectives.

Our clients include many of the largest asset owners around the world, across central banks, sovereign wealth funds, public pension plans, corporate pension plans and other institutional investors. The group, consisting of over 55 transition professionals, offers one of the industry’s most comprehensive transition management platforms. We partner with clients by understanding their objectives and designing and implementing solutions that deliver the full power of BlackRock.

Role Overview

• Transition Management is a high trust product where clients provide a significant proportion of their assets to BlackRock. The Transition Manager is accountable directly to the client to maintain the highest standard of care, responsiveness and deliver a high standard of service.
• Attention to detail, personal service and technical knowledge are at the core of the skills required to be a successful member of the team. The Transition Manager is an excellent communicator (written and verbal), a problem solver that can react in a fast paced, dynamic environment and present complex information and concepts in an easy to digest format to clients.
• The Transition Manager is one of three functions that co-own the end-to-end delivery of a client transition project. The Transition Manager is responsible for planning and project management of the transition, communication with internal and external stakeholders and co-ordination of the operational requirements.
• The Transition Manager is accountable directly to the client for the delivery of the overall transition project maintaining the highest standard of care and responsiveness enhancing the clients experience.
• The ideal candidate would enjoy problem solving and have the ability to interpret and articulate complex multi-dimensional scenarios. The diversity of transactions, breadth of asset classes and access to a large pool of intellectual capital translates into a position where no two days are the same. Attention to detail and an appetite to learn are a must. The role will involve managing portfolio restructurings for institutional clients, working within a multi-asset class environment and with a range of financial instruments.
• The successful candidate will need to communicate, network, and to establish and maintain productive working relationships with individuals at all levels, both internally and externally. The team is at the centre of BlackRock’s investment processes with access to all asset classes. Team members collectively own their successes and failures and are part of an environment where there is a strong commitment to develop and grow careers with a focus on passion and excellence.

Key responsibilities

The successful candidate will join a team of Transition Managers and, alongside the Client Strategist and the Transition Portfolio Manager, they are responsible for helping clients reorganise their portfolios at the lowest cost and risk profile. In particular this involves:

• Ability to scope, plan, coordinate and manage the process of transitioning assets
• Managing internal and external stakeholders effectively to ensure the successful delivery of the project
• Identifying, understanding and mitigating all forms of cost and risk that occur during the period of change
• Developing a detailed understanding of exposure, execution, process and operational management
• Defining and owning a clear transition project plan
• Designing, implementing, monitoring and executing detailed operating plans
• Establishing strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Communicating effectively with all relevant parties to execute a successful transition project

The other activities required in a given transition are carried out by a Transition Portfolio Manager who specialises in the investment and risk components of a transition and works in conjunction with the Transition Manager. The Client Strategist is the primary client contact with the project manager responsible on-going client relationship throughout the transition and beyond.

Skills and Qualifications

• Demonstrated project management capabilities and ability to drive projects forward
• Excellent communicator and an ability to speak with clients on a number of levels
• Understanding of capital markets and financial instruments
• Proficiency in Excel. Proficiency in project planning tools a plus
• Ability to multi-task and prioritise tasks in a demanding and fast-paced environment
• Willing to help support the wider team functions where necessary
• Team player, high energy, curious, and attention to details are essential to succeed
• Self-motivated, confident and proactive problem solver with a positive “can-do” attitude
• Reliable and trusted team player with strong integrity and ethics.

Relevant Experience:

• Experience of multi-stakeholder project management
• Experience servicing clients within the investment management arena
• Experience in Financial Services, ideally directly or supporting a market/investment facing role

Our benefits

To help you stay energized, engaged and inspired, we offer a wide range of employee benefits including: retirement investment and tools designed to help you in building a sound financial future; access to education reimbursement; comprehensive resources to support your physical health and emotional well-being; family support programs; and Flexible Time Off (FTO) so you can relax, recharge and be there for the people you care about.

Our hybrid work model

BlackRock’s hybrid work model is designed to enable a culture of collaboration and apprenticeship that enriches the experience of our employees, while supporting flexibility for all. Employees are currently required to work at least 4 days in the office per week, with the flexibility to work from home 1 day a week. Some business groups may require more time in the office due to their roles and responsibilities. We remain focused on increasing the impactful moments that arise when we work together in person – aligned with our commitment to performance and innovation. As a new joiner, you can count on this hybrid model to accelerate your learning and onboarding experience here at BlackRock.

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 @blackrock | Twitter: @blackrock | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock

BlackRock is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to age, disability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and other protected characteristics at law.