Client Contracting

About this role

Vice President, Client Contracting

About BlackRock

BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, our clients turn to us for the solutions they need when planning for their most important goals.

About Client Experience

The Client Experience Delivery (CXD) organization sits within Technology & Operations and is comprised of 4 key functions: Client Onboarding, Client Contracting, Client Experience Management and Service Innovation. CXD touches all aspects of the client journey and is committed to making service so simple it becomes a source of alpha for BlackRock.

Team Overview

Client Contracting is responsible for drafting and negotiating investment management agreements, investment guidelines, and other contractual arrangements between BlackRock and our new and existing clients. The team partners closely with the Investment & Client Businesses, Client Experience Management, Legal & Compliance and other critical support teams to bring clients onto the platform and deliver "One BlackRock". Client Contracting cover a broad range of clients including direct investors, sovereign wealth funds, central banks, pension funds, family offices and insurance companies each of whom may transact in different investment strategies, products, instruments and markets offered by BlackRock.

Role

As a Vice President within Client Contracting, you will support a growing area in a dynamic and challenging environment. You will be responsible for understanding the legal and regulatory framework in which BlackRock and its clients operate to draft contractual arrangements underpinning our client relationships. You will need a strong desire to learn the business of asset management to effectively draft and negotiate with clients to protect the interests of the firm while maintaining a commercial mindset. The individual will be expected to work autonomously once familiar with BlackRock business structures, operating models and documentation.  The right candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• People management experience and ability to manage multiple individuals, provide oversight and be a point of escalation.
• Act as primary support for a defined business area, managing business workload and drive training and oversight of team members.
• Accurate drafting, negotiation and coordination of contractual documentation for BlackRock’s Clients including standard agreements of the business, non-disclosure agreements, distribution agreements and investment management agreements.
• Facilitation and coordination of all internal SME stakeholders across different regions involved in the contracting process ensuring their comments flow through to the contract and requisite approvals are obtained.
• Partnering with various teams across BlackRock to ensure contractual terms and minimize risk.
• Ensuring that the appropriate contracting process is followed and that all completed contractual documentation is properly filed, stored and retrievable to mitigate risk to BlackRock.
• Negotiating client documentation within the remit of the Client Contracting team, escalating appropriate risk where necessary.
• Supporting the sales team with contractual documentation queries.
• Communicating any contractual documentation changes to a client mandate to applicable internal stakeholders.
• Capturing and recording relevant non-standard contractual clauses on an ongoing basis and maintaining the contractual documentation database.
• Participating in research initiatives or projects that are requested by the sales, product or legal teams.
• Proactively identify and implement opportunities for process and client experience improvements.

Experience

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated asset management or financial services experience and in-depth experience of drafting contractual documentation within the asset management industry possessing either:

• A legal background or qualification with experience of drafting and negotiating investment management agreements for clients; or
• Excellent knowledge and proven track record in drafting and negotiating sophisticated legal contracts and the ability to perform and deliver high quality legal contracts in a fast-paced environment.

Skills/Qualifications

• Relevant legal qualification - 5-8 years PQE (Post-Qualified Experience) or relevant contractual management experience.
• Practicing certificate (Preferred)
• Experienced contract drafting and negotiation skills.
• Excellent attention to detail, organization, and presentation skills.
• Knowledge of the asset management industry (fund types, client base and strategies, operational set up and products) and applicable law and regulations (Preferred).
• Strongly proficient on standard software (e.g., Microsoft Office) and interested in new technologies.

Competencies

• Strong awareness of process efficiency and the need to mitigate risk through team processes.
• Exemplary analytical, communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate with both internal and external clients at all levels and regions.
• Team player both regarding your direct team as well as those with whom you support.
• Flexible and open to accepting new challenges; able to work effectively and efficiently on multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, demanding, and ever-changing environment while maintaining the highest standard and attention to detail.
• Proven skills in successfully managing competing internal and external demands within compressed timeframes and ability to priortise to ensure deadlines are met.                                                                                                                 
• Demonstrated ability to balance client needs with BlackRock policies and operational procedures; possess excellent regulatory and technical awareness in order to understand associated risks and provided innovative, risk-free and compliance friendly solutions.
• Dependability and a high degree of professional motivation and genuine interest in financial services, asset management and the related regulatory environment.

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.