Product Structuring Vice President

Job Description

About this role

Global Product Group – Product Structuring Associate/Vice President

BlackRock is one of the world’s preeminent 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 maximising 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.

Global Product Group (GPG)

Product development is viewed as a core global discipline at BlackRock, where it has been recognised that successful product development is the focal point for the impartial analysis of new ideas and brings together different skills from around the business to turn those ideas into realistic product propositions aligned with BlackRock’s priorities. It is important to ensure that this function delivers products which combine the investment capabilities with the distribution potential of the firm, whilst ensuring robust operational support. At BlackRock the responsibility for product development (ex iShares), product structuring (including iShares) and range management activities for EMEA pooled funds has been brought under the EMEA GPG team. BlackRock has over 1000 funds in the EMEA region.

The GPG team is responsible for the strategic development, formation, alignment, ongoing maintenance, analytics and governance pertaining to Blackrock’s large and diverse range of funds established in multiple domiciles throughout the EMEA region and distributed to clients around the world. The broad remit of the team results in it performing a wide range of functions, including: market, competitor and fund range analysis; the business analysis and design of specific ideas; the project management of fund launches/changes (launch leadership), including detailed product structuring; the production and ongoing maintenance of fund offering documentation (subject to the Legal function’s involvement and approval), including the submission to and agreement with regulators; the interaction with various boards of the funds and their management companies to seek product approvals; engage with regulators and industry bodies and contribute to regulatory developments; and other core fund support services provided to internal teams.

GPG Product Structuring: VP

We are seeking a high quality Associate/Vice-president to work in GPG Product Structuring ( London).

GPG Product Structuring is a division of GPG which leads decision making in relation to the structuring of products and advising the business in relation to funds regulation. The team comprises qualified funds lawyers and is responsible for, among other thing, navigating multi-jurisdictional frameworks to structure optimal solutions for clients and BlackRock, preparing fund offering documents, and engaging with the boards of directors and regulators to obtain approvals of new product launches and changes to products. The team is also a thought leadership centre for product regulation and works closely with the BlackRock Public Policy Group.

This is a high profile role that will have a focus on BlackRock and iShares public funds and is business critical given the importance of giving regulatory and range advice as well as delivering products in a timely fashion but within a robust governance structure that protects the integrity of the firm as viewed by our regulators, competitors and clients.

Responsibilities

• Provide advice to the sales, portfolio management, strategy teams and wider business on the most appropriate product structures and solutions for pooled products.
• Manage production of fund offering documentation (including drafting, managing multiple stakeholder amendments and comments, ensuring compliance with appropriate regulations, working closely with the Legal function)
• Manage the board and regulatory process for fund creation/amendment
• Partner with stakeholders within GPG internally and with other teams within BlackRock (such as client facing teams, portfolio management, operational teams) to implement the product strategy, development and change agenda.
• Provide input and advice to the wider business on all aspects of product structuring.
• Support the strong governance and control framework in place across BlackRock EMEA with robust processes and procedures in place to meet all regulatory and statutory obligations.
• Present fund launch/change propositions, and the relevant documentation, to the relevant boards of directors of the fund companies and/or management companies.
• Liaise with regulators to obtain product launch/amendment approval, as necessary.
• Engage in industry / regulatory consultations and particulate in external industry events, as and when appropriate.
• Partner with Global Public Policy Group as thought leader on product regulation

Experience and key personal attributes

• Qualified lawyer (3+ yrs PQE) from a leading City law firm or asset management company with experience in structuring UCITS and/or AIFs funds in Luxembourg, Ireland or the UK (or other jurisdictions). Your practising certificate will be maintained.
• Previous in-house experience e.g. prior secondment at BlackRock or another leading asset manager in the City would be an advantage.
• Previous experience in advising on funds / structures / distribution. Experience in ETFs would be a particular advantage.
• Strong understanding of a broad range of financial instruments, asset classes and investment strategies. Experience with products intended for both retail and professional investors would be beneficial.
• The right candidate must have strong working knowledge of all aspects of UCITS and AIFMD. Experience with the FCA’s approval process and AIFMD implementing rules and processes would be beneficial.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to build relationships across the business, operations and suppliers at all levels of management, including boards of directors and senior management at BlackRock
• Proactive, diligent and responsive approach to lead and direct change
• Strong personal and project management skills and the ability to run multiple projects at any one time
• High level of intellectual agility and creativity, ability to work independently as well as part of a team and the ability to manage business expectations and input from multiple stakeholders.
  

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.