Insurance Strategist recruitment
BlackRock Multi-Asset Client Solutions (BMACS) is responsible for delivering cross asset class solutions to BlackRock clients worldwide. The BMACS team consists of 165 investment professionals located in London, San Francisco, New York, Sydney and Zurich who provide strategy, implementation and asset management services to all BlackRock's multi-asset clients.
Within BMACS, the Insurance Strategy team is responsible for the formulation and provision of investment and risk management advice and strategies and the development and promotion of new products and services for insurance companies. The team is expanding in response to increased client demand in both the Americas and EMEA and, inter alia, is recruiting an insurance strategist in New York. The position reports to the Head of Insurance Strategy in London. Whilst ostensibly a technical role, this position involves significant client contact and the maintenance of an effective partnership with the Financial Institutions Group (FIG) which is responsible for managing and developing BlackRock's insurance client relationships with insurers who invest against liabilities or liability benchmarks .
As one of the industry's largest managers of insurance company assets, BlackRock's insurance practice is a strategic focus of the firm. Our global insurance practice has grown to $287 billion in insurance assets for 196 clients in 26 countries as at February 2012.
BlackRock understands the unique nature of managing insurance assets and the customization involved in structuring investment programs for insurers. We have a dedicated 110 person team of portfolio managers, strategists, account managers and regulatory and accounting experts. In addition to traditional investment management we provide risk management, advisory and accounting solutions to 44 insurance companies.
We have seen a significant growth in the trend to outsourcing of Insurance company assets and the outlook for the provision of investment and risk management services to insurance companies is extremely favorable, particularly in view of an increasingly complex market, regulatory and accounting environment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide strategic investment advice to insurance clients and prospects, including specifying, managing and communicating the results of strategic asset allocation exercises incorporating ALM
- Develop a thorough understanding of the implications of the regulatory framework for the investment and risk management decisions made by different types of insurers
- Support Financial Institutions Group (FIG) coverage with input into the efficacy of "stand-alone" investment strategies in a regulatory context and by embedding them into the specification of asset allocation studies
- Develop appropriate investment and risk management strategies for insurance guaranteed savings business and help manage the development of BlackRock's proposals for new guaranteed products to insurers
- Take the initiative in identifying and discussing relevant market, regulatory and industry issues with key clients on a proactive basis
- Develop sufficient knowledge of those BlackRock's capabilities, products and services which are of relevance to insurance companies. Identify gaps in existing provision and help make a case for, and drive the development of, new services
- Work with internal teams to prepare and deliver new business pitches and maintain client dialogue
Knowledge/Experience:
- The skills commensurate with holding an actuarial, investment, risk management or technical modelling role in a life assurance or reinsurance company will be a strong advantage to applicants. Preference is in life insurance.
- The successful candidate will also need broad experience of insurance, capital markets and capital management gained over around 10 - 15 years
- The ability to prioritise the use of internal resources on the basis of commerciality
- A good working knowledge of the liability structures of insurance companies and an understanding of the regulatory, accounting and rating agency constraints under which they operate are essential
- A good understanding of the operation and applicability to insurance companies of exchange traded and OTC derivatives
Skills Qualifications:
- Excellent communication and presentation skills as befit a technical, client-facing role
- Ability to develop strong relationships with both internal and external clients and to marshal resources into project teams
- Strong level of self direction, ownership and initiative.
- Strong organisational skills.
BlackRock is proud to be an E-Verify Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer--M/F/D/V.
Skills
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 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.