Relationship Manager – Strategic Accounts recruitment
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.
Business Unit Overview:
BlackRock's institutional business serves corporate and public sector pension funds, insurers and other financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds as well as governments and official institutions.
Our institutional clients have very specific needs that require genuine partnership. We aim to be that investment partner by listening to our clients, understanding them and by applying our investment expertise across asset classes and markets to solve their needs.
In practice, our commitment to fostering long-term relationships means we can gain a deep understanding of our clients' long-term objectives. Having a culture where we share knowledge across asset classes and regions allows us to create investment solutions that better meet client specific challenges. The third pillar underpinning our offering is our risk management culture and systems: we seek to ensure that every investment position is deliberate, diversified and appropriately scaled.
Within the wider Institutional Business, the UK Institutional Strategic Clients Team manages our relationships with the UK’s largest pension funds and some large multinational pension funds. The team is made up of 15 people focused on servicing clients. This is a high profile role associated with our most important clients and therefore demands an individual of the appropriate caliber and level of professionalism.
Job Purpose/Background:
Take responsibility for the servicing of around 8-12 strategic institutional client relationships to ensure the consistent delivery of a high quality and seamless service, connecting clients to the full range of solutions BlackRock offers. Significantly contribute towards the development of client relationships by improving client service delivery and, as appropriate, seeking to deepen those relationships by pursuing cross or up-sell opportunities.
Key Responsibilities:
- Maintaining and strengthening relationships with existing clients via meetings, telephone calls and emails including proactive service review sessions
- Taking responsibility for client and consultant queries, delegating as appropriate to others in the team or internal teams, monitoring progress to resolution and ensuring that responses are timely and of a high quality
- Preparing presentation materials for account reviews and review, where appropriate, reporting materials sent to clients or consultants
- Attending client meetings as the BlackRock representative as appropriate
- Supporting and contributing towards sales planning and objectives
- Gaining a clear understanding of clients’ service requirements, storing details on client management systems and sharing information internally in order to contextualise and motivate support from internal teams
- Co-ordinating across BlackRock internal teams the implementation of client mandate fundings or changes, ensuring BlackRock delivers the actions agreed with the client and managing external and internal expectations throughout
- Ensuring familiarity with BlackRocks existing products and operational capabilities as well as industry and market developments
- Reviewing own service performance, aiming to achieve excellent results in client satisfaction surveys, and working closely with other team members in achieving overall strategic business objectives
- Training and developing junior members of the team in accordance with the commercial and technical requirements of BlackRocks business
- Representing and promoting BlackRock at client conferences, industry forums and client entertainment events as appropriate
- Acting as an ambassador to outstanding client service externally and internally, actively contributing to BlackRock-wide improvements to service
Development Value:
Working with the largest UK Defined Benefit Pension Funds will bring you to the leading edge of asset management as you seek to tailor solutions which meet the bespoke needs of our clients.
This role presents a great opportunity to become familiar with the BlackRock organization and the various parts which contribute towards the client’s experience with the firm.
You will gain exposure to all asset classes and work with many talented and professional individuals.
Knowledge/Experience:
- Proven experience working in the asset management or investment consulting industry
- Demonstrable client facing experience
- Broad understanding of the UK pension fund market, investment industry and competitive landscape
- Sound technical understanding of investments across asset classes
- Proficiency in Microsoft office programs
Skills/Qualifications:
- Graduate degree
- Investment Management Certificate (required within 3 months of starting role if not already held)
Competencies:
- Excellent organisational and project management skills with a proven ability to prioritise effectively
- A self starter who can quickly analyse client needs and focus on delivery
- Proactive team player with good listening skills
- Ability to network and develop relationships
- Able to communicate and interact effectively with personnel at all levels
- Strong influencing and negotiating skills
- Ability to lead self with high levels of integrity as well as develop and lead others