Retail Investment Strategist, BlackRock Multi Asset Client Solutions 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 Multi-Asset Client Solutions is responsible for delivering cross asset class solutions to BlackRock clients worldwide. BMACS team consists of 165 investment professionals located in London, San Francisco, New York, Sydney and Zurich. BMACS has specialist expertise in Fiduciary Management, Asset Allocation, Manager Selection, Advisory and Liability Driven Investing.
The BMACS EMEA Investment Strategy team is responsible for the development of multi-asset solutions, and representing BMACS products to internal and external clients including institutional, high net worth, charity, retail and sovereign wealth clients and investment consultants. The product suite represented by the Investment Strategy team includes the Dynamic Diversified Growth Fund the Market Advantage Strategy Fund, the Multi-Strategy Fund, a range of bespoke benchmark relative return products, and the development of a broad range of retail multi-asset solutions. Critical to the success of the Investment Strategy team is the maintenance of strong relationships with the Global Client Group and the Global Consultant Relations team.
Job Purpose/Background:
BlackRock Multi-Asset Client Solutions (BMACS) is seeking an Investment Strategist to support the growth of assets in the EMEA Retail area. BMACS currently manages just over $16bn in Retail assets in EMEA across a range of strategies in both funds and sub-advised mandates; looking forward, this is viewed as a high potential growth area by BlackRock. The position will be based in London, reporting to the Senior Retail Investment Strategist, and working closely with BMACS Portfolio Managers, Solutions Strategists and other Investment Strategists.
Key Responsibilities:
- BMACS Retail Ambassador: Work closely with Investment Strategists and Retail-focused Portfolio Managers to ensure the BMACS retail range is competitive, clearly understood, market-relevant and scalable
- Product Expertise: develop an in-depth knowledge of the BMACS product range, current strategies and performance trends, in order to be in a position to represent portfolio management activities internally and externally in an accurate and convincing manner
- Develop partnership with BlackRock’s Global Client Group: Promotion of Retail strategies through verbal and written presentations. Build an understanding of local market and specific segment requirements and equip sales teams to position product appropriately
- Engage clients: Progressive involvement in new prospecting activity and building relationships with strategic partners, to include distribution platforms and sub-advised relationships. Act as a key point of contact for client queries. Develop ability to represent BMACS at client events and roadshows
- Create and maintain Retail marketing collateral: fund overview documents, monthly commentary, product presentations, newsletters, thought pieces. Take a proactive approach to working with Marketing to create new materials to enhance and enable the sales process. Ensure all sales support and client service materials are timely, accurate and executed to a high standard
- Develop in-depth competitor awareness: monitor new product launches, keep track of competitor performance in order that we can accurately differentiate BlackRock strategies
- Product Development: active participation in work with the Product Development team to implement suitable vehicles for further growth of new Retail strategies; support launch of new funds
- Investment Strategist Team: contribute to the effectiveness of the overall strategist team and develop the ability to represent the full range of products and activities covered by the team
Knowledge/Experience:
- Experience in the asset management industry, with a good understanding of the marketing and sales process as it relates to Retail investors
- Extensive capital markets knowledge and ability to deal with and present to a range of asset classes
- Relevant local market client knowledge: in line with Retail strategic objectives, preferably the candidate will be able to demonstrate either knowledge of the Italian market and Italian language skill, or first-hand experience of working with UK domiciled clients and a deep knowledge of the UK retail market
- Experience of launching new funds into the EMEA region would be an advantage
- Well developed quantitative background
- Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills; ability to think on feet and demonstrate a retail-friendly presentation style
- Eye for detail
- In depth working knowledge of Excel, Powerpoint, Bloomberg or other market data sources
- Team player – willingness to roll up sleeves
- Disciplined organisation and project management skills
- Educated to degree level; secondary degree or further business qualification desirable
- IMC qualification required.