Associate, SMA Alternatives Operations

BlackRock • Princeton, NJ

16h • $95,000 - $127,500 • Hybrid

About The Position

BlackRock SMA Solutions helps clients customize portfolios for unique tax, values-alignment, or investment exposures across direct indexing, fixed income, active equity, and multi-asset. We deliver world-class service to all of our clients, from wealth advisors to family offices to endowments and foundations. About the Role BlackRock’s SMA Solutions business is establishing a new team dedicated to the support of a model-based accounts that invest in alternative assets. This individual will be responsible for the daily operations functions that are related to supporting this new product, inclusive of new account setup, trade flow management, reconciliation and data quality. They will also work in close collaboration with internal & external stakeholders (e.g. Portfolio Managers, Distributors, Transfer Agents) to resolve issues and mitigate risk with a client service mentality. As this offering grows, they will also support the implementation of new distribution channels/clients, new technology deployments and participate in the development of new enhancements to achieve scale. They will also be expected to synthesize, analyze, and present daily/weekly/monthly metrics to senior management. As a function that sits within BlackRock SMA Solutions team, the SMA Alternative Operations team strives to cultivate strong client interpersonal skills with a keen focus on the end client experience. We are business partners who play an active and transparent role in delivering outstanding client experience on behalf of the firm.

Requirements

• 2-5 years of experience in investment operations
• Proven ability to build strong relationships with senior management, key clients, and internal/external stakeholders (e.g. Portfolio Managers, Distributors, Custodians, TA’s)
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Ability to operate/prioritize effectively and adhere to tight deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to be flexible and adapt to changing circumstances
• Ability to operate effectively to tight deadlines and to prioritize own work
• Positive attitude and resilience, with strong problem-solving skills
• Experience within a team environment, specifically with sharing responsibilities
• Proactive communication style, with a service philosophy and risk mitigation mentality
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUP, pivot table, formula driven data scrubbing)

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a variety of securities operations & products will be a differentiator, especially SMA and Private Investments
• Experience with Aladdin is a plus

Responsibilities

• Ensure accurate client account setup on BlackRock’s platform/portfolio master
• Collaborate with internal and external business partners to resolve breaks and operational mismatches
• Execute on the daily cash & positions reconciliation of SMA Alts Client Accounts across multiple sponsor platforms
• Troubleshoot operational issues with internal and external partners
• Work closely with portfolio managers, distributors, custodians, and TAs as well as key internal partners to ensure the effective coordination of operations
• Represent SMA Alts Operations on calls & presentations while clearly articulating the functions that are supported
• Identify procedural improvements as product expands in the market and volumes increase
• Ensure continuous process optimization and improvements are in place for a best controlled, risk handled, and scalable operations service team
• Confidently escalate identified risks and work to clear exceptions, with a focus on scalability
• Willingness to acquire a deep functional understanding of U.S. Wealth Advisory tools & processes while understanding the lifecycle for alternative investments
• Possess a solutions-oriented mindset and challenge the status quo

Benefits

• employees are eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, and benefits including healthcare, leave benefits, and retirement benefits
• strong retirement plan
• tuition reimbursement
• comprehensive healthcare
• support for working parents
• Flexible Time Off (FTO)
• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed