Associate, Aperio Client Contract Associate

About this role

About Aperio (part of BlackRock)

At BlackRock, we strive to empower our employees and actively engage your involvement in our success. With over USD $10 trillion of assets we have an outstanding responsibility: our technology and services empower millions of investors to save for retirement, pay for college, buy a home and improve their financial well-being.

At Aperio (part of BlackRock), our strategies are designed to put our clients’ and their clients’ interests at the center of our investment advice; to minimize costs and taxes; and to incorporate each client’s unique environmental, social, and governance (ESG) preferences. We are a purposefully growing quantitative/index-tracking investment management business specializing in managing customized equity portfolios tax efficiently.

At Aperio, we work hard and move quickly as a well-coordinated, collaborative team whose exceptional people are focused on providing extraordinary client service. If you are looking for an opportunity to grow and contribute in a fun, industry-disruptive, fast-paced environment, Aperio is the place for you.

About This Role

We are looking for a highly organized and collaborative Client Contract Associate to support our growing Client Operations and Client Experience Management teams based in Princeton, Atlanta, San Francisco, and Sausalito.

While this role reports up through the Aperio business unit, you will take a lead role with fellow Client Contract Associates in harmonizing our contracting processes across Aperio and the greater USWA business unit to move to a single platform/process for the Separately Managed Accounts (“SMAs”) and Models businesses.  As a Client Contract Associate, you will be a primary person within the Client Operations/Client Experience Management team who is responsible for supporting our contract management process for onboarding new relationships across Aperio and BlackRock within USWA. You will work closely with Business Development and Legal teams and other team members to ensure that contracts balance commercial outcomes and compliance with fiduciary and regulatory obligations.

The ideal candidate will possess exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills and the ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks simultaneously under tight deadlines.

The Client Contract Associate has no direct reports.

Key Responsibilities

• Draft, negotiate, and review standard client investment advisory agreements, master sub-advisory agreements, and amendments.

• Coordinate contract reviews and approvals with internal stakeholders across business functions as necessary (e.g., Business Development, Legal, Operations, Portfolio Management, Billing, etc.).

• Research and respond to client contract-related inquiries and resolve issues in a timely and professional manner, escalating to the Legal team as appropriate.

• Support maintenance and day-to-day administration of our contract life cycle management system and document repository (DocuSign CLM), including tracking of contract terms, amendments, and relationship-specific forms.

• Take a lead role with fellow Client Contract Associates in harmonizing our USWA contracting processes across Aperio and BlackRock to move to a single platform/process

• Develop and implement a plan with fellow Client Contract Associates for supporting each other for continuous coverage and excellent client service when one is out of the office.

• Document and maintain contract processes and participate in projects to enhance the client contracting experience, streamline and scale processes, reduce errors, and support the firm’s growth.

• Develop and maintain a contract playbook and approval framework in partnership with the Client Operations, Client Experience Management, and Legal teams.

• Assist with providing onboarding training related to contract topics for business and operational personnel.

• Perform other projects and tasks, as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required; paralegal certification or coursework a plus

• At least three years of experience as a contracts manager or administrator, paralegal, legal assistant, or equivalent in an in-house environment or law firm

• Some experience in the asset management industry, with knowledge of investment management and sub-advisory agreements preferred

• Comfort and experience working with contract life cycle management platforms (familiarity with DocuSign CLM is a big plus)

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat, and familiarity working in CRM systems such as Salesforce

• Ability to work independently and manage workload in a fast-paced environment with some guidance and oversight

• Demonstrated strong work ethic and a willingness to do what it takes to solve complex problems and/or resolve complex client requests

• Excellent attention to detail and a high degree of accuracy and consistency

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication (verbal and written) skills, including the ability to tailor your message for different audiences

• Considerable tact and discretion when dealing with client or sensitive data and maintaining strict confidentiality

• Possession of a growth mindset, always seeking areas for improvement

• High level of self-awareness and integrity; ability to take and give constructive criticism with humility, introspection, and respect

• Willingness to embrace challenges that come with working in a high-growth environment

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.

BlackRock will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in a manner consistent with the requirements of the law, including any applicable fair chance law.