Associate, Private Equity Operations

About this role

This role sits within Preqin, a part of BlackRock. Preqin plays a key role in how we are revolutionizing private markets data and technology for clients globally, complementing our existing Aladdin technology platform to deliver investment solutions for the whole portfolio.

As a Private Equity Operations Associate within the FAIR team, you will be part of a high impact team focused on delivering exceptional analytical reports. This team’s work focuses on analyzing and recalculating fees and expenses relating to private equity and other alternative investments and providing insight to our LP clients regarding the expense structures of their investments. You will be responsible for providing post investment due diligence services through examining financial data that provides our clients insight into their management fee, expense, and carried interest structures.

The Impact:

If you are an experienced fund accountant, auditor, or financial due diligence professional who appreciates the nuances of private equity agreements, complex legal agreements, and financial structures – FAIR is the place for you. As a FAIR Associate, you will have the ability to contribute across multiple clients within the FAIR team, enabling you to gain a deep perspective and awareness of the wider industry. You will be in charge of leading a small group of analysts, reviewing FAIR reports, and conducting financial analysis. You will gain a rich knowledge of the alternative investment market as you create and review reports over the fees charged to our clients in multiple different alternative investments.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Review and Analysis

• Build and review detailed reports over management fees, partnership expenses, and carried interest for a variety of alternative investments, including private equity, real estate, private debt, and hedge funds
• Ensure consistent methodologies around data extraction, fee recalculation, and report creation is applied to all reports
• Identify inconsistencies or large variances and collaborate with our distributed team and external partners to resolve them
• Perform detailed review of reports created by senior analysts/ analysts for adherence to our methodology, accurate calculations, formatting, and commentary
• Consult with other team members to resolve variances and seek help when methodologies are unclear
• Adhere to team KPIs to ensure timely report delivery for all clients

Leadership and Management

• Provide constructive feedback to FAIR team members over their reports
• Mentor Analysts and Senior Analysts on their overall work quality and career path through 1:1 communication
• Train new staff on the team’s methodologies for data extraction and fee recalculations
• Collaborate across time zones with FAIR Senior Associates and VP of Operations to create career advancement opportunities to more junior staff

Key requirement for this role:

Reporting and Analysis

• Minimum 5 years of experience in fund accounting, investment management, external audit, or another private Equity role from a reputed organization
• Excellent understanding of documents including notes to financial statements, capital account statements, cash flow notices, ILPA templates, and other information regularly published by General Partners
• General understanding of limited partnership agreements, private equity fund structures, and associated fees
• Meticulous attention to detail in creating and reviewing reports
• Demonstrates ownership, self-motivated to meet metrics and delivers quality reports
• Excellent Microsoft Excel skills required including the ability to work with functionalities (Formulas, pivot tables, ability to run existing macros)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to collaborate with a distributed team
• Prior experience with Jira and Power BI preferred but not required
• Bachelor’s degree or experience in accounting or finance required
• CPA, CFA, CAIA or accounting/ finance certification(s) preferred

Leadership and Management

• 1+ years of experience in managing local teams
• Ability delegate and empower staff to meet internal critical metrics
• Prior experience in creating project and staffing plans
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Experience in supervising team progress through Excel and Jira (or similar ticketing software)
• Desire to assist staff in achieving their professional goals through mentorship, 1:1 conversations, and professional training
• Proficient in developing training resources for new employees and delivering successful onboarding sessions
• Experience in training staff over technical finance/ accounting/ audit topics

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.

Our hybrid work model

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. Employees are currently required to work at least 4 days in the office per week, with the flexibility to work from home 1 day a week. Some business groups may require more time in the office due to their roles and responsibilities. We remain focused on increasing the impactful moments that arise when we work together in person – aligned with our commitment to performance and innovation. As a new joiner, you can count on this hybrid model to accelerate your learning and onboarding experience here at BlackRock.

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 @blackrock | Twitter: @blackrock | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock

BlackRock is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to age, disability, family status, gender identity, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and other protected attributes at law.