EMEA Line of Business, Vice President

About this role

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 Compliance Department protects BlackRock’s reputation and provides client focussed advice. It identifies, understands, challenges and advises on the impact of regulation in our business, with the objective of:

• Actively participating in business decisions in order to champion our clients’ interests;
• Collaborating with the business to position Compliance centrally into their daily work;
• Ensuring that client interests are at the centre of everything we do;
• Cultivating and enhancing the compliance culture within BlackRock;
• Providing thought leadership, analysis and advice on the impact of the regulatory framework on the business and its clients; and
• Developing and fostering excellence within the Compliance team.

Role Description:

BlackRock is seeking a highly motivated and experienced compliance professional to join our EMEA Compliance team as a Vice President. This role will focus on overseeing compliance related to client assets, operational resilience, and outsourcing arrangements across our UK and European operations. The successful candidate will play a critical role in ensuring BlackRock continues to meet its regulatory obligations while maintaining the highest standards of operational integrity and client protection.

Key Responsibilities

Client Assets Compliance

• Act as a subject matter expert (SME) on FCA Client Money and Assets (CASS) rules, providing regulatory interpretation, technical guidance and oversight to the Business including the CASS Governance and Oversight (CGO). 
• Lead the oversight and implementation of second line compliance frameworks related to client money protection, including CASS requirements.
• Support the investigation of complex CASS issues, ensuring accurate interpretation and practical application of FCA requirements.
• Partner with Compliance, Legal, Operations, and Finance teams to assess, escalate and resolve breaches and mitigate broader client money protection risks.
• Provide oversight for the design, maintenance, and enhancement of CASS control frameworks and policies, and for ensuring robust controls are in place for safeguarding client money.
• Engage confidently with senior management, internal and external audit teams, and where necessary, the regulator on CASS-related matters.
• Build strong working relationships with client money business units, promoting CASS awareness and embedding good governance practices.
• Monitor regulatory developments and assess their impact on BlackRock’s CASS compliance program.

Operational Resilience & Outsourcing

• Provide regulatory advice on the interpretation and implementation of operational resilience and outsourcing rules including DORA, EBA Outsourcing and local European regulations across EMEA. 
• Support the development and execution of BlackRock’s operational resilience and outsourcing frameworks including second line controls in line with UK and EMEA regulatory epxectations.
• Collaborate with enterprise risk, technology, and business continuity teams in the provision of the advice and oversight and the implementation of oversight and control frameworks around outsourcing and operational resilience.  
• Work with European and Middle Eastern compliance teams to support them in the delivery against local requirements
• Interpretation and impact analysis in respect of regulatory changes surrounding operational resilience and outsourcing standards. 
• Managing the response to regulatory queries in respect of CASS, operational resilience and outsourcing including DORA. 
• Oversee compliance with outsourcing regulations, including due diligence, risk assessments, and ongoing monitoring of third-party service providers.
• Ensure outsourcing arrangements meet regulatory requirements and internal standards, including those set by the FCA, ESMA, and other relevant bodies.
• Act as a key liaison with Legal, Risk, and Vendor Management teams to support outsourcing governance and reporting.

Experience

The ideal candidate will have:

• Compliance experience within a ‘buy-side’ asset manager, investment bank, regulator, or consultancy firm,
• Strong technical regulatory knowledge and sound judgement, in particular with a focus on UK CASS rules or outsourcing and operational resilience requirements
• with high energy, enthusiasm, resilience, tenacity and diplomacy.
• A self starter with the ability to work independently with minimal supervision with professional curiosity and enthusiasm.
• Experience of building or enhancing operational compliance frameworks a bonus

• Strong interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to work well in a team-based environment and interact and communicate effectively - written and verbal - with senior personnel, clients, and other stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to motivate and work with the team to get the best desired output for the function and the organization.

Qualifications

• 5+ years financial services experience with a focus on regulation
• Educated to degree level, possibly with a professional qualification e.g., ACA, CFA, IMC;
• Excellent written/oral communication including ability to escalate where necessary;
• Student of technology that stays abreast of new and emerging tools that have the potential to positively transform Compliance processes.

Our benefits

To help you stay energized, engaged and inspired, we offer a wide range of employee benefits including: retirement investment and tools designed to help you in building a sound financial future; access to education reimbursement; comprehensive resources to support your physical health and emotional well-being; family support programs; 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, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and other protected characteristics at law.