Core Analytics Solutions - Aladdin Financial Engineering - Associate

About this role

About Aladdin Financial Engineering (AFE):

Join a diverse and collaborative team of over 400 modelers and technologists in Aladdin Financial Engineering (AFE) within BlackRock Solutions, the business responsible for the research and development of Aladdin’s financial models. This group is also accountable for analytics production, enhancing the infrastructure platform, and delivering analytics content to portfolio and risk management professionals (both within BlackRock and across the Aladdin client community). The models developed and supported by AFE span a wide array of financial products covering equities, fixed income, commodities, derivatives, and private markets. AFE provides investment insights that range from an analysis of cash flows on a single bond, to the overall financial risk associated with an entire portfolio, balance sheet, or enterprise.

About Core Analytics Solutions (CAS):

The Core Analytics Solutions (CAS) within Aladdin Financial Engineering (AFE) creates and delivers Aladdin’s analytical capabilities to influence better portfolio decisions, differentiate products and solutions, and enable our clients to fulfill their financial goals. Our mission is grounded in our expertise of analytics, Aladdin (the firm’s proprietary platform), and technology. CAS works across our investment teams and client businesses, in partnership with BlackRock’s analytics, data and technology teams, to transform data into intelligence, deploy financial models on Aladdin, address client challenges with innovative technology, and deliver solutions across asset classes and client segments.

Our team is known for:

• Problem solving: We partner with investment, risk and client-facing teams to understand their business problems and provide creative solutions using Aladdin analytics.
• Innovation: We sit at the intersection of finance and technology. We conceptualize, design and implement new capabilities to ensure that Aladdin remains the best platform for clients to understand and manage portfolios and risk
• Centralized & scalable operating platform: Aladdin is a global investment platform that helps us solve problems in a scalable and efficient manner.

Role Description:

Core Analytics Solutions seeks a product owner with a focus on portfolio risk methodologies like VaR and Stress Testing, who will work closely with modelers within AFE to deliver next generation of risk models. The incumbent will also co-ordinate with product managers, engineers, and, data teams to ensure that BlackRock’s capabilities meet the requirement of widely used models for internal and external users.

Overview of Responsibility:

• Deliver next generation risk models on Aladdin. 
• Apply subject matter expertise of portfolio risk models for Equity and FI asset classes, and risk methodologies such as Ex-ante risk models, Historical VaR, Monte Carlo VaR, Stress Testing, factor risk models etc.
• Drive agile framework with cross functional teams to bring predictability and transparency across initiatives.
• Demonstrate analytical and infrastructure understanding by articulating product requirements document, participating in technical architecture discussions and winning mandates to deliver commercially viable mandates.
• Perform independent analytical validations by scenarios driven testing, large scale validations and presenting the results for review with stakeholders assuring higher standards in quality.
• Understand rapidly evolving markets & stakeholder needs to influence analytics roadmap, interlinked with dependencies across Aladdin ecosystem.
• Automate repetitive processes increasing efficiency and throughput of overall team.
• Present models to clients, address concerns and improve client’s trust in BlackRock. 
• Work with technology and analytics groups to build and deliver scalable, customized solutions using Aladdin APIs.
• Define processes for quality control and maintenance of analytics models to ensure best in class robustness and reliability of Aladdin’s analytics output.
• Utilize advanced analytics and communication skills to collaborate with BlackRock's clients, portfolio & risk managers and articulate clear financial modelling specifications.
• Understand production processes and liaise with partner teams to ensure smooth model deployments and maintenance.
• Resolve complex analytical enquiries with a keen understanding of analytics and models.
• Create and improve documentation for analytical models and processes for internal and external consumption.
• Mentor and train junior analysts as they build expertise and gain exposure.

Experience/Qualifications/Skills:

Candidates should have a demonstrated track record in tackling difficult real-world problems within investment & risk management businesses. The candidate will be expected to leverage extensive quantitative skills to lead complex security analytics projects in an endeavor to evolve the analytics platform within Aladdin. Furthermore, all positions require outstanding quantitative, communication, and presentation skills.

• Experience
  • 3 - 6 years of experience in a highly analytical role developing, deploying, or using financial risk models.
  • Deep understanding of analytics and financial models like risk methodology, factor models.
  • Experience of working on factor models for APAC markets will be a plus.
  • Detail-oriented, organized, and committed while leading multiple projects.
  • Agile product owner with demonstrated ability to lead ambiguous cross-functional initiatives.
  • Pro-activeness, ability to multi-task, prioritize, set and meet deadlines, and strong attention to detail.

• Qualifications
  • Engineering, Finance, Mathematics, Business Management or some other quantitative field of study. Advanced degree preferred.  Bachelor’s degree required.
  • Knowledge of finance, econometrics, statistical analysis, or advanced math
  • Acquired technical aptitude includes experience in Linux, SQL, and scripting platforms.
  • Programming language skills are advantageous (e.g. Python, advanced excel etc.)
  • Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or Financial Risk Manager (FRM) designation is a plus

• Skills
  • Excellent quantitative and analytics skills. Ability to identify problems, design and articulate solutions, and implement change.
  • Excellent understanding financial markets and ability to comprehend the impact of market events.
  • Ability to prioritize deliverables/ enquiries when multi-tasking, structure multiple communication streams and manage workflows.
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills. Ability to collaborate with both technical and non-technical personnel.
  • Interpersonal Skills: You will be expected to explain complex concepts to non-technical people in simple, intuitive terms.

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.