Vice President, Financial Crime Sanctions

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 focused advice.  It understands challenges and advises on the impact of regulations in our business, with the objective of:

• Actively participating in business decisions to champion our clients’ interests and assist the business to translate Compliance into their daily work
• Have client interests at the centre of everything we do
• Cultivate and enhance the compliance culture within BlackRock
• Provide thought leadership on the impact and implementation of regulation
• Developing and fostering excellence within the Compliance team

Role Description:

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Vice President to join our established Global Sanctions Compliance team. The role will be based in Hong Kong, reporting directly to the Global Head of Sanctions, and will support the management and execution of the global sanctions compliance framework. The successful candidate will need to be a subject matter expert in sanctions with strong stakeholder management skills and sanctions compliance operational experience at an investment bank or asset manager.  This role, in a high-profile area, will provide the successful candidate with exposure to senior stakeholders within BlackRock and the opportunity to contribute to shaping and growing the Sanctions program.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as primary trusted advisor to the Global Lead for Sanctions on key strategic initiatives and day-to-day financial crime compliance issues and escalations;
• Work with the business and other key stakeholders to identify and mitigate sanctions risks;
• Conduct testing and validation on global sanctions procedures and controls; 
• Build strong alliances with counterparties within the global financial crime team and key stakeholders, including Technology & Operations, to leverage capabilities and skills in order to drive efficiency and mitigate global sanctions risks;
• Create, manage and deliver ad hoc financial crime training and awareness sessions including tailored face to face training on sanctions risk to higher risk business teams;
• Deal with daily escalations of sanctions alerts associated with clients, investment management agreements (IMAs), private investment transactions and public securities trades including assessing sanctions risk and reviewing/drafting sanctions language in client contracts;
• Review policies and procedures to ensure they are fit for purpose and up to date;
• Provide input to risk assessments on risks and controls associated with sanctions risks; and
• Perform horizon scanning of the sanctions regulatory and legislative environment.

Knowledge/Experience:

• Minimum 5 years demonstrated experience in sanctions compliance role in a similar position at an investment bank or asset manager.
• Strong knowledge of US and UK/EU sanctions laws and application in a Global multinational firm.
• Experience with application of sanctions to public securities trades and private equity investments strongly preferred.
• Experience conducting desk-based testing of sanctions procedures strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting the building or implementation of compliance programs, including policies and procedures.
• Excellent communication skills to influence stakeholders, regularly liaise and be a point of contact for the business regarding sanctions issues and the ability to articulate complex situations.
• Be solutions-orientated and use initiative.
• High standard of accuracy and excellent attention to detail.
• Very strong written and verbal communication skills for report writing and presentations.
• Proven ability to excel in a high-pressure environment.
• Ability to prioritise workloads and adhere to deadlines.
• Excellent organisational and self-management skills including ability to handle and address multiple enquiries within tight deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, and a strong personality, combining energy, enthusiasm, resilience, tenacity and diplomacy.

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.