Corporate Secretary - UK Investment Trusts, Associate

About this role

BlackRock currently manages and administers 8 investment trust companies (each with a listing on the Premium Segment of the London Stock Exchange) with assets under management of $4.5 billion in aggregate.

These companies are supported by BlackRock’s Investment Trust Company Secretariat, a six-strong team which provides high quality, value-add professional company secretarial services and is responsible for ensuring that these companies comply with all legal and regulatory requirements (including Listing Rules, Disclosure and Transparency Rules and the FRC’s UK Corporate Governance Code). 

BlackRock is seeking to recruit a partly-qualified/recently qualified Company Secretary to join the Investment Trust Company Secretariat to provide support for a full range of company secretarial services to BlackRock’s investment trust companies, either as the primary or secondary professional, and to participate in projects as required. It is envisaged that the successful candidate will initially have responsibility for supporting three investment trusts and must as a minimum have started company secretarial exams and be part qualified. 

Key responsibilities include:

·      Taking on aspects of company secretarial responsibility for certain designated BlackRock investment trusts;

·      Providing support to the Company Secretary for end-to-end support of the board corporate governance process (agendas/papers/minutes) and advising on best practice;

·      Attending Board meetings and developing an in-depth knowledge of the investment trust/building a relationship with the Client Board, 

·      Drafting content for closed end investment trust interim and annual reports and coordinating the interim and annual report production process

·      Remaining up to date on all legislative and regulatory changes affecting investment companies and helping the Boards to understand the implications for their company;

·      Liaising with Brokers, Registrars, external auditors and other relevant service providers

·      Assisting with the maintenance of investment trust company statutory books and records in good order and ensuring that appropriate Companies House filings are made on a timely basis

·      Assisting with the implementation of corporate actions and restructurings (e.g. share buybacks, share issues, tenders etc)

·      Drafting and lodging Stock Exchange announcements as required;

·      Working closely with the wider Closed End Funds team and other areas across BlackRock (Legal, Compliance, Risk and Quantitative Analysis, Portfolio Management etc) to ensure that the requirements and expectations of the investment company boards and BlackRock’s  commercial objectives are met 

Skills / Qualifications:

• A partly qualified or newly qualified Company Secretary.  Listed funds experience would be beneficial but is not a pre-requisite
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong team player who can work with colleagues across multiple departments and influence a positive outcome for the investment trusts.
• Must be able to demonstrate high standards of attention to detail and integrity.
• Self-starter who is energetic and enthusiastic, with a track record of continuous delivery.
• A pro-active mindset with a can do attitude to problem solving.

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.

Guidance on AI use for candidates

At BlackRock, AI has long been part of how we work – enhancing decision-making, improving operations, and helping us deliver better outcomes for clients. We encourage candidates to use AI thoughtfully to learn, prepare, and work more effectively; but during our interview process, we want to focus on getting to know you through your own experiences, thinking, and judgment. To support you, we’ve provided guidance on when and how to use AI during our hiring process so you can approach each step with confidence and showcase your best self.

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.

To learn more about BlackRock, please visit Careers.BlackRock.com. We also encourage you to get to know us on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, X, and TikTok.

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.