Municipal Credit Research Associate

Description

About this role

About BlackRock

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.

About BlackRock US Municipals Group

The Municipal Fixed Income business in BlackRock’s Portfolio Management Group is one of the largest managers of municipal securities in the industry with over $159 billion of assets under management. The platform offers a broad array of investment choices including mandates focused on both taxable and tax-exempt bonds. BlackRock seeks a Credit Research Associate to establish a Gurgaon-based municipal staff. The Associate will report to a senior credit research analyst located in Princeton, New Jersey, USA and will have close daily interaction with a variety of investment professionals on the Municipals team.

Position Overview:
The responsibilities of a Municipal Credit Research Associate include:

- Conduct fundamental credit analysis on public issuers of municipal debt
- Monitor credit quality of existing client investments across a broad range of US Public Finance sectors
- Coordinate assignments across Gurgaon municipal research team, with potential for People Management responsibilities depending on experience
- Provide written credit opinions and market analysis taking into account issuer financial statements, bond pricing and other available disclosures
- Understand economic, social and political trends throughout the United States with emphasis on identifying factors affecting municipal credit quality
- Build partnerships and strong working relationships with analysts, portfolio managers and other internal BlackRock stakeholders, serving as a resource and an ambassador of the Municipal Group in the APAC region
- Develop connections with rating agencies and sell-side traders/analysts focused on the municipal market

Qualifications:

- Undergraduate degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting or a related field
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Minimum 3-5 years credit research experience, including some exposure to US Public Finance sectors
- Ability to work during times that at least partially overlap with financial markets hours in eastern US (approximately 13:00-22:00 IST)
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation
- Strong technical skills including interest in improving daily processes through the use of programming and emerging technologies
- Demonstrated knowledge of Microsoft Office suite
- Proven experience working both independently and as part of a team in a highly collaborative, global environment; supervisory experience preferred
- Passion for financial markets

We are looking for people who are:

- Curious: You like to learn new things and you have a self-starting personality
- Passionate: You feel personal ownership for the work you do and an aspiration to be better
- Open: You value and respect input from others and want to work as part of a team
- Experimental: You make mistakes, but learn from them, and you demonstrate intellectual honesty
- Savvy: You want to outsmart the problem

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 bus