Associate, Product Oversight and Governance

Description

About this role

Team Overview

Americas (“AMRS”) Product Oversight and Governance (“POG”) is a unit within Global Accounting & Product Services (“GAAPS”). Members of the AMRS POG team are responsible for supporting more than $5T in total AUM and 2000+ funds that comprise U.S. iShares, Mutual Funds, CTFs and Canadian iShares and Institutional Funds (the “Funds”). Primary aspects of the support model provided by AMRS POG to the Funds include fund board governance, fund lifecycle services (launches, liquidations, restructures) fund treasury oversight and chief financial officer duties. AMRS POG works closely with several internal GAAPS teams, BLK functions and external stakeholders and service providers to deliver quality and value to our shareholders. Those interactions include the Funds Boards, custodians, auditors, accounting oversight, financial reporting, product development and business management, portfolio management, valuation, tax, legal and compliance, internal audit, risk and quality assurance, and multiple other organizations and functions.

Development Value

This role provides an exciting opportunity to establish the AMRS POG footprint in Mumbai and partner with product groups across the globe, working closely with the AMRS POG teams in the US and Canada. The broad fund range offers individuals opportunities for further personal learning, both in terms of the product types and accounting complexities, as well as the ongoing development of technical strengths.

Roles & responsibilities
- Partnership with AMRS based team to support POG functions.
- Drive opportunity, efficiency, and scalability for global POG presence.
- Support the buildout of the local POG Mumbai team and the design of the target operating model.
- Oversight of outsourced functions including fund auditors, review performance of the service providers, and evaluate control environments.
- Review and challenge accounting policies and procedures to help evolve the operating model to best practice with a focus on automation and technology.
- Assist regulatory reporting teams with reviews of certain technical areas of fund financials and fund prospectuses.
- Support periodic fund distributions process, working closely with product development and tax teams.
- Assist with product lifecycle engagement for launches, liquidations, mergers, and other structural events.
- Develop oversight and monitoring process for various functions including custody, expense ratio reviews, escheatment, website data integrity, tax reclaims, and lines of credit.
- Contribute towards and prepare presentations to BlackRock governance bodies (e.g., fund boards) and committees.
- Support the development of comprehensive fund/group metrics for periodic reporting and POG brand building.
- Involved in the investigation of operating events and coordinate with cross functional colleagues.
- Provide fund accounting technical input across all operational aspects.
- Build good relationships with business areas within BlackRock to support effective cross-functional engagement.
- Contribute to ensuring compliance with all relevant BlackRock policies and with regulatory requirements impacting the funds.

Experience & Skills
- 3+ years 1940 Act investment management industry experience with fund structures such as open-and close-end mutual funds, interval and tender offer funds, and exchange traded funds.
- Strong understanding of US GAAP and SEC regulatory reporting requirements.
- Working knowledge of accounting, reporting and investment operations for a broad array of domestic and foreign equity, fixed income, financing and derivative investment holdings and strategies.
- Familiarity with RIC tax and fund distribution requirements.
- Good understanding of the fund valuation and associated transaction lifecycle and key control frameworks.
- External service provider oversight and control environment assessment.
- Audit experience preferred, but not required.

Project Management for regulatory and business change
- Accountability and ownership of key functions and special projects.
- Vendor management experience.
- Strong prioritization skills and ability to handle contending priorities.
- Consistent record in implementing change management.
- Strong verbal and written communication capabilities with all levels, including portfolio managers, fund directors, external auditors, senior management, and vendors.
- Partnership building across the global footprint.
- Initiative, drive, and passion.
- Excellent attention to detail and passion for performance.

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 current hybrid work model is designed to enable i