Associate, External Provider Oversight

**Description**
**About this role**
Transfer Agency Services (TAS) is a global team of approx. 60 and is part of Global Accounting and Product Services (GAAPS) within Business Operations and Technology. This group is responsible for Institutional and Commingled fund accounting, Fund Board management,Portfolio & Regulatory Compliance, Transfer Agent and operational infrastructure oversight for BlackRock's commingled funds (registered and unregistered). In addition, the teams also support Latin America Business Operations, strategic fund conversions, vendoroversight and product lifecycle events.
We are responsible for the management and oversight of outsourced operations carried out by the appointed Transfer Agencies for BlackRock fund ranges domiciled in EMEA including Mutual Funds and Exchange Traded Products (ETFs).
We require this role to cover other responsibilities within Transfer Agency Oversight as directed from time to time.
**Role Responsibility**:

- Responsible for daily relationship with BlackRock's Third-Party Transfer Agents (TA).
- Investigate and resolve day to day operational queries, issues, and incidents across the entire range of services provided by the TAs.
- Responsible for Cashflow Dashboard monitoring for pooled funds, and ensuring Portfolio Managers receive timely and accurate cash flow information
- Oversight & governance of all Transfer Agency CASS activity including the daily oversight of external and internal client money and corporate reconciliations ensuring that all actions are completed in a timely and compliant manner. This includes compilationand presentation of monthly CMAR return to Head of CASS
- Conduct root cause analysis for operational problem and ensuring appropriate remedial steps are clearly defined and assigned to mitigate risks.
- Proactively analyse trends in errors and issues to find opportunities for process improvement at either the Provider or BlackRock.
- Prepare and maintain procedures, processes and controls between BlackRock and its administrators.
- Participate in periodic reviews and updates to the operating model/service level documentation.
- Responsibility for monitoring the performance of the service provider
- Completion of oversight checks on specific activities at the TA to ensure compliance with agreed service levels.
- Monitoring of ongoing performance levels and validation against agreed key performance indicators to ensure service standards are maintained and improved.
- Conduct annual due diligence visits on providers issuing formal findings documents as appropriate.
- Active participation in business and regulatory-driven projects as an SME representing Transfer Agency Services.
- Provide constructive input to ongoing due diligence of the Transfer Agents.
- Assisting management and senior leaders with any ad hoc / project work
- An innovator who actively seeks to generate ideas that deliver scale, commercial benefits, client service, or control improvements.
- Excellent communicator with strong influencing skills together with an ability to build and maintain relationships both internally and externally.
- Strong leader who develops a positive working environment to find ways to partner and effectuate a coordinated approach to tasks.
- A strong project manager who is able to effectively prioritize workloads and adhere to deadlines.
**Experience**
- Transfer Agency or TA Oversight experience is needed
- Experience or knowledge of non-UK funds and Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) products would be an advantage
- Operational knowledge of the CASS rulebook and the applicability to Transfer Agency operations would be an advantage
- Strong initiative to follow up on outstanding issues - identify what needs to be done, take action and see through to resolution
- Ability to work in a team environment and build positive relationships with colleagues and both internal and external contacts
- Strong attention to detail and sense of urgency
- Strongly proficient on standard software (e.g. Microsoft Office)
- Experience of managing risk and control in a financial services environment
- Experience of working with external providers
- Experience of managing risk and control in a a financial services environment
- Experience of working with external providers
- Relationship and/or project management experience would be advantageous

**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 bethere for the people you care about.
**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 opportunitiesto help them thrive.
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.