About this role

About our team:

BlackRock Active Investment Stewardship (BAIS) is a specialist team within the active investing business which manages BlackRock's stewardship engagement and voting on behalf of clients invested in active strategies globally. This is an exciting opportunity to join a new function, and we are looking to build a team of high performing associates and VPs located between HK, LON and NY. The team sits within BLK's Portfolio Management Group (PMG) which encompasses BLK's Fixed Income, Fundamental Equities, Private Credit, Systematic Investments, Multi-Asset Strategies and Solutions and Private Investors Businesses. Our activities are informed by our Global Engagement and Voting Guidelines and insights from active investment analysts and portfolio managers, with whom we work closely in engaging companies.

• Demonstrating expertise in analysis of company performance, corporate governance and material sustainability-related practices.
• Engage, in conjunction with portfolio managers, with Chairmen, CEOs, and other senior representatives of the companies in which BlackRock invests to address a range of issues including industry trends, strategy, and performance in addition to corporate governance.
• Learning and applying BAIS engagement priorities, proxy voting policies, and key industry initiatives that have impact on BAIS policies and practices.
• Supporting data gathering, benchmarking and reporting to support voting decisions and policy positions.
• Assisting in the preparation of position papers to facilitate issue discussion with broader BlackRock audiences.
• Collaborating across the team to identify ways to improve policy and business processes.
• Building strong relationships and collaborating with relevant counterparts within the active investment business and selectively contributing to cross-platform initiatives

• Preparing for engagement with senior representatives of portfolio companies, including crafting memos in preparation for meetings highlighting key data that will be useful in our engagement and stewardship efforts.
• Coordinating with active investors in fundamental equity and fixed income on engagement meeting agendas, questions and objectives.
• Participating in industry research groups and thematic initiatives with the active investment teams as appropriate.
• Attending, documenting and leading (as needed) engagement efforts, including recording research notes to be stored and shared with select audiences within BlackRock's active investment business.
• Monitoring policy developments and corporate governance standards and best practices to improve the relevance of BAIS' guidelines.
• Participating in peer benchmarking analysis and modeling to contribute to leading engagement and voting practices.
• Monitoring proxy voting workflow to ensure all accounts are voted as intended and are in accordance with the appropriate guidelines.
• Supporting the development of BAIS position papers and reporting.
• Analyzing companies' shareholder meeting agendas and related materials in order to vote in the manner most consistent with BAIS' corporate governance policies and fiduciary responsibilities.
• Collaborating with client-facing and communications colleagues to ensure client reporting and client presentations meet expectations, and that client queries on corporate governance are responded to promptly and to the client's satisfaction.
• Reviewing the BAIS team's output and working practices to ensure risks are minimized and performance optimized.

• An undergraduate degree in finance, economics, accounting, political science, history, sustainability or other relevant field. Postgraduate qualifications such as CFA or a master's degree are preferred.
• A minimum of 4-9 years of experience in a financial service focused role, ideally with a demonstrated strong understanding of financial statements and corporate finance.
• Experience in investment management, investment banking, corporate finance, and/or legal fields is an advantage.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information and convey it in a clear and concise manner to senior-level audiences.
• A diligent, focused, and persistent work ethic to implement while leading multiple tasks and changing priorities.
• The ability to prioritize, analyze, and resolve complex issues under time pressure while maintaining consistent attention to detail.
• An organized, self-reliant, and self-motivated approach to responsibilities.
• A keen interest in corporate governance and material sustainable business practices.
• Collaborative working style, and strong interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to build and maintain successful relationships with colleagues across the firm and with external parties.
• Proficiency using Excel, PowerPoint and other Microsoft products.
• Fluency in Mandarin is strongly preferred