Thematic Risk Assessment, RQA, Analyst

About this role

Business Overview 

Understanding and managing risk is the cornerstone of BlackRock’s approach to responsible investing. The Risk & Quantitative Analysis (RQA) group provides independent oversight of BlackRock’s fiduciary and enterprise risks. Our mission is to advance the firm’s risk management practices and to deliver independent risk expertise and constructive challenges to drive better business and investment outcomes. RQA promotes BlackRock as a leader in risk management by providing independent top-down and bottom-up oversight to help identify investment, counterparty, operational, regulatory, technology, and third-party risks. 

RQA is committed to investing in our people to increase both individual enablement and a strong collaborative environment. As a global group located all around the world, our goal is to create a culture of inclusion which encourages teamwork, innovation, diversity, and the development of our future leaders.  We actively engage in discussions on career growth and work with team members to understand how personal passions and strengths connect with our purpose. 

Who We Are  

The Thematic Risk Assessment team sits within the Enterprise Risk Management group (a Second Line of Defense function) and has enterprise-wide coverage through its risk and control assessment programs. The team’s Book of Work is crucial to both the “true-up” understanding of our enterprise risk and control landscape and facilitating the timely identification, analysis and treatment of gaps. These help provide assurance that senior management has defined and implemented controls that protect our clients and firm, and support the achievement of firm-wide business goals within our risk tolerance. We strive to help senior management close the last mile with risk insights that are timely, reliable and trackable. 

What You Will Be Doing:  

Your primary responsibilities include:  

• Perform independent evaluations of businesses’ risk and control self-assessments and risk management strategies, and independent data metrics (e.g. business risk indicators and potential loss events) to identify recurring risk themes and control weaknesses. 

• Perform and support end-to-end targeted assessments of enterprise risk themes (e.g. order processing & management risk, concentration risk and technology risk) to uncover systemic patterns, blind spots and early-warning indicators, including independent testing of operating controls against industry standards and internal policies and standards. 

• Identify and analyze cross-functional risk issues to facilitate consistent and sustainable control improvements firmwide.   

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ideate, develop and implement pragmatic actions that address thematic risk gaps that were identified.  

• Build and maintain an internal repository to ascertain and quantify the potential risks of identified enterprise risk themes using tools such as (but not limited to) Python, Power BI, Excel, and SQL. 

• Prepare detailed assessment reports highlighting risk priorities and control deficiencies or design gaps, and proposing pragmatic recommendations for remediation.  

• Support continuous improvements to enterprise risk and control assessment programs.  

What We Look For:  

The successful candidate should have a keen interest in performing risk and control assessments, analyzing data, identifying and managing risks, performing data visualization, and proposing pragmatic remedial measures for a robust control environment.  

• 1-3 years of practical experience in Enterprise Risk Management &/or Assessment, Control Testing (Operational; Technology), Risk &/or Compliance, Data Analytics, or Audit (experience earned in Asset Management or Banking industry is preferred). 

• Demonstrable ability to identify and analyze risk and control issues, challenge the status quo and work with cross-functional and international teams to ideate pragmatic solutions that strengthen the risk and control environment.  

• Good understanding of industry-leading practices and control frameworks (e.g. CRI Profile, NIST CSF, COSO ERM Framework, ISO 27001, SOC 2, SWIFT CSP, and COBIT).  

• Experienced in data science &/or analytics, with demonstrable proficiency in tools such as (but not limited to) Python, PowerBI, Excel, and SQL.  

• Strong attention to detail, balanced stakeholder management approach, good listener, and strong communication skills. Team-oriented personality with ownership and accountability mindset. 

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 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.

For additional information on BlackRock, please visit @blackrock | Twitter: @blackrock | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock

BlackRock is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to age, disability, family status, gender identity, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and other protected attributes at law.