Quantitative Modeler, Associate

At BlackRock, technology has always been at the core of what we do – and today, our technologists continue to shape the future of the industry with their innovative work. We are not only curious but also collaborative and eager to embrace experimentation as a means to solve complex challenges. Here you’ll find an environment that promotes working across teams, businesses, regions and specialties – and a firm committed to supporting your growth as a technologist through curated learning opportunities, tech-specific career paths, and access to experts and leaders around the world.

About this role

Come join a diverse and collaborative team of researchers at the Aladdin Financial Engineering (AFE) who are responsible for the research and development of financial models underpinning the risk management and relative value analytics produced at BlackRock!

The group also contributes to the infrastructure platform for the production of analytics and the delivery of analytic content to portfolio and risk management professionals both within and outside BlackRock.

Given the diversity of business objectives among BlackRock Solutions clients and within BlackRock itself the models developed and supported by the Financial Modeling Group span an array of financial products, ranging from equity to fixed income to derivatives. In addition, we seek to provide analysis and insight on many different levels from analysis of the cash flows of a single bond to the overall financial risk associated with an entire portfolio, enterprise or balance sheet.

Key Responsibilities:

We are looking for a quantitative researcher to contribute to the development of BlackRock’s proprietary cash flow risk models for alternative asset classes. Growing the capabilities in the alternatives space is a key strategic focus of the firm!

About the role:

Conduct empirical research and develop statistical models across alternative asset classes such as private equity, real estate, infrastructure debt, etc, building, prototyping, and backtesting the models using Python infrastructure.

Connect with internal and external clients on model factors, forecasts, performance, strength and weakness, and risk/valuation implications. 

Writing model documentation including both white papers describing modelling framework and calibration methodology, and detailed technical specifications for implementation by the programming team in the BlackRock production code environment.

Collaborate with portfolio management teams on customized projects; work on papers for publication, present modeling findings at conferences, and discuss research with clients.

About you

• Graduate degree or equivalent experience in a technical field (Econometrics, Finance, Maths, Statistics, Computer Science and/or Engineering). Postgraduate degree or equivalent experience in a technical field is a plus

• 2+ years relevant working experience

• Hands-on experience dealing with sophisticated data sets and demonstrating econometric/statistical techniques to conduct high quality empirical researcher

• Strong programming skills and experience using Python to conduct statistical/econometric analyses

• Strong oral and written (English language) communication skills that enable complex ideas to be readily understood by team members and clients

• Passion, flexibility, and maturity to adapt to the needs of a dynamic group and deliver within strict time frame

Would be outstanding to have:

• Exposure to Git, Unix or SQL

• Prior work experience in financial modeling (e.g., risk models and analytics, cash flow models, factor models)

• Prior research or work experience in private market