What It Does: BlackRock specialises in offering investment management, risk management, advisory, business analytics, audit, strategy management, and sales management services to other organisations as well as wealthy individuals.
Mission: BlackRock's mission is to improve the financial future of its clients.
Size and Presence: While there's no precise figure or estimate for the size of BlackRock's workforce in the UK, the company has an office at 12 Throgmorton Avenue, London.
Best Known For: BlackRock is known as the largest asset manager in the world. Its global asset holdings are worth over $10 trillion. The company is also a recipient of several awards highlighting the quality of its services.
The Good Bits: BlackRock is one of the top employers because of its great work culture. The company also offers attractive employment benefits to its workers.
The Not-So-Good Bits: The work-life balance may not be ideal. The pressure at work is high.
The history of this great company can be traced to 1988 when Larry Fink and seven other partners banded together to form a company that would offer financial services such as risk management and asset management to corporations and individuals. Fink and 3 of the company's partners were previous employees of First Boston. There, they worked as pioneers in the securities market, which was dependent on mortgage loans. Fink's time didn't go so well, as he lost $100 million during his time there.
It was the loss that motivated Fink to adopt sound risk management, and the vision became what the world knows as BlackRock. Fink sourced for capital from Pete Peterson of the Blackstone Group. His request was accepted on the condition that Blackstone Group would acquire 50% of the stake in the business. Fink's company was then named Blackstone Financial Management. Blackstone Group gave the new company a credit line of $5 million.
In 1999, BlackRock gained public listing on the New York stock exchange. A single unit of its shares was $14. The company began making strategic acquisitions and grew in size. In 2009, BlackRock was already the largest asset holder in the world.
One of the best things about BlackRock is its incredible work culture. BlackRock thrives on a collaboration-driven workspace where its employees join forces to accomplish tasks. The fast-paced and challenging nature of the job drives the employees to support each other and improve themselves. The company also provides the support its employees need. The company's policy on diversity and inclusion is laudable. At BlackRock, employees of all races, ages, social backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, and religions are welcome. The company prides itself on being an equal-opportunity employer. The company's culture is built on three core values - respect, trust, and integrity. The dress code is corporate.
BlackRock is a 5-star company when it comes to the career prospects of its employees. Several career programs can help fast-track the professional development of its workers. The Summer Internship Program offered is a 2-month scheme targeted at interns and undergraduates. The program is designed to provide a rich, fun, and exciting learning experience. The company also offers a Full-Time Analyst Program for its financial analysts. It's a great chance to work and learn at the same time. Other programs include the 12-month Placement Program and the Off-Cycle Internship Program.
BlackRock has a short but highly effective recruiting process. It involves;
BlackRock pays its freshers an average annual salary of £44,500.
Through the BlackRock Foundation, the company has been able to help several refugees living in the UK to get employment opportunities aligned with their professions.
According to a credible news source in London, Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock, expressed displeasure towards the way the UK handled the Brexit issue.