BlackRock compared to BGI - Vice President BlackRock Employee Review

2.0
29 Mar 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Leveraged opportunities and lending to increase it's size over the past few years by agressively purchasing (right place / right time) Fortune favours the brave mentality (risk takers) Entrepreneurial drive Purchase of Merill Lynch and BGI brought in lots of fresh talent and bright people Buy versus grow business model

Cons

Unless part of the original BlackRock team, everyone that has started from a transition/merger or joined later, does not get a look into the senior positions New York centric management team and small firm mentality, it's run by the original founding members, the whole global reporting line, business functions and power sharing is split between the founding members. Power base in NY, if not in NY, then not really a decision maker Risk takers and lack of planning means approach is not ideal and things are duplicated or manual solutions put in place Not leading edge use of technology, more archaic and cheap (vendors are chosen as they are cheap or aggressively negotiated down) Firm's reputation is built around the front office, with middle and back office treated badly and paid below par Aladdin technology and the MD's that run BlackRock solutions are over protective of their proprietary software/system. Negative feedback is frowned upon and career limiting. Aggressive management with big egos to stroke in NY Redundancy pay is just above statutory (cheap) Stock price linked to Larry Fink (who knows what will happen if he stops buying companies and tries to grow the business organically or retire) - key person risk No downward delegation of decision making due to a lack of trust (run the same way as when it was formed in the 80's) Lack of investment in people or facilities - cheap company to work for (rewards to the front office to maintain reputations and keep star fund manager's - everyone else is discounted to support this culture) It's not what you know but who you know

Explore other reviews about BlackRock

5.0
7 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Surrounded by top talent, Lots of opportunities for career growth

Cons

Large organization, so decision-making and processes can sometimes move more slowly than in smaller firms.

4.0
10 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Plenty of opportunity to work on project teams. Lots of exposure to senior leaders in HR and the businesses. Great collaboration in the One BlackRock spirit. Benefits to support employees and their families are good.

Cons

Workload can be challenging at times. However, you are gaining a lot of new skills in a short prior of time and the ability to work with leaders is worth it.

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