Middle Office Trade Support Analyst

Summary:

The Middle Office Trade Support Analyst plays a critical role in ensuring the smooth and accurate processing of trades between the front office (traders/portfolio managers) and back office (settlements, reconciliation, etc.). This position involves working closely with trading desks, risk management, compliance, and counterparties to provide operational support for timely trade capture, confirmation, and settlement while addressing any discrepancies.

Responsibilities:

• Trade Capture and Validation:
  • Monitor, capture, and validate trades across various asset classes (equities, fixed income, derivatives, FX, etc.).
  • Reconcile trade details between front-office systems (OMS/EMS) and middle-office platforms.
  • Investigate and resolve any discrepancies with the front office, counterparty, or brokers.
• Trade Matching and Confirmation:
  • Ensure timely and accurate trade matching, confirmations, and affirmations with counterparties.
  • Liaise with brokers and custodians to ensure correct trade details are reflected and confirmed for settlement.
• Risk and Exception Management:
  • Monitor and manage trade exceptions, breaks, or discrepancies.
  • Work with risk management teams to ensure trades adhere to internal controls and regulatory requirements.
• Trade Settlement Support:
  • Coordinate with the back office to ensure smooth settlement processes and resolve any settlement failures.
  • Communicate settlement statuses to relevant teams and escalate issues when needed.
• Client & Counterparty Interaction:
  • Act as the point of contact for trade-related queries from internal teams, counterparties, and clients.
  • Maintain strong relationships with counterparties, brokers, and custodians to facilitate trade processing and issue resolution.
• System and Process Improvement:
  • Identify inefficiencies in trade workflows and collaborate with technology teams to enhance system functionality.
  • Assist in the development and testing of trade-related system upgrades and new product rollouts.
• Compliance and Reporting:
  • Ensure that all trade processes adhere to regulatory and compliance requirements.
  • Prepare and distribute daily/weekly reports on trade activities, breaks, and unresolved issues.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, or a related field.
• Experience in trade support, middle office, or operations in a financial institution (buy-side or sell-side).
• Strong understanding of financial markets, trade lifecycle, and different asset classes (equities, fixed income, derivatives).
• Proficiency in using OMS/EMS platforms (e.g., Bloomberg, Charles River, Eze).
• Familiarity with clearing, settlement processes, and matching platforms (e.g., DTCC, MarkitWire).
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to manage and resolve trade discrepancies.
• Strong communication skills, capable of working under pressure and meeting deadlines.
• Intermediate to advanced Excel skills (knowledge of macros/VBA is a plus).
• Experience with Python, SQL, or VBA for process automation (a plus).