Business Manager - Emerging Markets

P2P; City Of London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services firm is seeking a professional with strong Emerging Markets expertise. The role involves operational oversight, negotiating counterparty documents, and implementing new products. Candidates must have experience in financial markets, strong project management skills, and a collaborative approach. This position is based in London, UK.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience within Emerging Markets businesses.
• Practical experience with financial instruments such as bonds, FX, and derivatives.
• Experience managing workflows, resource planning, or business operations.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the day-to-day running of the business focusing on operational effectiveness.
• Lead negotiations with counterparties and collaborate with legal teams.
• Support the setup of onshore access and cross-border optimisations.
• Coordinate with stakeholders for new product launches.
• Conduct regular competitor analysis.

Skills

Emerging Markets Exposure

Financial Product Knowledge in EM Context

Business Operations & Project Management

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Communication Skills

Strategic & Analytical Thinking

Advanced Excel Proficiency

Education

Strong academic background; postgraduate qualifications considered advantageous

Tools

Python

SQL

Job description

Overview

MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ROLE:

• Business Support & Operational Oversight Work closely with the Head of Emerging Markets (EM) to assist in all matters related to the day-to-day running of the business, with a strong emphasis on operational effectiveness and strategic execution.
• Counterparty Documentation Negotiation Take a leading role in negotiating counterparty documentation, directly representing the business in discussions with counterparties. Collaborate closely with the legal team to ensure commercial and legal alignment. Keep track of progress, identify bottlenecks and follow up as appropriate.
• Cross-border structuring Partner with tax, legal, and operations teams to support the setup of onshore access, such as a local custody accounts, and other cross-border optimisations.
• New Product Implementation Coordinate with relevant internal stakeholders to ensure the successful launch and operational readiness of new products.
• Infrastructure Requirements Liaise with Quantitative Research, the Chief Technology Officer, and the Clarion team to define and deliver infrastructure requirements aligned with strategic goals.
• Emerging Markets Workflow Support Collaborate with operations teams to address and improve workflow processes specific to Emerging Markets activities.
• Competitor & Market Analysis Conduct regular competitor analysis to identify market gaps, benchmark performance, and inform strategic decision-making.
• Counterparty Engagement In partnership with the COO team, develop and maintain a holistic engagement strategy with counterparties to enhance relationships and maximize the firm’s market presence in an EM context
• Team Resource Management Oversee resource allocation within the Emerging Markets team, including quants, analysts, and economists, to ensure optimal coverage and efficiency.
• Firmwide Representation Represent the Emerging Markets business across the firm on various working groups and committees, ensuring its needs and priorities are clearly communicated and appropriately reflected in broader strategic planning and resource allocation

WORK EXPERIENCE/BACKGROUND:

Essential

• Emerging Markets Exposure Demonstrable experience within or in close support of Emerging Markets businesses, with strong insight into their operational, regulatory, and market-specific characteristics.
• Financial Product Knowledge in EM Context Practical experience with financial instruments such as bonds, FX, and derivatives, specifically within Emerging Markets settings.
• Business Operations & Project Management Experience managing workflows, resource planning, or business operations in a trading or investment environment.

Desirable

• COO / Business Management Experience Prior experience in a COO, business manager, or desk support role within an EM trading or investment business

TECHNICAL/BUSINESS SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE:

Essential

• Cross-Functional Collaboration Proven ability to collaborate with multiple teams to drive execution of business initiatives and solve complex issues.
• Communication Skills Excellent interpersonal and communication skills which are essential for building strong collaborative relationships both internally and externally
• Strategic & Analytical Thinking Proficiency in leveraging data to identify business gaps, improve efficiency, support planning, and benchmark performance.
• Advanced Excel Proficiency Strong fluency with Excel for data analysis and reporting

Desirable

• Education & Qualifications Strong academic background; postgraduate qualifications (e.g., MSc, MBA, CFA) considered advantageous.
• Infrastructure & Technology Understanding Understanding of front-office infrastructure requirements and familiarity with trading platforms, tools and analytics.
• Legal & Counterparty Documentation Familiarity Working knowledge of trading documentation (e.g. ISDA, CSA, GMRA) and experience supporting negotiations with counterparties in coordination with legal teams.
• Operational & Regulatory Awareness Familiarity with onshore/offshore structuring, operational workflows, tax and regulatory matters
• Python/SQL Not essential but could be useful for retrieving data and manipulating large data sets