Trading Operations Analyst

IT Associates; Illinois; On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Bonus opportunities

Job summary

A financial services firm is seeking an Operations Analyst to join their team in Illinois. The ideal candidate will have 1-3 years of experience in financial operations focusing on trade settlements and fixed income products. Responsibilities include daily operational functions, reconciling cash and positions, and collaborating with traders. Candidates must have strong organizational and analytical skills. The salary range is $75,000 to $85,000, with various benefits offered.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years of experience in financial operations focusing on trade settlements.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Perform all daily operational functions within the trade life cycle.
• Reconcile end-of-day cash and position balances.
• Collaborate with traders and portfolio managers for smooth trade execution.

Skills

Trade settlements

Fixed income knowledge

ETFs knowledge

Organizational skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field

Tools

MS Office (Excel)

Bloomberg

Job description

We are seeking a highly detail‑oriented and motivated Operations Analyst to join our growing team. The ideal candidate will have 1–3 years of financial services experience, with a focus on trade settlements and a strong understanding of fixed income and ETF products. This role requires a proactive self‑starter who can work independently under daily deadlines while maintaining accuracy and efficiency in a fast‑paced environment.

As part of the Operations team, you will work closely with traders, portfolio managers, custodians, and internal technology groups to ensure accurate and timely trade processing across the full trade life cycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform all daily operational functions within the trade life cycle, including trade confirmation, allocation, and settlement.
• Reconcile end‑of‑day (EOD) cash and position balances, resolving any discrepancies in coordination with internal and external parties.
• Manage and process all required SPOs (Special Processing Orders) and ensure timely trade communication from internal systems to external counterparties.
• Collaborate with traders, portfolio managers, and other support teams to ensure smooth trade execution and resolution of settlement issues.
• Research and resolve trade confirmation and settlement breaks, working closely with brokers, custodians, and internal departments.
• Process factor and coupon updates and ensure timely reflection in internal systems.
• Conduct daily position and transaction reconciliations between custodians and internal accounting systems.
• Support compliance reporting, regulatory documentation, and other operational control tasks.
• Handle ad hoc operational requests, analysis, and projects as needed.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years of experience in financial operations, with a focus on trade settlements or middle office functions.
• Strong knowledge of fixed income, ETFs, and physical settlements (DTC, FED, etc.).
• Excellent organizational skills and a commitment to building efficient and scalable workflows.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and meet tight daily deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Professional and effective communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Proficiency in MS Office, especially Excel (advanced skills preferred).
• Experience with Bloomberg and familiarity with industry settlement platforms preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field required.

Key Attributes

• Self‑starter who takes initiative and ownership of deliverables.
• Team‑oriented with a collaborative mindset.
• Adaptable in a dynamic, high‑volume trading environment.
• Strong desire to learn and contribute to process improvement.

The anticipated salary range for this position is ($75,000-$85,000). Actual salary will be based on a variety of factors including relevant experience, knowledge, skills and other factors permitted by law. A range of medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, bonus and/or other benefits are available.