Lead, Financial Operations

NinjaTrader; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous PTO

7 Paid Holidays Annually + 5 Cond. V

1 Service Day Annually

401k with Company Match 3.5%

Parental Bonding Leave

Health, Vision, Dental Coverage

Life and Disability Insurance Covered

Company culture and recognition

Job summary

NinjaTrader is hiring a Team Lead, Financial Operations in Chicago to own regulatory reporting, mentor a growing team, and ensure accurate daily filings and audits. You will collaborate across Finance, Compliance, Risk, Technology, and Accounting on new initiatives while maintaining stringent controls.

Based in Chicago, this hybrid role emphasizes leadership, process improvement, and timely, precise reporting within a fast‑growing environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field is required.
• 3-5 years of experience in financial operations, regulatory reporting, or accounting within a regulated financial institution.
• Working knowledge of NFA and CFTC segregation rules and FCM regulatory reporting requirements.
• Experience leading or mentoring a team or readiness to step into a leadership role.
• Strong analytical, detail-oriented, and problem-solving skills with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate across functions.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and work under tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Own daily regulatory filings, the monthly 1-FR-FCM report, and related NFA/CFTC segregation reporting.
• Serve as final quality control reviewer for reconciliations, GL accuracy, and regulatory submissions.
• Maintain documentation and internal controls for audit readiness.
• Act as primary liaison during regulatory examinations and audits.
• Monitor liquidity, FX hedging, and margin adequacy per broker requirements; escalate issues.
• Directly manage, coach, and develop Financial Operations Associates; establish clear expectations and drive improvement.
• Design and deliver training to strengthen technical expertise and employee growth.
• Create an environment where team members identify issues early and take ownership of work.
• Lead process improvements to increase automation and reduce operational risk.
• Partner with Product, Compliance, Risk, Technology, and Accounting on new initiatives and product launches.
• Represent Financial Operations in cross-functional discussions on reporting requirements.
• Evaluate new products and system changes for reconciliation impacts; lead testing/implementation.
• Collaborate to enhance tools, dashboards, and workflows for the team.

Skills

Financial operations

Regulatory reporting

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

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

Job description

Our growth story is nothing short of exhilarating. Since 2003, NinjaTrader has been dedicated to understanding and supporting traders on their journey toward trading triumph. Through those efforts, our user base has grown to over 2 million users and we have become the number one rated futures brokerage worldwide.

But we're not stopping there. We're constantly evolving, pushing boundaries, and modernizing the futures industry. Our commitment to innovation means users will always have access to dynamic tools, real-time support, and a community of like-minded traders.

So, why work at NinjaTrader? Here, you're not just part of a team; you're part of a movement. We empower employees to reach new heights in their careers by providing a dynamic culture focused on social connection, professional development, and employee recognition initiatives. Sounds too good to be true? [Take it from our employees.] Join us as we redefine what's possible in trading, advocate for our customers, and continue our journey toward becoming the world’s top retail-focused trading platform in the world.

What You'll Do

We're hiring a Team Lead, Financial Operations to own and elevate our regulatory reporting function within a fast-growing FCM. This is a high-visibility role for a leader who combines deep technical command of FCM regulatory reporting with the people skills to coach, develop, and grow a team of Financial Operations Associates. You'll ensure every daily filing is completed accurately and on time, mentor and develop your team, and serve as the trusted Financial Operations representative on strategic business initiatives. If you're currently doing great work at another FCM but are looking for greater ownership, increased visibility, and the opportunity to influence key initiatives, this role is built for you.

In This Role You Will

• Own the timely and accurate completion of all daily regulatory filings, the monthly 1-FR-FCM report, and related NFA and CFTC segregation reporting
• Serve as the final quality control reviewer for team reconciliations, general ledger accuracy, and regulatory submissions
• Maintain and enhance documentation and internal controls to ensure ongoing audit readiness
• Act as the primary liaison during regulatory examinations and audits
• Monitor liquidity levels, foreign currency hedging, and margin adequacy against carrying broker requirements, proactively escalating and resolving issues
• Directly manage, coach, and develop a team of Financial Operations Associates, establishing clear expectations and fostering a culture of accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Design and deliver training programs that strengthen technical expertise and support employee growth
• Foster an environment where team members feel empowered to identify issues early and take ownership of their work
• Lead process improvement initiatives that increase automation, reduce operational risk, and improve reporting speed and accuracy
• Partner with Product, Compliance, Risk, Technology, and Accounting on new initiatives and product launches to ensure accurate books and records from day one
• Represent Financial Operations in cross-functional discussions, proactively identifying reporting and regulatory considerations
• Evaluate new products and system changes for reconciliation and reporting impacts, leading testing and implementation efforts
• Collaborate with Development and Compliance to enhance the tools, dashboards, and workflows that support the Financial Operations team

What you’ll need:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field
• 3-5 years of experience in financial operations, regulatory reporting, or accounting within an FCM, broker-dealer, or other regulated financial institution
• Working knowledge of NFA and CFTC segregation rules and FCM regulatory reporting requirements, including the 1-FR-FCM and related filings
• Prior experience leading, mentoring, or developing a team, or demonstrated readiness to step into a people leadership role
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills with a strong attention to detail and accuracy
• A continuous improvement mindset with a passion for identifying automation and process improvement opportunities
• Strong communication skills with the ability to represent Financial Operations effectively in cross-functional settings
• High ethical standards and the ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion
• Ability to thrive under tight deadlines in a fast-paced, high-growth environment without sacrificing quality

Compensation:

The salary range for this role will be $85,000.00 - $110,000.00 USD. In addition, this position will also receive an annual target bonus of 8%. Bonus pay at NinjaTrader is based on individual performance (50%) as well as company/team performance (50%). Salary and bonus earnings are only two components of the total compensation package offered by NinjaTrader. NinjaTrader offers a 401K plan through ADP under which the company will match up to 3.5% of employee contributions. Annual paid time off allowance accrues at a rate of 18 days per year (some positions may qualify for more) plus seven paid holidays.

Location:

This role is based in Chicago, IL. We are not open to remote candidates for this role.

Hybrid

For Chicago-based employees, we follow a hybrid work schedule: In-office Tuesday through Thursday, with remote work on Mondays and Fridays. In addition to these weekly remote days, we offer:

• 20 additional flex remote days annually
• 5 Company Wide Office-Optional weeks tied to major holidays

Our Core Benefits Include

• Generous PTO
• 7 Paid Holidays Annually + 5 Conditional Holidays Annually
• 1 Service Day Annually
• 401k with 3.5% Company Match
• Paid Parental Bonding Leave
• Health, Vision, Dental Coverage
• Life and Disability Insurance Covered 100% by NinjaTrader

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.