Operations Associate- Futures

Selby Jennings; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Selby Jennings in Chicago is seeking a skilled Operations professional to oversee the full trade lifecycle across futures, options, equities, and other derivatives, partnering with portfolio managers and traders to ensure accurate processing.

This role emphasizes automation, process improvements, and scalable operations, with a fast-paced environment and close collaboration with clearing brokers and external counterparties.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in operations, middle office or trade support.
• Experience performing T+0 reconciliations and resolving breaks.
• Experience interacting with clearing brokers, FCMs, exchanges and counterparties.
• Strong understanding of cash management and position reconciliation.
• Proven ability to partner with traders and front-office stakeholders.
• Exposure to automation or workflow improvements.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Detail-oriented with ability to manage competing priorities.
• Proficiency in Excel; exposure to SQL, Python or VBA is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Support trade lifecycle across futures, options, equities and derivatives.
• Coordinate reconciliations and settlements with clearing brokers and counterparties.
• Investigate breaks and support daily operational controls and exception management.
• Analyze processes and drive efficiency and automation initiatives.
• Collaborate with traders, portfolio managers and external market participants.
• Maintain high attention to detail in a fast-paced investment environment.

Skills

Trade support

Middle office

Operational excellence

Automation focus

Front-office liaison

Attention to detail

Tools

Excel

SQL

Python

VBA

Job description

This is an excellent opportunity to join a hedge fund and support a growing trading business focused on futures, options, equities, and other derivative products. Working closely with portfolio managers, traders, brokers, and external counterparties, you will play a key role in overseeing the full trade lifecycle, including trade support, reconciliations, settlements, clearing, and exception management. The role offers significant exposure to front-office teams and is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys solving complex operational challenges, and is passionate about driving automation, process improvements, and scalable operational infrastructure to support the continued growth of the business.

In this role you will be responsible for:

• Experience supporting futures, options, equities, and/or derivative products throughout the trade lifecycle.
• Knowledge of trade reconciliations, settlements, expirations, corporate actions, and interactions with clearing brokers and counterparties.
• Ability to investigate and resolve breaks, support daily operational controls, and ensure accurate trade processing.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with an eye toward process improvement and operational efficiency.
• Exposure to technology-driven environments, automation initiatives, and workflow enhancements.
• Strong communication skills with experience partnering with traders, portfolio managers, and external market participants.
• High attention to detail, strong ownership mentality, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced investment management environment.

The ideal candidate should have the following qualifications and skills:

• 3+ years of experience in operations, middle office or trade support functions.
• Ability to perform T+0 trade reconciliations, investigate breaks, and resolve operational exceptions in a timely manner
• Experience interacting with clearing brokers, FCMs, exchanges, and external counterparties.
• Strong understanding of cash management, position reconciliation, and daily operational controls.
• Proven ability to partner directly with traders, portfolio managers, and other front-office stakeholders.
• Exposure to automation, workflow enhancements, or process improvement initiatives.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• High attention to detail with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Excel; exposure to SQL, Python, VBA, or other automation tools is highly desirable.