Security Master SME

EXL; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

EXL seeks a Security Master Subject Matter Expert to lead the domain authority for Security Master, Entity Master, and Reference Data. You will define data standards, validation rules, lineage, and stewardship workflows to ensure accurate, regulatory-compliant financial instrument data.

You will partner with MDM architects and governance teams to map requirements to data models, integrate feeds from Bloomberg, Refinitiv, FactSet, and ICE, and support QA with robust test scenarios and data

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent is required.
• 10+ years of experience in financial data management with domain SME exposure.
• Deep knowledge of securities, bonds, structured products and derivatives.
• Hands-on with major data vendors for data feeds and validation.
• Credit ratings agency experience is strongly preferred.
• Proficiency in SQL for data analysis and validation.

Responsibilities

• Serve as domain expert for Security Master, Entity Master and Reference Data.
• Define data standards, validation rules, and data quality frameworks.
• Collaborate with MDM architects to translate requirements into data models and APIs.
• Establish data hierarchies and taxonomies (GICS, SIC, rating categories).
• Map feeds from external providers and internal sources.
• Partner with data stewards to define ownership and lineage.
• Support QA with tests and validation frameworks based on domain rules.
• Conduct data profiling, gap analysis, and quality assessments.
• Provide guidance during system design reviews and client workshops.
• Stay current with industry standards and regulatory reporting.

Skills

Domain knowledge

Data profiling

Stakeholder communication

Agile/Scrum

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

10+ years in financial data management

6+ years as Security Master/Reference Data SME

Experience with financial instruments

Vendor data platforms experience

SQL expertise (PostgreSQL/Oracle)

Tools

Bloomberg

Refinitiv/LSEG

FactSet

ICE Data Services

Job description

Our passion at EXL is enabling organizations to achieve a measurable, competitive advantage through Data Management. We partner with our clients to design and implement scalable, accessible, and innovative solutions. Our goal is to make sense of data to drive client’s business forward through data strategy, data governance and building cloud data platforms. EXL is a leading data analytics and digital operations and solutions company that partners with clients to improve business outcomes and unlock growth. By bringing together deep domain expertise with robust data, powerful analytics, cloud, artificial intelligence (“AI”) and machine learning (“ML”), we create agile, scalable solutions and execute complex operations for the world’s leading corporations in industries including insurance, healthcare, banking and financial services, media, and retail, among others. Focused on driving faster decision-making and transforming operating models, EXL was founded on the core values of innovation, collaboration, excellence, integrity and respect. Headquarters in New York, our team is over 73,000+ strong, with more than 50 offices spanning six continents.

Role Name: Security Master SME

Location: Chicago, IL

Employment Type: Full-Time

Mode – Hybrid (2-3 days from Office)

Job Summary

We are seeking a Security Master Subject Matter Expert (SME) to serve as the domain authority for Security Master, Entity Master, and Reference Data management for a leading global credit ratings organization. You will bridge business requirements and technology delivery — defining data standards, validation rules, data quality frameworks, and stewardship workflows that ensure accuracy, completeness, and regulatory compliance of financial instrument and legal entity data.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary domain expert for Security Master bond data covering equities, fixed income, structured products, corporate bond, Muni Bond and derivatives.
• Establish data quality rules, validation logic, and exception handling workflows for Security and Entity Master records.
• Collaborate with the MDM Architect and backend teams to translate business data requirements into technical data models and API specifications.
• Define reference data hierarchies: asset class taxonomies, sector/industry classifications (GICS, SIC), rating categories, and issuer hierarchies.
• Map and rationalize data feeds from external providers (Bloomberg, Refinitiv/LSEG, FactSet, ICE) and internal source systems.
• Partner with data stewards and governance teams to establish data ownership, lineage, and change management processes.
• Support QA teams in building test scenarios and validation frameworks based on domain rules.
• Conduct data profiling, gap analysis, and quality assessments on incoming security and entity data.
• Provide domain guidance during system design reviews and client-facing workshops.
• Stay current with industry standards: ANNA, GLEIF, FIGI (OMG), ISO 4914, and regulatory reporting requirements (MiFID II, SEC).

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent
• 10+ years of experience in financial data management, with at least 6 years as a Security Master or Reference Data SME.
• Deep knowledge of financial instruments: equities, corporate/government bonds, structured products (ABS, MBS), and derivatives.
• Hands‑on experience with major data vendors: Bloomberg, Refinitiv/LSEG, FactSet, ICE Data Services.
• Experience at a credit ratings agency (S&P, Moody's) or equivalent financial data organization strongly preferred.
• Proficiency in SQL for data analysis and validation using PostgreSQL or Oracle.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Authoritative knowledge of security and entity data: lifecycle, corporate actions, ratings linkage, and classification taxonomies.
• Ability to write detailed business requirements, data dictionaries, and functional specifications.
• Strong analytical skills — able to perform data profiling and identify systemic data quality issues.
• Effective communicator with experience working across technology, operations, and business stakeholders.
• Familiarity with Agile/Scrum delivery and participation in sprint ceremonies as a domain expert.