Senior Trader

Northern Trust; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 272,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) + pension

Health and welfare benefits

Discretionary bonus program

Job summary

Northern Trust is seeking a Senior Trader- Brokerage to execute institutional equity trades across the Americas, ensuring best execution and strong risk controls. You will guide clients and sales teams with expert insights into market dynamics, execution venues, and trading workflows.

The role requires advanced market knowledge, autonomy, and a track record of high-quality trading decisions. A hybrid work setup and comprehensive benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of institutional equity trading experience.
• Strong understanding of equity market structure, liquidity dynamics, execution venues, algorithmic trading strategies, and best execution requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to manage significant trading activity while balancing client objectives, execution quality, risk management, and operational discipline.
• Proven track record of exercising sound execution judgment in fast-moving and volatile market environments.
• Experience analyzing and interpreting transaction cost analysis (TCA), execution metrics, and performance data to improve trading outcomes.
• Strong communication and relationship management skills, with the ability to discuss execution strategy, market conditions, and trading performance with institutional clients and senior stakeholders.
• Established institutional client and broker relationships are preferred.
• CFA, MBA, or similar advanced credentials are a plus, along with proficiency in leveraging data and analytics to support trading decisions and execution performance evaluation.

Responsibilities

• Execute institutional equity orders across strategies (single-stock, portfolio, block, and index) while meeting client instructions and best execution standards.
• Determine the appropriate execution approach, broker strategy, algorithm selection, and venue strategy based on market conditions, liquidity characteristics, and risk considerations.
• Partner closely with external and internal stakeholders to ensure seamless trade flow, accurate communication, and efficient execution.
• Monitor execution quality and trading outcomes, proactively identify risks, exceptions, or operational issues, and elevate concerns with urgency and sound judgment.
• Operate within trading limits, entitlements, and control frameworks while maintaining compliance with firm policies, client mandates, and regulatory requirements.
• Support audit, compliance, and regulatory reviews through clear documentation of execution decisions, trading rationale, and outcomes.
• Utilize pre-trade and post-trade transaction cost analysis (TCA) to inform execution strategy, evaluate results, and assess broker and venue performance.
• Contribute to the ongoing enhancement of trading workflows, technology platforms, execution processes, and control frameworks to improve efficiency and execution quality.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with institutional clients, brokers, and market participants, serving as a trusted advisor on execution strategy, market conditions, and trading outcomes.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on equity market structure, execution venues, trading technologies, and best execution practices for clients and internal partners.

Skills

Equity trading

Market structure

TCA analysis

Education

College degree

Job description

About Northern Trust

As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions.

About Northern Trust

As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions.

Since 1889, we have aligned our efforts with our three guiding Principles That Endure: Service, Expertise, and Integrity. Together, they reflect the three cornerstones of business conduct which we strive to instill in our employees, whom we call partners, and to provide to our clients and the communities we serve worldwide.

With more than 135 years of financial experience and over 24,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

Senior Trader- Brokerage

The Senior Trader is responsible for the execution and oversight of institutional equity trading activity across the Americas, including single-stock orders, portfolio trades, block executions, index rebalances, and other complex trading strategies.

The role requires advanced execution judgment, deep market structure expertise, and the ability to operate autonomously within established best execution, risk, and control frameworks.

The Senior Trader serves as a subject matter expert on equity execution practices, market dynamics, and trading workflows while providing trusted guidance to clients, sales teams, and internal stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute institutional equity orders across a broad range of strategies, including single-stock, portfolio, block, and index-related transactions, while meeting client instructions and best execution standards.
• Determine the appropriate execution approach, broker strategy, algorithm selection, and venue strategy based on market conditions, liquidity characteristics, and risk considerations.
• Partner closely with key external and internal stakeholders to ensure seamless trade flow, accurate communication, and efficient execution.
• Monitor execution quality and trading outcomes, proactively identify risks, exceptions, or operational issues, and elevate concerns with urgency and sound judgment.
• Operate within trading limits, entitlements, and control frameworks while maintaining compliance with firm policies, client mandates, and regulatory requirements.
• Support audit, compliance, and regulatory reviews through clear documentation of execution decisions, trading rationale, and outcomes.
• Utilize pre-trade and post-trade transaction cost analysis (TCA) to inform execution strategy, evaluate results, and assess broker and venue performance.
• Contribute to the ongoing enhancement of trading workflows, technology platforms, execution processes, and control frameworks to improve efficiency and execution quality.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with institutional clients, brokers, and market participants, serving as a trusted advisor on execution strategy, market conditions, and trading outcomes.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on equity market structure, execution venues, trading technologies, and best execution practices for clients and internal partners.

Qualifications & Experience

• College degree or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of institutional equity trading experience, including responsibility for executing large and complex equity orders across varying market conditions.
• Strong understanding of equity market structure, liquidity dynamics, execution venues, algorithmic trading strategies, and best execution requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to manage significant trading activity while balancing client objectives, execution quality, risk management, and operational discipline.
• Proven track record of exercising sound execution judgment in fast-moving and volatile market environments.
• Experience analyzing and interpreting transaction cost analysis (TCA), execution metrics, and performance data to improve trading outcomes.
• Strong communication and relationship management skills, with the ability to discuss execution strategy, market conditions, and trading performance with institutional clients and senior stakeholders.
• Established institutional client and broker relationships are preferred.
• CFA, MBA, or similar advanced credentials are a plus, along with proficiency in leveraging data and analytics to support trading decisions and execution performance evaluation.

Hybrid

Salary Range

$160,100 - 272,300 USD

Salary range is a good faith estimate of base pay. Northern Trust provides a comprehensive benefits package including retirement benefits (401k and pension), health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability), paid time off, parental and caregiver leave, life & accident insurance, and other voluntary and well-being benefits. Northern Trust also provides a discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Northern Trust will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa).

Working with Us

As a Northern Trust partner, you will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture, which has a strong history of financial strength and stability. Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to an inclusive workplace and assisting the communities we serve.

Philanthropy is deeply rooted in Northern Trust’s history and is an essential element of our culture. Employees around the world give their time and talent to work for the greater good of their communities.

Reasonable Accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing adjustments to individuals with health conditions and disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at [e-mail], or alternatively you can discuss your individual requirements with the recruiter you are working with.