Head Of Trading

Key Recruitment Group; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 750 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency seeks a Head of Trading for a dynamic trading team. The role involves executing trades, managing market risks, and collaborating with sales to enhance client relations. Ideal candidates will have a degree in Finance or related fields, along with significant experience in market making and trading. Strong analytical skills and familiarity with trading platforms are essential. This full-time position is based in Cape Town, South Africa.

Qualifications

• 4–6 years of experience in spot or derivative market making.
• Prior experience in OTC, institutional crypto or FX trading is preferred.
• Strong understanding of pricing models and market dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Price and execute competitive two-way prices across FX pairs and crypto assets.
• Monitor liquidity venues and optimize pricing and execution quality.
• Collaborate with sales to support onboarding and client retention.

Skills

Market making expertise

Risk management

Client interaction

Communication skills

Analytical mindset

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance, Economics, Computer Science, Engineering

CFA, CA, FASSA, or other professional certifications

Tools

Trading platforms

FIX protocols

WebSocket APIs

Job description

Job Title

Head of Trading

Location

Cape Town

Department

Trading

Reports To

Director / COO

Job Type

Full-time Onsite

Compensation

CTC: Rk – Rk

Role Overview

Our client is looking for a commercially driven and technically savvy Head of Trading to join their trading team.

Key Responsibilities

• Price and execute competitive two-way prices across major and emerging FX pairs and leading crypto assets (e.g., BTC, USDT).
• Monitor liquidity venues, OTC flows, and market depth to optimize pricing and execution quality.
• Maintain real-time visibility on P&L, inventory, spreads, and risk exposures.
• Execute trades and manage flows while adhering to defined risk limits and compliance policies.
• Quote spot FX and crypto prices directly to institutional and high-volume clients.
• Negotiate trade terms and manage client expectations on pricing and execution.
• Act as a market intelligence source, providing insights into market movements and pricing rationale.
• Collaborate with the sales team to support onboarding, pricing strategies, and client retention.
• Work with quant and engineering teams to improve the pricing engine, trading algorithms, and execution logic.
• Suggest and test enhancements for latency reduction, pricing accuracy, and auto-hedging logic.
• Analyze trade data to optimize spreads, slippage, and trading performance.
• Help define requirements and test cases for system upgrades, new product launches, and venue integrations.
• Support the COO – collaborate to enhance business processes and revenue-generation strategies.
• Assist with ad hoc tasks and initiatives as needed.
• Attend stakeholder meetings on behalf of the COO when required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance, Economics, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• Education & certifications: CFA, CA, FASSA, or other professional certifications are advantageous but not required.
• 4–6 years of experience in spot or derivative market making.
• Prior experience in OTC, institutional crypto or FX trading is highly preferred.
• Proven track record in pricing, risk management, and client interaction in fast-moving markets.
• Experience with both centralized and decentralized crypto venues is a strong advantage.
• Strong understanding of pricing models, market making, order books, and market dynamics.
• Familiarity with FIX protocols, WebSocket APIs, and trading platform integrations.
• Ability to work closely with technical teams to test, validate, and deploy system updates.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong attention to detail and high-risk awareness.
• Calm under pressure and confident in decision-making during market volatility.
• Entrepreneurial, analytical, and collaborative mindset.