Senior Spot Trader (Fintech/Payments)

Black Pen Recruitment; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking a commercially driven Spot FX & Crypto Trader to join a trading team in Cape Town. The role involves market making, direct client negotiation, and enhancing trading infrastructure in a hybrid work setup. Candidates should have a relevant degree, substantial trading experience, and strong analytical skills to thrive in fast-paced markets.

Qualifications

• 2–6 years of experience in spot or derivative market making.
• Prior experience in OTC or institutional crypto or FX trading is highly preferred.
• Proven track record in pricing, risk management, and client interaction in fast-moving markets.

Responsibilities

• Make competitive two-way prices across major and emerging market FX pairs.
• Quote spot FX and crypto prices directly to institutional and high-volume clients.
• Collaborate with quant and engineering teams to improve pricing engine and trading algorithms.

Skills

Market making

Client negotiation

Risk management

Analytical mindset

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

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

Tools

FIX protocols

WebSocket APIs

Trading platforms

Job description

Our client is looking for a commercially driven and technically savvy Spot FX & Crypto Trader to join their trading team. The role involves real-time market making and pricing across spot FX and crypto pairs, direct client negotiation, and active involvement in developing and improving pricing engines and trading infrastructure.

This is a hybrid role requiring deep market insight, strong client-facing skills, and the ability to collaborate with developers and quants on trading system enhancements.

Overview

Job type: Fulltime / Permanent

Location: Cape Town

Workplace: Hybrid

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance, Economics, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• Professional certifications (e.g., CFA, CA, FASSA) are advantageous but not required.
• 2–6 years of experience in spot or derivative market making.
• Prior experience in OTC or 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.

Responsibilities

• Pricing & Trading — Make competitive two-way prices across major and emerging market 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.
• Client Interaction — 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.
• System & Infrastructure Development — 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 with the COO 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.