Trade & Processing Specialist

UBS; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 300,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

A global financial services firm in Johannesburg is seeking a Financial Operations Specialist to support diverse financial products. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree and 2-5 years of experience in operations, particularly with securities borrowing and lending. Responsibilities include managing trade processes, performing reconciliations, and ensuring compliance. Opportunities for growth and a supportive team environment are provided.

Qualifications

• 2-5 years' experience in financial operations with exposure to SBL and/or financing solutions.
• Experience working with middle and front offices to resolve trade queries.
• Ability to multitask and manage competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines for trade allocations and confirmations.
• Perform reconciliations and identify breaks in transactions.
• Provide reporting to internal and external clients.

Skills

Analytical mindset

Risk awareness

Proficiency in MS Office

Good communication

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Tools

Advanced MS Excel

Trade platforms (BDA, SLAMS)

Alteryx

Python

SQL

Job description

Overview

Job Reference # 325995BR

City: Johannesburg

Job Type: Full Time

Your role: Are you a dynamic team player with a passion for financial markets? Do you thrive in a multi-product environment with an analytical and risk-aware mindset? Are you eager to expand your expertise beyond cash equities into securities borrowing and lending (SBL) and financing solutions?

You will gain exposure to the intricacies of SBL, developing a practical understanding of collateral management. You’ll be expected to support daily transaction flows, ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines, and manage operational risks unique to lending and borrowing activities. This includes facilitating locate requests, monitoring fails, and collaborating with counterparties to optimize inventory and settlement efficiency.

We are seeking a proactive candidate to join our South Africa Operations and Trade Support team. This role offers an exciting opportunity to support a diverse range of financial products, including cash equities, derivatives, SBL and financing solutions. In this role, you will:

• Ensure completeness, accuracy, and timeliness requirements for trade allocations, confirmations, and settlement processes across transaction/position/cash levels, for all asset classes, in accordance with the JSE Rules and Directives.
• Have working/advanced knowledge of equities and derivatives, securities lending and borrowing and corporate actions.
• Perform reconciliations by monitoring transactions, identifying breaks, and conducting root cause analysis to sustainably drive down exceptions.
• Provide reporting to internal and external clients, and support projects (including process reviews and change requests).
• Support the implementation of new products/business requirements, assist with data analysis including testing and rollout.
• Increase STP and efficiency rates by actively engaging with IT and Operations Change teams for digital transformation initiatives thereby reducing risks and strengthening controls.
• Partner with Front Office trading desks for lifecycle issues and queries, acting as the subject matter expert across all asset classes.
• Commit to a culture of continuous learning, transforming, and adapting while remaining client centric.
• Emulate the pillars, principles, and behaviors of UBS.

Your team

You’ll be working in the Operations and Trade Support team in Rosebank, South Africa. We work closely with all colleagues and key stakeholders to manage the effective booking, settlement and reconciliation of multiple products as well as timely, accurate processing of transactions and events, including booking and handling of queries. Your team plays a vital role in the front to back trade lifecycle.

Your expertise

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• 2-5 years’ experience in financial operations with exposure to SBL and/or financing solutions (equity and fixed income).
• Understanding of SBL, corporate actions and derivatives products together with their confirmation and settlement processes.
• Proficient computer skills including MS Office, with advanced MS Excel.
• Experience of working with middle and front offices to resolve trade queries and issues.
• Good written and verbal communication. Adaptable, organized, and able to adjust communication style to audience.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to demonstrate flexibility, being able to deliver to tight deadlines and manage several priorities at once.

Added Advantage

• Exposure to SBL, Corporate actions, ETD and Structured products.
• JSE Settlement Officer Certification
• JSE Equity, Derivatives, Bond Certification, or equivalent derivatives knowledge
• Understanding of JSE regulatory frameworks and their impact on trade processing

Your Skills:

• Proficiency in MS Office (advanced Excel), familiarity with trade platforms (BDA, SLAMS) and tools like Alteryx, Python or SQL is a plus.
• Ability to multitask, work under pressure, and manage competing priorities while maintaining accuracy.
• Adaptable mindset with willingness to engage in digital transformation and process improvement initiatives.
• Good risk awareness and proactive in managing risk.

About us

UBS is the world’s largest and the only truly global wealth manager. We operate through four business divisions: Global Wealth Management, Personal & Corporate Banking, Asset Management and the Investment Bank. Our global reach and the breadth of our expertise set us apart from our competitors.

We have a presence in all major financial centers in more than 50 countries.

Join us

At UBS, we know that it's our people, with their diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds, who drive our ongoing success. We’re dedicated to our craft and passionate about putting our people first, with new challenges, a supportive team, opportunities to grow and flexible working options when possible. Our inclusive culture brings out the best in our employees, wherever they are on their career journey. We also recognize that great work is never done alone. That’s why collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. Because together, we’re more than ourselves.

We’re committed to disability inclusion and if you need reasonable accommodation/adjustments throughout our recruitment process, you can always contact us.

Contact Details

UBS Business Solutions SA
UBS Recruiting

Disclaimer / Policy statements

UBS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We respect and seek to empower each individual and support the diverse cultures, perspectives, skills and experiences within our workforce.