Trader, Structured

Standard Bank Group is a leading Africa-focused financial services group, and an innovative player on the global stage, that offers a variety of career-enhancing opportunities – plus the chance to work alongside some of the sector’s most talented, motivated professionals. Our clients range from individuals, to businesses of all sizes, high net worth families and large multinational corporates and institutions. We’re passionate about creating growth in Africa. Bringing true, meaningful value to our clients and the communities we serve and creating a real sense of purpose for you.

To price, book and risk manage structured derivative transactions, with guidance from and / or in support of more experienced traders, to optimise trade profit. The emphasis is on ensuring all bookings are captured accurately to reflect the correct valuations for our clients and internal reporting. Candidates with some sort of “AI background” will be favorably considered.

1. Adhere to all relevant organizational and departmental policies, processes, standard operating procedures and instructions to ensure work is carried out to the required standard and in a consistent manner while delivering high quality service to clients and stakeholders.
2. Book / capture more complex structured derivative transactions. Compile activity, position and profit and loss reports according in a timely manner to support decision-making.

1. Ensure good understanding and optimal usage of structuring and trading tools and systems and keep up to date with the fast-changing technological, product, market and Client environments to facilitate structured trading activities.
2. At a minimum, 2 years’ experience in Murex and/or similar other Derivative based trading systems.

1. Monitor, collect and analyze historic, current, and expected market developments, trends, and performance to proactively translate these into appropriate market color, trading positions and price making activity.
2. Price and risk manage transactions with guidance from experienced structured traders.
3. Prepare and provide internal and external Clients with consistent, competitive, and timely pricing / formation (both traditional and non-traditional) for trades.
4. Major part of this role relates to valuation of complicated derivative structures from first principles.
5. Execute basic client trades efficiently to optimize revenue and profit for the desk and for global markets business, in line with defined trading limits, guidelines and protocols.
6. Compile activity, position and PLA reports in a timely manner to support decision making (i.e. not just ability to compile but also to understand).

1. Leverage data, insights and analytics to inform price making against the market and to assess and improve desk performance.
2. Compile and utilize data extracts from multiple source systems to structure hedging decisions.
3. Monitor and assess PLA (profit and loss attribution) across products and portfolios.
4. Detailed understand the relationships between Front Office and Back Office/Risk systems to ensure accurate capturing of risk/profit and loss. Be the first defense after Trade Support for all trade queries that are escalated to the Structured Trading desk.

1. Guide and upskill to ensure that work outcomes are achieved, to empower and support, and to foster a culture that enables courage, confidence and hunger to win.
2. Be able to work in teams and be a team player.

1. Detailed knowledge of interest rate and credit derivatives – knowledge of the ‘cash/vanilla’ side of these products is not enough.
2. Moderate understanding of complex derivative structuring across asset classes, specifically to Financial Institutions as well as retail.
3. Experience in XVA structuring or support.
4. Ability to drive new products through New Product / Structured Trade and other Risk based Committees.
5. Ideally have some sort of experience with Special Purpose Vehicle (“SPV”) management.
6. Develop a deeper understanding of risk drivers, risk reporting and relevant frameworks in order to clear risk and start assisting with risk management responsibilities. Where required, engage with major hedge providers within the market, for effective and efficient execution of trades.
7. Stay abreast of product innovations in the market to keep the (Trading Desk) value proposition and product offering relevant.

1. First Degree in Actuarial, Engineering or a relevant discipline.
2. Post Grad degree in Mathematics, Science, Finance, Actuarial, Investment.
3. Computer Science degree with emphasis on AI coupled with requisite derivative knowledge.

1. Experience with Murex and / or Alchemy will be very favorably considered.
2. Candidates with experience in XVA will be favorably considered.
3. Understanding of credit, equity and interest rate derivative financial models and the ability to utilise modelling software packages.
4. The ability to synthesise disparate market information, analyse and interpret macro level conditions that have impact on business and industries, identify trends, correlations, and themes to arrive at a view of how markets are likely to trade.
5. Ability to structure a solution to meet specified investment strategies, including identifying investment objectives, structuring solutions, developing issuance and distribution strategy and evaluating solution performance in the market.
6. 5-7 yrs experience in derivative structuring, trading and all relevant asset classes and financial products, sound understanding of personal trading limits and associated economic and market drivers. Alternatively, knowledge/experience of a support area for derivative structured trading.
7. Experience demonstrating understanding and application of appropriate market knowledge, norms and principles in complying to market rules and regulations.
8. Understanding and application of quantitative models and underlying code, be able to aggregate/analyse multiple sources of risk. Fair understanding of financial and global markets, along with financial analysis, modelling and valuation skills.

1. Adopting Practical Approaches
2. Articulating Information
3. Checking Things
4. Developing Expertise
5. Embracing Change
6. Examining Information
7. Interpreting Data
8. Managing Tasks
9. Producing Output
10. Showing Composure
11. Taking Action
12. Upholding Standards

1. Financial Modelling
2. Market Analysis
3. Risk/ Reward Thinking
4. Statistical & Mathematical Analysis
5. Structuring
6. Technology Savvy
7. Trade Execution
8. Trade opportunity creation