Trade Support Specialist - OFALLON

Trade Support Specialist - O'Fallon

The Trade Support Specialist is an intermediate level role involved resolving trade-related issues in a timely manner. This job collaborates closely with various internal and occasional external stakeholders to support Citi's trading activities. This role monitors trade flows, troubleshoots discrepancies, maintains processes, provides training, analyzes data, stays updated on industry trends, and ensures accurate trade records. It plays a critical part in enhancing operational efficiency and mitigating risk within the trading environment. Additionally, this role acts as the primary point of contact for all trading and structuring business engagements, requiring product expertise, on-desk support, and time-sensitive resolution. It focuses on enhancing trading business/franchise performance and productivity by optimizing operational efficiency and delivering strategic projects, bringing together trading, operations, technology, and various lines of defense across the firm.

Responsibilities:

• Monitors trade flows and troubleshoot any trade discrepancies or breaks, liaising with brokers, custodians, and counterparties as necessary.
• Maintain trade support processes and procedures to enhance operational efficiency and mitigate risk.
• Provide training and support to junior team members and assist in their professional development.
• Analyze trade data and generates reports to monitor trade activity, identify trends, and support decision-making processes.
• Stay updated on industry trends, market developments, and regulatory changes impacting trade operations.
• Provide support for trade execution, including trade confirmation, settlement, and reconciliation.
• Monitor trade lifecycle events and ensure trades are processed accurately and in a timely manner.
• Participate in the testing and implementation of trading systems and upgrades or enhancements.
• Investigate and resolve trade discrepancies or breaks with brokers, custodians, and counterparties.
• Maintain accurate trade records and documentation in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with traders, portfolio managers, and other stakeholders to address trade-related inquiries and requests.
• Assist in the implementation and testing of new trading systems and enhancements to existing systems.
• Monitor market events and communicate relevant information to internal teams.
• Collaborate with IT teams to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to trading systems and platforms.
• Contribute to cross-functional projects aimed at improving trade workflows and enhancing operational capabilities.
• Appropriately assess risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating particular consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding Citigroup, its clients and assets, by driving compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, adhering to Policy, applying sound ethical judgment regarding personal behavior, conduct and business practices, and escalating, managing and reporting control issues with transparency, as well as effectively supervise the activity of others and create accountability with those who fail to maintain these standards.
• Assist in supporting new ideas through the New Activity approvals process (NACs). This includes driving initiatives for Business and Desk Heads which require facing off with third parties (e.g., brokers, clearing houses, and trading platforms).
• Managing the Permitted Product List (PPL) for the trading desks which includes adding new products, annual reviews, and amending products to enhance revenue streams.
• Act as Subject Matter Expert to support the establishment and maintenance of business-specific controls to mitigate operational, financial, and regulatory risk in addition to monitoring implementation of new regulations. Responsible for ensuring proportionality and workability of new controls and processes (e.g., soft vs hard blocks for price, notional thresholds).
• Evaluate and optimize booking and legal entity strategies for trading desks. Act as a critical interface, articulating business requirements to various functions and ensuring clear communication between trading and support departments.
• Monitor and analyze business performance, trading performance, market share, and client profitability, and cost reduction. This includes overseeing Best Execution practices and transaction cost analysis.
• Manage and support enhancements to trade processing and client service delivery in collaboration with Operations, Technology, and Middle Office teams (e.g., product enhancements / annual prioritization efforts).

Qualifications:

• 6-10 years of relevant experience
• Consistently demonstrates clear and concise written and verbal communication skills
• Strong understanding of trade lifecycle processes, including trade capture, confirmation, settlement, and reconciliation.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

Education:

• Bachelor's/University degree