Associate Director, Retail Equity Trading

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The Associate Director,  Retail Equity Trader is responsible for executing equity and listed option transactions on behalf of Investment Advisors and their clients while delivering best execution, managing trading risk, and supporting the day-to-day operations of BMO Nesbitt’s Retail Equity Trading Desk.

As a senior member of the team, the successful candidate will provide mentorship to junior traders, act as a trusted resource to advisors and business partners, and contribute to strategic initiatives, process improvements, and trading technology enhancements. The role offers a clear pathway toward future leadership opportunities within the Retail Equity Trading team.

Key Responsibilities

Trading & Market Execution

• Execute Canadian, U.S., and international equity orders on behalf of advisors and their clients.
• Manage large, complex, and sensitive orders while optimizing execution quality and minimizing market impact.
• Monitor market activity, liquidity conditions, and trading opportunities throughout the trading day.
• Provide insight and guidance to advisors regarding market structure, trading strategies, liquidity, and execution considerations.
• Handle escalated or complex trading requests requiring advanced judgment and expertise.

 Risk Management & Regulatory Oversight

• Ensure adherence to CIRO, UMIR, marketplace, and internal trading requirements.
• Monitor error accounts, trade exceptions, rejected orders, and unusual activity.
• Investigate execution issues and recommend corrective actions.
• Support business continuity and incident management during market events or technology disruptions.
• Promote a strong culture of regulatory compliance and operational excellence.

Advisor Partnership

• Serve as a senior point of contact for Investment Advisors and Portfolio Managers.
• Build strong relationships across Wealth Management, Operations, Compliance, Risk, and Technology teams.
• Support advisor growth by providing timely execution support and market expertise.
• Assist in the development of best practices and trading education initiatives.

Leadership & Team Development

• Coach and mentor junior traders and new team members.
• Share market knowledge, execution techniques, and trading best practices.
• Act as a resource during challenging market conditions and high-volume trading periods.
• Participate in succession planning and talent development initiatives.
• Demonstrate leadership behaviours consistent with future Team Lead responsibilities. Derived from leadership functions described for the Retail Equity Trading organization.

Strategic & Business Initiatives

• Contribute to enhancements in trading systems, workflow automation, and operational processes.
• Participate in vendor, marketplace, and technology initiatives that improve execution quality and efficiency.
• Identify opportunities to reduce risk, improve client outcomes, and drive operational effectiveness.
• Support broader strategic projects impacting the trading platform and advisor experience.

Qualifications

Required

• 7+ years of equity trading experience within a dealer, brokerage, institutional, or wealth management environment.
• Current completion of the Canadian Securities Course (CSC).
• Trader Training Course (TTC) or equivalent licensing.
• Strong understanding of Canadian market structure, market regulation, and best execution obligations.
• Experience managing complex orders in fast-paced market environments.
• Excellent communication and relationship-management skills.

 Preferred

• Experience supporting Investment Advisors and discretionary portfolio managers.
• Listed options trading experience.
• Experience mentoring or leading colleagues in a trading environment.
• Familiarity with Bloomberg, Moxy, electronic routing systems, and trade surveillance tools. 

What Success Looks Like

The successful candidate is recognized as:

• A trusted advisor to Investment Advisors and Portfolio Managers.
• A go-to expert for complex equity trading and market execution.
• A respected mentor who elevates the performance of those around them.
• A strong risk manager who consistently demonstrates sound judgment.
• A future leader with the capability and ambition to progress into a Team Lead or Director role within Retail Equity Trading.

The salary base range for this role is $110,000-$125,000.

This job posting is for a current vacancy.

The above represents BMO Financial Group’s pay range and type.

Salaries will vary based on factors such as location, skills, experience, education, and qualifications for the role, and may include a commission structure. Salaries for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on number of hours regularly worked. For commission roles, the salary listed above represents BMO Financial Group’s expected target for the first year in this position.

BMO Financial Group’s total compensation package will vary based on the pay type of the position and may include performance-based incentives, discretionary bonuses, as well as other perks and rewards. BMO also offers health insurance, tuition reimbursement, accident and life insurance, and retirement savings plans. To view more details of our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.bmo.com/global/en/Total-Rewards