AQR

Trading Operations Analyst/Associate

AQR$80K — $95K *
Finance & Insurance
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Mathematics, Engineering, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related field.
  • 1-3 years experience in investment operations, trading support, financial markets, or related discipline.
  • Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and Bloomberg Plugin.
  • Bloomberg Terminal proficiency.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with exceptional attention to detail.

Responsibilities

  • Support the trade lifecycle across multiple asset classes from execution through settlement.
  • Monitor daily trading workflows and investigate exceptions related to trades, allocations, bookings, and settlements.
  • Coordinate with internal teams and external counterparties to resolve operational issues.
  • Support daily production processes, controls, and end-of-day signoffs.
  • Assist with corporate actions, foreign exchange workflows, and other portfolio implementation activities.
  • Research and resolve discrepancies across internal and external systems.
  • Analyze booking differences, commission discrepancies, and execution-related issues.

Benefits

  • Annual discretionary bonus eligibility.
  • Broad exposure to global markets and trading workflows.
  • Opportunities for process improvement and automation initiatives.
  • Engagement with various asset classes and investment operations.
  • Collaborative working environment with traders and technology professionals.
Full Job Description
The Role

AQR is seeking a highly motivated Trading Operations Analyst / Associate to join its Portfolio Management Operations team.

This role supports the firm's global trading activity across equities, fixed income, foreign exchange, futures, listed and OTC derivatives. Working closely with Trading, Portfolio Implementation, Technology, and Operations, the successful candidate will help ensure the accurate execution, booking, and lifecycle management of trades while partnering with external brokers, prime brokers, custodians, clearing brokers, and other market participants.

The position offers broad exposure to global markets, trading workflows, and investment operations. The ideal candidate is intellectually curious, enjoys solving problems, and is interested in using data and technology to improve operational processes.

Primary Responsibilities

Trading Operations
  • Support the trade lifecycle across multiple asset classes from execution through settlement.
  • Monitor daily trading workflows and investigate trade, allocation, booking, pricing, and settlement exceptions.
  • Coordinate with internal stakeholders and external counterparties to resolve operational issues.
  • Support daily production processes, operational controls, and end-of-day signoffs.
  • Assist with corporate actions, rights events, foreign exchange workflows, and other portfolio implementation activities.
  • Systems ownership and issue resolution across several proprietary and third-party Trading and P&L systems.

Investigation & Analysis
  • Research and resolve trade lifecycle discrepancies across multiple internal and external systems.
  • Analyze booking differences, commission discrepancies, market fees, taxes, and execution-related issues.
  • Escalate complex issues with clear supporting analysis and recommended next steps.
  • Maintain ownership of assigned issues through resolution while ensuring timely communication with stakeholders.
  • Identify recurring themes and contribute to root-cause analysis and long-term process improvements.

Technology & Process Improvement
  • Support testing and implementation of enhancements across trading and operational platforms.
  • Utilize Excel, SQL, and other analytical tools to reconcile data and investigate production issues.
  • Participate in automation initiatives and workflow optimization projects.
  • Assist with documentation, testing, and production readiness for new functionality and system enhancements.


Qualifications

Required
  • Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Mathematics, Engineering, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related field.
  • 1-3 years of experience in investment operations, trading support, financial markets, or related discipline.
  • Strong Microsoft Excel skills (including Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and Bloomberg Plugin).
  • Bloomberg Terminal proficiency.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Exceptional attention to detail with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred
  • Experience with SQL or another database-query language is preferred.
  • Exposure to Python or another programming language is a plus but not required. Specific use cases surround automation and/or data analysis.
  • Experience supporting an OMS, EMS, or comparable trading platform.
  • Familiarity with FlexTrade, Adroit, Geneva, CTM, Traiana, or similar systems is a bonus, but not required.
  • Exposure to one or many asset classes, including: equities, fixed income, foreign exchange, futures, options, swaps, or other derivative products.
  • Experience interacting with executing brokers, prime brokers, custodians, or clearing brokers.


Who You Are
  • Curious about financial markets and how trading systems operate.
  • Enjoy solving complex operational problems.
  • Comfortable working with data and investigating exceptions.
  • Calm under pressure and accountable during time-sensitive production events.
  • Collaborative and able to work effectively with traders, engineers, portfolio teams, operations professionals, and external counterparties.
  • Interested in continuously improving processes rather than simply executing them.
  • Motivated to expand technical skills and take on increasing responsibility over time.


The salary range for this role is expected to be $80,000 to $95,000. This is the range that we in good faith believe is accurate for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, depending upon factors such as skills, experience, location, or other business and organizational needs. This wage range may also be modified in the future.

This job is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus.

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company's sole discretion, consistent with the law.

About AQR

AQR Capital Management is a global investment management firm that specializes in quantitative strategies. The firm was founded in 1998 by a group of former Goldman Sachs executives, including Clifford Asness, David Kabiller, and John Liew. AQR's investment approach is based on rigorous research and data analysis, and the firm offers a range of investment products, including mutual funds, hedge funds, and separately managed accounts. AQR is known for its innovative investment strategies, including its pioneering work in the field of factor investing. Today, the firm manages over $186 billion in assets for institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals around the world.
Learn more about AQR
Size
1,200 employees
Industry

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