Trading Lifecycle Associate

At JP Morgan Chase, we're seeking a proactive and skilled Senior Associate to lead our OTC Derivatives Settlement team. You'll manage end-to-end settlement processes for key derivative products like IRS, CDS, and ESW, ensuring accuracy and compliance with industry standards.

Job Summary

As a Senior Associate in the OTC Derivatives Settlement team at JP Morgan Chase, you will be entrusted with the comprehensive management of settlement processes for OTC Derivative Products, including Interest Rate Swaps (IRS), Credit Default Swaps (CDS), and Equity Swaps (ESW). This pivotal role requires operational leadership, relationship management, and process improvement expertise to ensure accurate and timely settlements, while adhering to industry standards.

Job Responsibilities

• Ensure timely and accurate processing of trades from trade date through to final settlement.
• Monitor confirmation, reconciliation, payment instruction, and break resolution, with full ownership of the lifecycle.
• Consistently achieve or exceed key performance indicators (KPIs) such as settlement timeliness, exception management, and break resolution rates.
• Maintain a strong focus on service quality and operational control.
• Regularly update stakeholders—both internal (Front Office, Middle Office, Risk) and external (counterparties, custodians, clearinghouses)—on the status of trades, breaks, and settlement activity.
• Communicate issues with a clear action plan and resolution timeline.
• Identify operational risks or anomalies early and escalate according to defined protocols.
• Maintain a solutions-oriented mindset, ensuring escalations include relevant background and proposed next steps.
• Monitor and investigate Nostro account breaks by identifying unmatched or unexpected cash movements.
• Coordinate with internal teams and counterparties to ensure timely resolution and reconciliation of outstanding items.
• Leverage existing tools and platforms (e.g., MarkitWire, DTCC, internal proprietary systems) to optimize workflow.

Required qualifications, capabilities, and skills

• Bachelor’s degree or MBA required
• Significant exposure to OTC Derivatives settlements, including Interest Rate Swaps (IRS), Credit Default Swaps (CDS), and Equity Swaps (ESW).
• Solid understanding of post-trade operations, ISDA documentation, and the trade lifecycle.
• Proficient in Excel, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and basic macros.
• Experience with MarkitWire and DTCC
• Strong grasp of derivative products and their application in trading and risk management.
• Proven ability to manage complex workflows and deliver results under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication skills, with a strong ability to solve problems and manage stakeholder relationships effectively.
• Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to mentor junior staff and manage escalations efficiently.
• Willingness to work flexible shifts and adapt to global business coverage needs.